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Easy Vibrant Sheet Cake Recipe Perfect for School Colors Celebration

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A moist and tender sheet cake with vibrant, customizable frosting perfect for school events and celebrations. Quick and easy to make with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit 5 minutes)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • For the Frosting:
  • 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3–4 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
  • Gel food coloring (vibrant blue and gold or your school colors)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch sheet pan with butter or nonstick spray and lightly dust with flour.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, cream softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs one at a time to the butter, beating well after each addition.
  5. Mix in vanilla extract.
  6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Beat on low speed until combined.
  7. Stir in whole milk until batter is pourable but not runny.
  8. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  10. Remove cake from oven and place on a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
  11. Make frosting by beating softened butter on medium speed for 3 minutes until creamy.
  12. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until combined, then increase speed and beat until smooth.
  13. Add vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk or cream, beat for 2 minutes. Adjust consistency with more milk if needed.
  14. Divide frosting into bowls and add gel food coloring to each to achieve desired school colors.
  15. Spread one color of frosting on the cake, then dollop other color(s) on top. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to swirl colors gently for a marbled effect.
  16. Chill cake for 30 minutes before serving to set frosting and make slicing cleaner.

Notes

[‘Use room temperature ingredients for smooth batter.’, ‘Do not overmix after adding flour to avoid tough cake.’, ‘Adjust frosting consistency with milk or powdered sugar as needed.’, ‘Use gel food coloring to keep frosting vibrant and thick.’, ‘Swirl frosting colors gently to avoid muddy colors.’, ‘Chill cake before slicing for cleaner cuts.’, ‘Can substitute gluten-free flour and dairy-free butter/milk for dietary needs.’, ‘Try adding citrus zest or chocolate chips for variations.’, ‘Bake in two 8-inch round pans if no sheet pan is available, adjusting baking time to 25-30 minutes.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: sheet cake, vibrant cake, school colors cake, easy cake recipe, celebration cake, colorful frosting, moist cake

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