Square Pastel Layer Cake
Six layers of moist pastel tinted cake, surrounded by fluffy homemade vanilla buttercream. A fun cake for a birthday or any celebration!
September is a busy month for us. I bet everyone has months that are especially busy. Families with loads of birthdays and celebrations. For us, September means two birthdays, an anniversary, back to school, lots of appointments and soccer. So in the midst of settling back into the school routine, we get to make things even more chaotic and fun with birthday celebrations. And let’s not make things easier, they’re back to back. Hey… they could’ve been on the same day but we had a say in the matter and got to prevent that.
Every kid… no, every person of any age deserves to celebrate their birthday with a tasty and colorful cake. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated. And celebrate we shall…
My good friends at McCormick are celebrating their 125th birthday this year! A milestone for sure! So for them, and my two youngest who are forced to almost share a birthday and everyone else celebrating now or in the future… this cake is for you!
When I was given the challenge of creating a fun and colorful cake, I knew I wanted it to be special. Why do something ordinary for an extraordinary day?
It had to be square. And so it was!
You know one of my favorite parts about this cake being square (outside of the fact that it’s far less traditional)? I love that it easily serves a crowd. Yes, this cake can very easily feed 20 or so guests. Don’t believe me? Try it out and see!
Six square cakes tinted with McCormick neon food color for a fun pop of pastel color and flavored with a dash of their brand new extra rich pure vanilla extract. Be sure to look for it on store shelves!
Moist colorful cakes stacked high and covered with creamy homemade vanilla buttercream. This cake is a birthday girl or boy’s dream!
Ditch traditional plain Jane cakes and add some color to your celebration!
Square Pastel Layer Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 boxes white cake mix
- McCormick extra rich pure vanilla
- McCormick neon food color
Frosting:
- 1 1/4 C unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/4 C vegetable shortening
- 4 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 C powdered sugar
Suggested tools:
- Parchment paper
- Square baking pan
- Baking spray
- 1 M piping tip
- Piping bags
- Small offset spatula
- Large offset spatula
- Bench scraper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut 6 pieces of parchment paper to fit the bottom of your square baking pan.
- In a large bowl, mix box cake mix according to manufacturer's directions. Mix in 1/2 tsp extra rich pure vanilla per 1 box cake mix. Divide batter between clean bowls, measuring out 1 and 1/4 cup batter per bowl. Tint each bowl according to chart below.
- Cake tint chart: Pink layer: 3 drops pink Blue layer: 3 drops blue Green layer: 3 drops green, 1 drop blue Orange layer: 4 drops green, 2 drops pink Purple: 3 drops purple White: none
- Lightly grease pan (or multiple pans) with baking spray, insert parchment paper, lightly spray parchment paper with baking spray.
- Add one color to a prepared pan, spreading out evenly into all corners. Use a small offset spatula to level out the batter. Bake for 17-18 minutes. Cool for several minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter.
- Once fully cooled, using a sharp knife, carefully level off tops of cakes. Keeping parchment paper in place, stack cake layers and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill overnight.
- When ready to frost, prepare buttercream. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract, followed by 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
- To frost cake: Choose the base layer of your cake, add strips of wax paper under each side. Add a large dollop of frosting to the cake, smooth our with a small offset spatula. Add another cake layer and frosting. Repeat method until all layers have been added. Top off with additional frosting. Coat cake with frosting, filling in gaps and sealing in crumbs. Transfer to refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Cover remaining frosting until ready to proceed.
- Add additional frosting to top and sides of cake, smoothing out with an offset spatula and/or bench scraper. If roses are desired, add frosting to a piping bag fit with a 1M tip. Pipe roses around the top edge of the cake.
- Chill if desired or serve immediately.
- To slice cake: Using a sharp knife, cut cake in half width wise. Cut slices length wise into desired thickness.
- Remaining cake may be stored at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
Items used in this recipe:
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by McCormick. I was compensated for my time. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
This post contains affiliate links.
Absolutely GORGEOUS! I love the pastel layers! What a beautiful birthday cake! Pinning it everywhere!
Thanks so much Anna! :)
This is so gorgeous, Rachel! I know a little girl that would FLIP over this cake :)
I know she would!! You should make her some ;)
This cake is gorgeous!! Pinned :)
Thanks Marla!
Rachel – this is AMAZING!!! You knocked it outta the ball park!
Thanks Beth!
This is so pretty! I wish it was my birthday cake!
Thanks so much! I hope you have a cake just as tasty! :)
Stunning! I loooooooove this cake :)
Thanks Katrina :)
This cake is so beautiful! Love all those colors :)
Thanks Brandy!
I am in awe with the beauty and perfection of this cake, it’s just beautiful! So creative with the colored layers! Pinned!
Thanks so much Cathy :)
So beautiful! I love it!
Thanks Sarah!
Love the shape, love the colors, love the layers, LOVE IT ALL!!
Thank you Anna! :)
Oh wow, is that a thing of beauty. You did the NEON proud! Bravo, Rachel. Bravo. Pinned!
Thanks Amy! :)
This turned out so perfectly pretty! Awesome job!!
Thanks so much Brenda!
This is seriously the most beautiful cake. Ever!!! LOVE IT.
Thanks Aimee! :)
Such pretty layers! This turned out beautifully! My daughter will be asking for this for her birthday when she sees it :-)
I hope she does! And thank you :)
The most beautiful cake I’ve EVER seen!!
Thanks Claire!
Such a cool birthday cake!! Happy birthday to the two special september babies <3
Thanks so much Sharana!
This looks so pretty. Love the pastel colours
Thanks Chichi!
This cake is absolutely beautiful! I love all the layers, and that it’s a square! So pretty.
Thanks Stacey! :)
Holy cow, how cute is THIS??? Love the colors. Totally want it for my birthday!
Thanks Dorothy! :)
What a lovely colors of the cake!
Thanks so much :)
That is the prettiest cake! It would be perfect for birthdays, baby showers, Easter, afternoon snacking… :)
Haha! I love the snacking part. Cake on the counter is hard to resist! ;)
This is such a fun dessert!
Thanks Lori! :)
this is beautiful! I’d love a cake like this for my birthday this year!
Thanks so much Angelyn! Maybe you can convince someone to make you some? No one should have to make their own cake! :)
What the heck!? Now how am I supposed to think about anything else until make this? It looks flawless, and seriously so delicious! Nice work!
Haha! Thanks Mandy :)
This is stunning!!! And SO fun! Love those neon colors! :)
Thanks Laura!
This is incredible! I think I need to find an excuse to make this! Gorgeous!
Thanks Rachel! :)
Award for the prettiest cake ever right here! Seriously gorgeous!
Thanks Jessica!
This cake is GORGEOUS! I am the world’s worst cake decorator, but I’d still give this one a try just because it looks so fun to make.
You really should! And thank you :)
I love everything about this! So pretty!!
Thanks Amanda!
How much fun is this cake?!!!
Thanks so much :)
This seriously may be too pretty to eat! OK. Not actually seriously…but almost!
Thanks Marly!
Thankfully we don’t have a month that’s quite as busy as yours, but I can imagine how hectic it could be! There must barely be time to breathe, let along bake and photo and sleep! I love the gorgeous colors in this cake, and making it square is absolutely brilliant. I really want to try that sometime! Pinned!
Thanks so much Amy! :)
Love your cake! But what size of square pans did you use? I am new to baking…
This is for an 8-inch square layer cake, as specified in the recipe details. Good luck! :)
Wow this is so pretty! I love the idea of a square layer cake, unusual but awesome!
Thanks so much :)
Gorgeous cake. Thanks for the instructions.
Thanks Kathy!
I have a serious soft spot for pretty pastels… and cake of course! This is gorgeous!
Thanks Glory!
What are the strips of wax paper for?
They help to keep the bottom edge of the cake and serving plate clean and neat. After you’ve frosted the cake, simply remove the wax strips to reveal a clean edge.
What size baking pan did you use??
The recipe details specify that this is an 8-inch cake.