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Perfect Sunflower Leo Birthday Cake with Buttercream Petals

Perfect Sunflower Leo Birthday Cake - featured image
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A vibrant and moist vanilla birthday cake decorated with lifelike buttercream sunflower petals, perfect for Leo-themed celebrations or anyone craving a beautiful, delicious cake.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour – 2 ½ cups (312 g)
  • Baking powder – 2 ½ teaspoons
  • Salt – ½ teaspoon
  • Unsalted butter, softened – 1 cup (227 g)
  • Granulated sugar – 1 ¾ cups (350 g)
  • Large eggs, room temperature – 4
  • Pure vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons
  • Whole milk – 1 cup (240 ml)
  • Unsalted butter, softened – 2 cups (454 g) (for buttercream)
  • Powdered sugar – 6 cups (720 g), sifted
  • Pure vanilla extract – 2 teaspoons (for buttercream)
  • Heavy cream – 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 ml)
  • Gel food coloring – yellow, orange, brown
  • Optional: Edible gold dust or shimmer

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using a mixer, beat 1 cup softened butter with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
  5. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Tap pans gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  8. For buttercream, beat 2 cups softened butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, mixing on low then medium speed.
  9. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream until smooth and spreadable.
  10. Divide frosting into three bowls and tint with yellow, orange, and brown gel food coloring.
  11. Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread a thin layer of yellow buttercream on top. Add second layer and apply crumb coat with yellow frosting. Chill for 20 minutes.
  12. Fit a piping bag with petal tip and fill with yellow frosting. Pipe petals around top edge at 45-degree angle. Layer orange petals inside yellow, then pipe brown dollops or textured mound in center.
  13. Optionally dust petals lightly with edible gold dust. Refrigerate if not serving immediately.

Notes

Frosting consistency is key: chill if too soft before piping. Practice piping petals on parchment paper first. Fill piping bag halfway for better control. Store cake refrigerated up to 4 days or freeze unfrosted layers up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: birthday cake, sunflower cake, buttercream petals, Leo birthday cake, vanilla cake, buttercream frosting, easy cake recipe, decorated cake

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