Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
An Easy Easter Sheet Cake Recipe for Beginner Bakers!
• Lynsey Macdonald
A classic vanilla cake is a hit whatever the season! Delicate sponge and sweet buttercream is the perfect pairing. So, our friend Sarah (@by.sarahteresa) created this fantastic, beginner-friendly Easter sheet cake recipe for us, to help you bake something special this spring.
But remember, the Easter vibes come through in the decorations - save this recipe to use any season! Just switch up the piping and the sprinkles for any occasion.
Serving Size: One 9x9-inch cake - cut into 9 or 12 pieces Difficulty: Beginner Level Prep Time: 30 mins Cook time: 35mins Decorating time: 20-30mins
What you need to make your Easter Sheet Cake
| Ingredients Vanilla Sheet Cake: 200 g self-raising flour 180 g caster sugar 3 medium eggs 120 ml neutral oil (sunflower or vegetable) 120 ml milk 2 tsp vanilla extract ¼ tsp salt (optional but recommended) Buttercream: 115 g unsalted butter, softened 300 g icing sugar, sifted 1½ tsp vanilla extract 1–2 tbsp milk pinch of salt Decorating: Your choice of filling Colour Mill Oil Based Colouring in Lemon, Orange and Sage Easter Sprinkles or Mini Eggs FunCakes Pastel Non-Pareils Simply Making 5mm White Square Cake Board | Tools Square Baking Tin Large Mixing Bowl Whisk Mixer Palette Knife Wilton 2A Piping Tip Wilton 102 Piping Tip Wilton 4 Piping Tip Piping Bags |
Step-by-Step Easter Sheet Cake Tutorial
Step One: Prep the tin and preheat the oven.
Line a 9×9-inch square tin with baking paper and lightly oil it. Switch on the oven to preheat to 170°C fan / 180°C conventional.
Step Two: Whisk the wet ingredients.
In a large bowl, whisk your eggs and sugar. Whisk for about 30–45 seconds until slightly pale.
Step Three: Add liquids.
Whisk in your oil, milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
Step Four: Add the flour.
Sift in the self-raising flour and salt. Fold gently until just combined. Don’t overmix - stop as soon as you no longer see dry flour.
Step Five: Bake!
Pour the mixture into the tin and level the top. Bake 30–35 minutes, until the top springs back and a skewer comes out clean.
Step Six: Leave to cool.
Leave the cake in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift it onto a rack to cool completely.
Now to make your American Vanilla Buttercream…
Step Seven: Beat the butter.
In a bowl, beat the softened butter with a whisk for 2–3 minutes until pale and creamy.
Step Eight: Add the icing sugar gradually.
Add half the icing sugar and beat on low speed first (to avoid a sugar cloud), then increase the speed.
Step Nine: Add flavour and liquid.
Mix in your vanilla extract, 1 tbsp milk and a pinch of salt.
Step Ten: Add the remaining icing sugar.
Beat in the rest of the icing sugar until smooth. If you need to, you can adjust the texture:
- If it’s too thick, add a little more milk (½ tsp at a time).
- If it’s too soft, add a bit more icing sugar.
Step Eleven: Whip for fluffiness.
Beat for another 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
And finally, it's time to decorate your Easter sheet cake…
Step Twelve: Add your filling of choice.
Place your sponge on your cake board. Poke holes into the cake and fill with lemon curd (or any other filling, could be strawberry or chocolate spread - whatever you like!)
Step Thirteen: Scoop buttercream on and spread with a palette knife.
Take care to spread the buttercream evenly and to the edges, but don’t worry about smoothing it down completely; a textured look will only add to the end result!
Step Fourteen: Create your flowers.
Pipe 5-petal flowers with coloured buttercream (Colour Mill Oil Based Lemon) and Wilton 2A piping tip.
Step Fifteen: Create your mini carrots.
Pipe mini carrots with Wilton tips 102 and 4 (using Colour Mill Oil Based Orange and Sage)
Step Sixteen: Finishing touches for your Easter sheet cake!
Add a dash of Easter sprinkles or Easter almonds/eggs and Funcakes Pastel Non-Pareils.
Watch our Video Tutorial
Decorator’s Toolkit
We hope your Easter sheet cake is the hit of your next springtime party or picnic! It’s a delicious crowd pleaser, and a great excuse to practice your piping skills! Don't forget to tag us using #cakedecfamous on Instagram if you recreate this bake - we’d love to see it.
Looking for more inspiration for your Easter bakes?
15 Easter Baking Ideas to Inspire your Best Bakes
