Pisces Ocean Galaxy Cake (Printable Version)

A vanilla cake adorned with colorful galaxy buttercream and sparkling edible glitter in ocean tones.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1.75 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Ocean Galaxy Buttercream

09 - 1.5 cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 0.25 cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Gel food coloring: navy blue, teal, purple, turquoise, white
14 - Edible glitter or white sprinkles for decoration

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake for 28-32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Add vanilla and milk, then beat until smooth and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
09 - Divide buttercream into 4-5 bowls. Tint each portion with gel food coloring to create navy, teal, purple, turquoise shades, and leave one white.
10 - Place random dollops of each colored buttercream onto the cake. Use an offset spatula to swirl colors together for a marbled galaxy effect.
11 - Decorate with edible glitter or white sprinkles for a starry appearance.
12 - Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing for clean layers.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Stunning visual impact with swirled galaxy buttercream in ocean-inspired colors
  • Soft, tender vanilla cake that pairs perfectly with creamy frosting
  • Customizable color palette to match any zodiac or ocean theme
  • Medium difficulty level that's achievable for home bakers
  • Makes a show-stopping centerpiece for Pisces birthdays or celestial celebrations
02 -
  • Use gel food coloring for vibrant, saturated ocean colors without thinning the buttercream
  • Don't overmix the swirls—a few deliberate strokes create the most natural galaxy effect
  • Chill the finished cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing for clean, professional-looking layers
  • Apply a crumb coat first to prevent cake crumbs from muddying your beautiful colors
  • Keep one bowl of white buttercream to lighten colors or create highlights as needed
  • Add sugar sea shells or Pisces zodiac toppers for extra flair
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