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Perfect Sunflower Vanilla Bean Celebration Cake

sunflower vanilla bean celebration cake - featured image
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A moist and tender vanilla bean cake decorated with a cheerful sunflower design, perfect for birthdays and celebrations. This cake combines a rich vanilla bean buttercream with a bakery-quality finish that’s both simple and stunning.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 grams) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (3 grams) salt
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 grams) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, warmed slightly
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups (480 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (7.5 ml) vanilla bean paste (for frosting)
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) heavy cream
  • Pinch of salt
  • Yellow, brown, green gel food coloring
  • Sunflower seeds or chocolate chips (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla bean paste.
  5. Alternately add dry ingredients and warmed milk to the butter mixture in three parts, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently on low speed until just combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  7. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
  8. For frosting, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla bean paste and salt. Add heavy cream to reach desired consistency and beat until fluffy, 3-5 minutes.
  9. Level cooled cakes if needed. Spread thick layer of frosting on first layer, top with second cake. Apply thin crumb coat all over and chill for 20 minutes.
  10. Divide remaining frosting and tint with gel colors. Pipe sunflower petals starting from outside edge inward using petal tips. Use brown frosting for center and optionally press in sunflower seeds or chocolate chips. Pipe green leaves around base.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. Chill crumb coat before piping sunflower petals to prevent sliding. Gel food coloring keeps frosting thick for piping. If buttercream is too stiff, add more cream; if too soft, chill briefly. Practice piping petals in one smooth motion for best results.

Nutrition

Keywords: vanilla bean cake, birthday cake, sunflower cake, celebration cake, buttercream frosting, easy birthday dessert

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/perfect-sunflower-vanilla-bean-celebration-cake-recipe-for-easy-birthday-desserts/