Description
Bring the pixelated charm of Minecraft to life with this fun and delicious cake recipe. Perfect for birthdays or gaming parties, this cake is as satisfying to make as it is to eat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- Red gel food coloring
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 4–6 tablespoons whole milk (or non-dairy alternative)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for chocolate buttercream)
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2–3 tablespoons whole milk (or non-dairy alternative) (for chocolate buttercream)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for chocolate buttercream)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) square cake pans, lining the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened unsalted butter and 2 cups of granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Beat in 4 large room-temperature eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with 1 cup of whole milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined; do not overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly into three separate bowls. Add enough red gel food coloring to two of the bowls to achieve a vibrant, deep red color. Mix gently until the color is uniform. Leave the third bowl of batter uncolored (white).
- Pour one red batter into one prepared pan and the white batter into the second prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove from the oven, let cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. While these are cooling, pour the remaining red batter into one of the now-empty, clean, and re-greased pans and bake. Repeat the cooling process. You should now have two red layers and one white layer.
- While the cakes cool, prepare your white frosting. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup (2 sticks) softened unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually beat in 4 cups of sifted powdered sugar, alternating with 4-6 tablespoons of whole milk (or non-dairy alternative) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, until light and fluffy. Adjust milk quantity for desired consistency.
- In a separate bowl, cream ½ cup (1 stick) softened unsalted butter. Gradually beat in 2 cups of sifted powdered sugar and ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, alternating with 2-3 tablespoons of whole milk (or non-dairy alternative) and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, until smooth and well combined.
- Once the cake layers are completely cool, use a serrated knife to carefully level the tops of each layer, ensuring they are flat for stacking. Place one red cake layer on your serving plate or cake stand. Spread an even layer of white buttercream over it. Top with the white cake layer, then another layer of white buttercream. Finish with the second red cake layer.
- Apply a thin layer of white buttercream all over the assembled cake, including the sides and top. Chill the cake in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to set the crumb coat.
- Once the crumb coat is firm, apply a thicker, smooth layer of white buttercream to the top and sides of the cake. Use an offset spatula or bench scraper to get smooth, sharp edges, mimicking the blocky Minecraft aesthetic. Spread the chocolate buttercream over the entire top surface of the cake, ensuring it reaches the edges for that distinct brown square. For the sides, use a small square-ended tool, a small offset spatula, or even a knife to create faint grid lines or small square impressions in the white frosting.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: For vibrant red cake layers, always opt for gel food coloring over liquid. Chilling the cake layers before leveling makes them easier to handle and less prone to breaking.