Simple Design Anniversary Cake Recipe

Cake cutting to celebrate anniversary is a great way to grace the occasion amongst near and dear ones. Today's recipe features a delicious anniversary cake with buttercream frosting in a simple design.

Ingredients

Cake layers

• 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (or 2 sticks, room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
• 5 eggs
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk room temperature
• ⅛ cup vegetable oil

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese (one package, softened)
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks or 16 Tablespoons, softened)
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 2-4 Tablespoons milk
• 1 Tablespoon clear vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)
• 2-3 drops liquid pink food coloring (save and add later)
• 2-3 drops liquid purple food coloring (save and add later)

Instructions

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare three 8 inch round pans with baker's floured spray (or grease and line with parchment rounds).
2. Mix together all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt) in a stand mixer with a paddle until fully combined. Mix bits of room-temperature butter slowly into the dry mix, on a low speed. Continue to mix until no large chunks of butter remain, and the mixture becomes crumbly.
3. Pour in eggs and mix on low until just incorporated. Mix in the buttermilk in two installments, on a low speed. Add in vanilla and oil, and mix at a low speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds.
4. Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans (I find a kitchen scale helpful for this part). This guarantees your layers will bake to be the same height.
5. Bake for 35-37 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean). Allow cake layers to cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire cooling rack before removing from pans – it helps to run an offset spatula or knife around the perimeter of the pan first. Cool completely before frosting. Set in the fridge or freezer to accelerate the cooling process if desired.
6. Once the layers have fully cooled, they can be leveled and caramelized bits can be trimmed from the sides / top of the cake using a leveler / serrated knife if desired. Be sure the layers are completely cooled or chilled before trimming. If you try to trim the layers while they’re still warm, they will crumble apart.
7. (This is a great time to make your frosting!)

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

1. Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in powdered sugar alternating with milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add vanilla and salt if needed and beat until well combined.
2. Remove about ½ cup of frosting from the bowl and set aside (if you’d like to add some colored icing to decorate the cake).