Pisces-Themed Galaxy Cake (Printable version)

Celestial layer cake featuring blue and purple swirls, edible glitter, and moist vanilla sponge for starry celebrations.

# What you need:

→ Vanilla Sponge

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 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 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Navy blue gel food coloring
14 - Purple gel food coloring
15 - Black gel food coloring
16 - Teal gel food coloring
17 - Edible glitter in silver, blue, or iridescent

→ Decoration

18 - White fondant, optional
19 - Silver star sprinkles, optional

# How to Make It:

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.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until combined.
05 - Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; beat until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Divide buttercream into four bowls. Tint each with different galaxy colors: navy blue, purple, teal, and black.
10 - Place alternating spoonfuls of each colored buttercream onto cake layers and sides. Use offset spatula to swirl gently for galaxy effect.
11 - Sprinkle edible glitter generously over cake. Add fondant Pisces symbols or stars if desired.
12 - Chill for 30 minutes before slicing to set design.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The vanilla sponge stays impossibly moist because of the milk ratio, making each bite tender instead of dry.
  • You get to play artist with the galaxy swirls without needing decorating piping skills.
  • Edible glitter transforms a homemade cake into something that feels bakery-worthy and celebratory.
  • The whole process takes under two hours from mixing bowl to showstopping centerpiece.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients aren't a suggestion—they're essential because cold eggs and butter won't emulsify, leaving you with a curdled-looking batter that bakes into a tough cake.
  • Gel food coloring changes everything; liquid coloring adds too much water and thins your frosting, turning what should be vivid galaxy colors into washed-out pastels.
03 -
  • If your buttercream looks grainy after adding sugar, it likely means the sugar wasn't sifted or your butter wasn't quite room temperature; gently heat the bowl over warm water while beating to smooth it out.
  • The swirl effect matters less than you think because edible glitter steals the show, so don't stress about making your swirls Instagram-perfect.
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