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Simple Layered Picnic Cake for Outdoor Entertaining

Close-up of a slice of three-layer cake (yellow, blue, pink) with white frosting, perfect for a cake picnic.
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A straightforward, colorful layer cake perfect for transporting and serving at your next social gathering or spring aesthetics picnic.

Ingredients

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  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Food coloring (pink, yellow, blue)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 6-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Divide the batter evenly into three small bowls. Add a few drops of a different food coloring to each bowl to create your desired colors.
  6. Pour each colored batter into a prepared cake pan, one color per pan.
  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. While the cakes cool, prepare the frosting. Beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and lemon zest until stiff peaks form.
  9. Place the first cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream frosting over the top. Repeat with the second and third layers. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake lightly.
  10. Transport the cake carefully to your picnic location. Keep cool until serving time for the best results.

Notes

  • For easier transport, frost the cake lightly (a crumb coat) before leaving home, then apply the final frosting layer once you arrive at your outdoor entertaining spot.
  • Use sturdy cake boards for the base of the cake to make moving it simple.
  • This cake is best served the same day it is made for optimal freshness.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://daisyrecipe.com/cake-picnic-simple-layered-outdoor-entertaining/