Description
This deliciously soft birthday cake is perfect for your little one’s celebration. It features a tender crumb enhanced by cream cheese frosting and subtle vanilla flavor, decorated with baby-safe sprinkles and optional shredded coconut for a fun texture. Easy to prepare and bake, this cake makes a delightful centerpiece for memorable birthday moments.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.33 cup sugar (can be reduced slightly if preferred)
- 2 large eggs
- 1.5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (opt for real vanilla for best results)
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened (ensure it’s at room temperature)
Frosting & Decoration
- 0.5 cup cream cheese (use full-fat for best texture)
- Powdered sugar (add to taste)
- Unsweetened shredded coconut (optional for fun texture)
- Baby-safe sprinkles (optional for color)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the cake evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, which helps create a soft texture in the cake.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure even distribution.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the batter which can make the cake dense.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, which helps it set properly for frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar to your desired sweetness and smooth consistency.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the cake is cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top and sides. Sprinkle with unsweetened shredded coconut and baby-safe sprinkles if desired for texture and colorful decoration.
- Serve: Slice the cake into 12 equal pieces and serve chilled or at room temperature for maximum softness and flavor.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature for easy creaming with sugar.
- You can adjust sugar amounts based on your child’s preference or dietary restrictions.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the best frosting texture and flavor.
- Baby-safe sprinkles are used to ensure the decoration is safe for little ones.
- Optional shredded coconut adds a fun texture but can be omitted if there are allergy concerns.
- To keep the cake moist, store covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator if your environment is warm.
