ELSA BIRTHDAY CAKE: THE ULTIMATE FROZEN-INSPIRED DESSERT MASTERPIECE
Key Info
Contents
Prep Time: 40-60 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Total Time: 2-2.5 hours
Servings: 12-16
Difficulty: Intermediate
Dietary: Contains gluten, dairy, eggs
Equipment Needed
- 8″ round cake pans
- Stand mixer
- Offset spatula
- Piping bags
- Turntable
- Fondant tools (optional)
Ingredients
Cake Base:
- 2-3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1½-2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1-1.5 cups unsalted butter
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 1-2 tsp vanilla
- Blue and purple gel food coloring
Decorations:
- White and blue fondant
- Edible glitter
- Pearlized sugar balls
- Elsa figurine/edible image
Method
1. Prep Your Workspace
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Grease and line cake pans
- Measure all ingredients precisely
2. Make the Cake Batter
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
- Add eggs one at a time
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk
- Mix until just combined
3. Bake the Cake
- Pour batter into prepared pans
- Bake 30-40 minutes
- Test with toothpick for doneness
- Cool completely on wire rack
4. Prepare Buttercream
- Beat butter until creamy
- Gradually add powdered sugar
- Tint with blue/purple gel coloring
- Adjust consistency with milk
5. Assemble and Decorate
- Level cake layers
- Apply crumb coat
- Chill for 15-30 minutes
- Final frosting in blue ombré style
- Add fondant snowflakes
- Place Elsa figurine
Crucial Tips
- Cool cakes completely before frosting
- Use gel colors for vibrant results
- Chill cake between frosting layers
- Handle fondant with clean, dry hands
Storage
- Room temperature: 2 days
- Refrigerate in airtight container
- Bring to room temp before serving
Variations
- Gluten-free flour option
- Vegan butter substitute
- Drip cake style
- Sheet cake alternative
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing batter
- Frosting warm cake
- Overloading with decorations
- Inconsistent frosting thickness
Pro Decorator Secrets
- Use a turntable for smooth frosting
- Create texture with piping tips
- Layer different shades of blue
- Add edible glitter for magic
Scaling
- 6″ cake: Halve recipe
- 10″ cake: Double recipe
- Multi-tier: Adjust proportionally
Final Thoughts
This Elsa cake isn’t just a dessert—it’s a magical centerpiece that’ll make any Frozen fan’s birthday unforgettable. Embrace your inner snow queen and create a cake that’s as spectacular as Elsa herself!