Pisces Themed Galaxy Cake (Print View)

Celestial cake featuring galaxy swirls, edible glitter, and moist vanilla sponge for memorable celebrations.

# Components:

→ Vanilla Sponge

01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ 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 - 1½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ 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 finish

→ Decoration

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

# Directions:

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 until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until combined.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to 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 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, beating until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Divide buttercream into four separate bowls. Tint each bowl 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 - Chill cake for 30 minutes before slicing to set the buttercream and design.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The vanilla sponge is sturdy enough to handle layers without crumbling, yet stays impossibly tender and moist where it counts.
  • That galaxy buttercream effect looks like you spent hours perfecting it, but the magic honestly happens through happy accidents and swirling.
  • You get to play with color in a way that feels artistic, not fussy—there's real freedom in how you blend those blues and purples.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional—cold eggs and butter won't combine smoothly, and you'll end up with a grainy, uneven cake that bakes poorly.
  • Don't skip cooling the cakes completely before frosting; warm cake melts frosting into a sliding mess that no amount of additional chilling will fix.
  • Gel food coloring is essential because liquid coloring adds moisture that thins buttercream to an unpourable state.
03 -
  • Weigh your ingredients if you can—it eliminates the guesswork of how tightly you pack flour into a measuring cup and makes your cakes consistent every time.
  • Make the buttercream the day before if you're planning ahead; it holds beautifully in the fridge and actually spreads more smoothly than fresh frosting because it's a touch firmer.
  • If your frosting looks too soft while you're working, pop it in the fridge for 5-10 minutes rather than adding more sugar, which can make it grainy.
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