Milk Bar Birthday Cake (Printable)
A fun vanilla layer cake with creamy frosting, rainbow sprinkles, and buttery crumb topping.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 1/2 cups cake flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1/3 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
07 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
08 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
09 - 3 large eggs
10 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
11 - 1/3 cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
13 - 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles
→ Birthday Cake Crumb
14 - 1/2 cup cake flour
15 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
16 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
17 - 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
18 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
19 - 2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
20 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
21 - 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
→ Frosting
22 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
23 - 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
24 - 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
25 - 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
26 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
27 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
28 - 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk
→ Assembly
29 - 1/4 cup whole milk
30 - 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a quarter sheet pan (9x13 inches) and line with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter, shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes. Scrape down bowl.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
05 - Reduce mixer speed. Add buttermilk, milk, and vanilla. Mix to combine. On low speed, add dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Fold in sprinkles.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake 28–32 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely in pan.
07 - Lower oven to 300°F. Combine flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, and sprinkles. Add melted butter and vanilla; mix with fork until clusters form.
08 - Spread crumb mixture on lined baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, stirring halfway. Cool completely.
09 - Beat butter, shortening, and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until fluffy. Add milk as needed for spreadable consistency.
10 - Mix milk and vanilla in small bowl. Using 6-inch cake ring, cut two full circles and two half circles from cooled cake.
11 - Place cake round in lined 6-inch ring on cake board. Brush with vanilla milk. Spread 1/5 frosting over cake, sprinkle 1/3 crumbs. Repeat layering: half-circles, milk soak, frosting, crumbs. Top with final round, soak, and finish with frosting and remaining crumbs.
12 - Chill cake in ring at least 1 hour or overnight. Remove ring, transfer to platter, and serve at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything you loved about childhood boxed cake mixes but elevated to bakery quality
- That addictive birthday cake crumb creates texture in every single bite
- The vanilla milk soak keeps each layer impossibly moist for days
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are non negotiable for proper emulsification
- The milk soak seems excessive but is the difference between dry and divine
- Clear vanilla extract is worth hunting down for that signature Milk Bar appearance
03 -
- Invest in clear vanilla extract for that pristine white frosting appearance
- Classic jimmies sprinkles hold their shape better than nonpareils during baking
- The crumb can be made in larger batches and frozen for up to three months