Mardi Gras Tricolor Cake (Printable)

Festive vanilla cake layered with vibrant purple, green, and gold icing for joyous celebrations.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cake Components

01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Tricolor Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Gel food coloring: purple, green, and yellow (gold)

→ Optional Festive Decorations

15 - Colored sanding sugar in purple, green, and yellow
16 - Mardi Gras beads or traditional plastic baby figurine (non-edible)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, tapping out excess flour.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until well blended. Set aside for later use.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for approximately 3 minutes until mixture appears pale, light, and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until fully incorporated. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
06 - Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Use an offset spatula to smooth the tops.
07 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
08 - Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto wire racks. Cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
09 - Beat softened butter in a clean bowl until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
10 - Divide frosting equally among three separate bowls. Tint each bowl with a different gel food coloring—purple, green, and yellow (gold). Mix until each color is uniform and vibrant.
11 - Place one cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Spread an even layer of frosting in any color over the top. Position the second cake layer on top.
12 - Frost the top and exterior of the cake with the remaining colored frostings, creating alternating stripes or sections. Apply colored sugar sprinkles for additional texture and festive appeal.
13 - Refrigerate the assembled cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This allows frosting to set, resulting in cleaner, more professional-looking slices.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The vanilla cake base is incredibly moist and stays fresh for days, meaning you can make it ahead without any stress
  • Those three colored icings look absolutely stunning on a dessert table, like edible confetti that people actually want to eat
  • Its forgiving enough for beginner bakers but impressive enough to serve to your most food snobbish friends
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional here, cold butter and eggs will ruin your batter texture
  • Gel food coloring is worth the extra trip to the baking aisle, liquid colors will thin your frosting to an unworkable consistency
  • Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting, or you'll watch your beautiful buttercream slide right off the warm cake
03 -
  • Freeze the cooled cake layers wrapped in plastic and foil for up to a month, then thaw and frost when needed
  • Use an offset spatula warmed under hot water to create perfectly smooth frosting surfaces
  • Hide a plastic baby inside for the traditional King Cake experience, but warn your guests first

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