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Smash Cake Recipe

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4.2 from 62 reviews

This classic Smash Cake Recipe features a moist, tender vanilla cake layered with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for celebrating first birthdays or any special occasion, this cake is baked in three 6-inch pans, resulting in a small, adorable cake that’s easy to decorate and smash into. The cake blends cake flour and all-purpose flour for the ideal texture, paired with a smooth frosting made from cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar, with a hint of vanilla.

  • Total Time: 49 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 2 eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup sour cream

Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and flour three 6-inch cake pans or spray them with cooking spray. Place parchment paper circles at the bottoms of each pan, spraying them with cooking spray as well to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together cake flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer.
  3. Incorporate Butter: With mixer on low speed, add the softened butter 2 tablespoons at a time. Mix until the mixture resembles coarse sand, approximately 1 minute.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large liquid measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well blended.
  5. Add Wet to Dry: With the mixer on low, gradually pour the liquid ingredients into the dry mixture. Increase mixer speed to medium and mix for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides, add sour cream, and mix on medium speed for an additional 20-30 seconds. Use a butter knife to gently break up any large air bubbles in the batter.
  6. Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 28-34 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
  7. Cool the Cakes: Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5-10 minutes. Then, remove them from the pans and place them on wire racks to cool completely.
  8. Store if Needed: If not frosting immediately, cover the cooled cakes with a double layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to frost, ideally the following day.
  9. Make the Frosting: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed. Add vanilla extract and heavy cream, then beat on medium speed for 4 minutes. Adjust consistency as needed by adding more heavy cream if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
  10. Optional Coloring and Assembly: If desired, tint the frosting with gel food coloring before frosting the cake layers for a colorful presentation.

Notes

  • Use cake flour for a tender crumb, but all-purpose flour is partially used to balance structure.
  • Room temperature ingredients ensure better mixing and texture.
  • If baking powder potency is in doubt, test before use or replace for optimal rise.
  • Breaking up large air bubbles in the batter helps avoid large holes in the cake.
  • Cooling cakes completely before frosting prevents melting and sliding of frosting.
  • Adjust frosting consistency with heavy cream or powdered sugar for perfect spreading or piping.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 34 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/smash-cake-recipe/