Perfect Leo Birthday Cake Recipe Easy Gold Crown Sun Rays Design
A moist vanilla cake with subtly tangy lemon buttercream, decorated with a gold crown and sun rays design, perfect for celebrating Leo birthdays with a regal flair.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour (King Arthur preferred)
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
- Zest of 1 lemon
- For the Lemon Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Yellow food coloring
- For Decoration:
- Edible gold luster dust
- Thin fondant strips or piped frosting
- Optional: Edible pearls or glitter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Beat softened butter and sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until fluffy and pale, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently until combined.
- Fold in lemon zest with a spatula.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans (about 3 cups or 720ml per pan). Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed.
- Add lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add yellow food coloring to desired shade.
- Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread buttercream generously on top. Add second layer and crumb coat entire cake. Chill 15 minutes.
- Decorate with sun rays using remaining buttercream or fondant strips. Brush gold crown with edible luster dust. Add edible pearls or glitter if desired.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs and butter for best results. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. Chill buttercream if too soft before decorating. Allow cake to rest in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving for cleaner slices. Fresh lemon zest is essential for authentic flavor. For gluten-free, substitute almond flour; for vegan, use flax eggs and plant-based butter and milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 4
Keywords: birthday cake, Leo birthday cake, vanilla cake, lemon buttercream, gold crown cake, sun rays cake, easy birthday cake, celebration cake