Description
This Swirled Easter Cake is the perfect vibrant dessert to brighten up your Easter celebrations. Featuring fluffy white cake and colorful pastel swirls, it’s both visually stunning and delicious. With simple ingredients and easy steps, this beginner-friendly cake is ideal for any springtime gathering, making it a festive treat for your Easter table.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp clear vanilla extract
- Blue, pink, yellow food coloring (or your preferred colors)
- Pastel sprinkles, Easter sprinkles, or candies (for garnish)
For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2–4 tablespoons heavy cream
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9” x 13” baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, egg whites, vegetable oil, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Pour 2 cups of the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Then, divide the remaining batter into three separate bowls (about 1/2 cup of batter in each bowl).
- Add a different color food coloring to each bowl and mix until the colors are evenly distributed.
- Drop dollops of each colored batter randomly over the white cake batter in the pan. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the colored batters into the white batter. Be careful not to overdo it, as too much mixing can result in a single color rather than swirls.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat the softened butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the salt, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat for 1 minute, checking the frosting’s consistency. If the frosting is too thick, add more cream, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired spreadable consistency.
- If you prefer colored frosting, add a few drops of food coloring and mix until you get the desired color.
- Frost the cooled cake with the prepared frosting. Garnish with pastel sprinkles, Easter-themed sprinkles, or candies for a festive touch.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the white cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix and ensure the other ingredients are gluten-free.
- To make a vegan cake, use a dairy-free cake mix, swap the eggs for an egg replacer, and substitute dairy-free butter and non-dairy cream for the frosting.
- You can swap vanilla extract for lemon or almond extract in the frosting for a flavor twist.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
