Classic Birthday Drip Cake

A moist vanilla cake with silky buttercream and a chocolate ganache drip, decorated with sprinkles.

Yields: One 8-inch round cake (3 layers)
Prep time: 1 hour
Bake time: 30–35 minutes

Ingredients

Cake Layers

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1¾ cups granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1¼ cups buttermilk, room temperature

Buttercream

• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 7–8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract (clear for white)
• 4–5 tbsp heavy cream
• Pinch of salt

Ganache

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
• ⅓ cup heavy cream

Decoration

• Multi-colored sprinkles
• Tools: Offset spatula, piping bag, large star tip

Instructions

Cake Layers

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch pans, line bottoms with parchment.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and oil 3–5 minutes.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
5. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
6. Divide batter among pans. Bake 30–35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Buttercream

1. Beat butter 5–7 minutes until pale.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing high briefly after each cup.
3. Mix in vanilla, salt, and cream. Whip 3–5 minutes.

Ganache

1. Heat cream until simmering, pour over chocolate.
2. Let sit 5 minutes, stir until smooth. Cool until thickened.

Assembly

1. Stack layers with frosting in between.
2. Apply crumb coat, chill 20 minutes.
3. Frost cake, smooth sides.
4. Press sprinkles along bottom edge. Chill 20–30 minutes.
5. Apply ganache along top edge, fill center.
6. Pipe buttercream rosettes and sprinkle remaining decorations.

Tips

• Use room-temperature ingredients.
• Don’t overmix cake batter.
• Chill cake before ganache for controlled drip.
• Sift powdered sugar for smooth buttercream.