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Swirled Easter Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Name: Swirled Easter Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 15.25 ounce box white cake mix; ¼ cup water; 4 egg whites; ½ cup vegetable oil; 1 cup sour cream; 1-2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract ((depending on how strong ou want the vanilla flavor)); blue, pink, and yellow food coloring ( (either gel or liquid)); ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature ((not melted)); 2 cups powdered sugar; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons heavy cream ( (you may need more depending on the thickness)); pastel colored sprinkles

ByBrandie Skibinski April 12, 2022April 3, 2023

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A fun and colorful cake, this Swirled Easter Cake is a doctored up cake mix with a homemade buttercream frosting that is perfection!

A FUN COLORFUL EASTER CAKE

This Swirled Easter Cake is a fun and colorful cake that is SUPER easy as it starts with a box mix! I love incorporating box mixes in my recipes when I can. Especially when people are just starting to bake or want something quick and easy. Some of the cake batter is portioned out, color added, then swirled into the rest of the batter so the cake has fun colors that kids and adults will love. Top it off with some buttercream and sprinkles and you have a perfectly easy and fun cake for your Easter gathering! If you are looking for something quick and effortless, then you have to make this Swirled Easter Cake recipe.

Slice of Swirled Easter Cake on white plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Do I have to use a cake mix?

No, if you have a homemade white cake recipe that you love to make then you can absolutely use that!

What kind of food coloring is best for this?

You can either use gel, paste or regular since we aren’t trying to get deep rich colors so use what you have on hand.

Do I have to use egg whites?

You can use 3 whole eggs instead of egg whites but the cake will be a yellow tint and will affect the overall hue of the food colored batter.

Can this be used for other holidays?

Absolutely! This is great for ANY holiday. All you’ll want to do is change up the food coloring and sprinkles and you can have it for 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas, etc.

Why add sour cream to cake batter?

You don’t taste it as a separate ingredient. It’s merely going to add incredible moistness to the finished cake.

How do I store leftover cake?

This cake can be stored at room temperature where it will keep for up to 4 days. This can also be frozen. Cover cooled cake with plastic wrap and then a layer of foil and it will keep for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove to the refrigerator overnight then to the countertop to come to room temperature.

Pinterest image close up of Swirled Easter Cake on white plate showing colors of cake.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

white cake mix
water
egg whites
vegetable oil
sour cream
clear vanilla extract
blue, pink, and yellow food coloring (either gel or liquid)
butter
powdered sugar
salt
heavy cream
pastel colored sprinkles

Ingredients needed: white cake mix, water, egg whites, vegetable oil, sour cream, vanilla extract, blue, pink, and yellow food coloring, pastel colored sprinkles, butter, powdered sugar, salt and heavy cream.

HOW TO MAKE A SWIRLED EASTER CAKE:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat cake mix, water, egg whites, oil, sour cream, and clear vanilla extract. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds or until combined. Scrape the edges of the bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes more, scraping the edges occasionally.

Cake mix, water, egg whites, oil, sour cream, and clear vanilla extract added to bowl of stand mixer.

Pour 2 cups of the batter into the prepared pan.

2 cups cake mix added to prepared baking dish.

Divide the remaining batter between 3 medium bowls (about ½ cup each). Add a few drops of blue, pink, and yellow food coloring (one color per bowl) to the batter, stirring well after each drop, until the batter reaches the desired color.

Remaining cake mix separated out into 3 bowls and colored blue, yellow and pink.

Place spoonfuls of each colored batter in random places on top of the white batter.

Dollops of cake mix placed on top of cake mix in pan.

Run a butter knife back and forth through the batter to swirl the added color.

Colored cake mix swirled into cake batter.

Bake cake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

With an electric mixer, whip the butter for 1-2 minutes until it is lighter in color and a bit fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and salt. Beat on low to medium speed for about 1 minute until well combined, occasionally scraping the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of cream and beat for one minute. Slowly add more heavy cream, if necessary, to get the desired consistency. Whip for 1 more minute or until light and fluffy.