Description
- A soft, baby-friendly berry first birthday cake made with vanilla layers and fresh strawberry buttercream perfect for smash cakes or party centerpieces.
Ingredients
- Vanilla Cake Layers (2 × 6-inch pans)
- All-purpose flour (sifted)
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Fine salt
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Plain yogurt
- Whole milk
- Strawberry Buttercream
- Unsalted butter
- Powdered sugar
- Freeze-dried strawberry powder
- Strawberry puree (strained)
- Vanilla extract
- Whole milk
- Pink gel food coloring (optional)
- Decorations
- Red, green, and white fondant
- Yellow sugar pearls
- Cardstock and lollipop stick for “One” topper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare two 6-inch pans by greasing and lining them.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in yogurt, then alternate adding sifted dry ingredients and milk until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes completely on a rack before frosting.
- To make the buttercream, beat butter until creamy, then slowly add powdered sugar.
- Add strawberry powder and strawberry puree, followed by vanilla and milk to adjust texture.
- Tint with pink gel food coloring if desired and beat until fluffy.
- Level cake layers, spread buttercream between layers, and apply crumb coat. Chill.
- Frost the entire cake with a smooth layer of strawberry buttercream.
- Decorate with fondant strawberries, white flowers, and place a “One” topper on top.
Notes
- Make the cake layers and buttercream a day in advance for easier assembly.
- Fondant decorations can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored at room temperature.
- Skip fondant and reduce frosting for a baby-safe strawberry smash cake.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg