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Mini Birthday Cake

A delightful small cake perfect for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasion, easily customizable with colors and decorations.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 8 pieces
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the cake
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 1 tbsp sour cream (optional, for extra moistness)
For the frosting
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Sprinkles (for decorating)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 4-inch pans or one 6-inch round pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is fluffy.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl, and beat everything until well combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternately with the whole milk, mixing gently. If you're using sour cream, fold it in at this stage.
Baking
  1. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  2. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5–10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting
  1. For the frosting, beat the butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well.
  2. Then add the vanilla and cream or milk, beating until fluffy.
Assembly
  1. Once the cakes are cool, frost and decorate them with colored frosting and sprinkles.

Notes

Make sure your butter is at room temperature for easy creaming. Don’t over-mix the batter; mix just until combined for a light cake. If you want extra moistness, use the sour cream as it adds richness. Experiment with different food colors in the frosting to match your party theme!