Pisces-Themed Galaxy Layer Cake (Print Version)

Celestial layer cake with swirling blue and purple buttercream, edible glitter, and moist vanilla sponge.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vanilla Sponge

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

→ Galaxy Buttercream

09 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Gel food coloring in navy blue, purple, black, and teal
14 - Edible glitter in silver, blue, or iridescent

→ Decoration

15 - White fondant, optional for Pisces symbols or stars
16 - Silver star sprinkles, optional

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract; beat until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Divide buttercream into four bowls. Tint each with different galaxy colors: navy blue, purple, teal, and black.
10 - Place alternating spoonfuls of each colored buttercream onto cake layers and sides. Use an offset spatula to swirl gently for a galaxy effect.
11 - Sprinkle edible glitter generously over the frosted cake. Add fondant Pisces symbols or stars if desired.
12 - Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set the design before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours at a fancy cake studio, but the swirling technique is honestly forgiving once you stop overthinking it.
  • The vanilla sponge is moist and tender without being fussy, holding up beautifully to layers of buttercream and all that shimmering glitter.
  • Nobody expects homemade cakes to be this visually impressive, so watching people's faces when they see it is worth every bit of the effort.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not a suggestion—they're the difference between a beautifully textured sponge and something dense that nobody wants to eat.
  • The swirling technique looks complicated but is actually forgiving because buttercream blends smoothly as you work it, so small mistakes merge into the cosmic effect naturally.
  • Edible glitter adheres better to slightly tacky frosting, so don't wait too long after finishing the swirls to add it, or the glitter will slide right off.
03 -
  • Sift your powdered sugar before adding it to the buttercream mixture—this prevents tiny lumps that catch between your teeth and disrupt an otherwise elegant eating experience.
  • Gel food coloring is your friend because it colors buttercream without thinning it out the way liquid food coloring does, keeping your frosting texture perfect for swirling.
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