Description
A showstopper dessert with cosmic swirls of purple hues and a velvety soft crumb. Perfect for celebrations or a creative baking project, this cake is pure magic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- Purple, blue, and black food coloring
- Edible glitter or stars (optional, for decoration)
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in buttermilk and vinegar.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined. Divide batter into three bowls. Add purple, blue, and black food coloring to each and gently mix.
- Spoon dollops of each color into the prepared pans, layering to create a galaxy swirl effect. Use a toothpick or knife to lightly swirl the colors.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until fluffy.
- Apply a thin crumb coat to the cooled cakes, then a final layer of frosting. Use additional frosting tinted with galaxy colors to create cosmic swirls. Gently swirl with a spatula for a galaxy effect.
- Finish with edible glitter or stars for a celestial touch.
Notes
- Swirl Gently for the Galaxy Effect: When creating the galaxy design, be careful not to overmix the colors to avoid blending them into a single muddy shade. A few gentle swirls are enough to achieve the cosmic effect.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that all ingredients, especially the cream cheese and butter for the frosting, are at room temperature. This helps achieve a smooth, creamy texture without lumps.
- Cool Cakes Completely: Before frosting, make sure the cake layers are fully cooled to prevent the frosting from melting and ruining the galaxy design. Patience is key!
- Prep Time: 20 MIN
- Cook Time: 30 MIN