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Perfect Leo Zodiac Gold Drip Birthday Cake Recipe with Sunflower Buttercream

Leo Zodiac Gold Drip Birthday Cake - featured image
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A radiant golden vanilla birthday cake crowned with a glossy gold drip and sunflower buttercream, capturing the fiery and regal spirit of a Leo. Moist, bold, and perfect for celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons (12g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature (almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • ¾ cup (180g) sunflower seed butter, natural and unsweetened
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30-45ml) heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • Pinch of salt (for buttercream)
  • 1 cup (180g) white chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream (for gold drip)
  • 1 teaspoon edible gold dust or gold luster dust
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  3. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. Add dry ingredients in three parts alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined.
  6. Gently stir in vanilla extract by hand.
  7. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
  10. For sunflower buttercream: Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed.
  11. Add sunflower seed butter, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt. Beat in heavy cream until fluffy. Adjust consistency as needed.
  12. Assemble cake by placing one layer on serving plate. Spread thick layer of buttercream. Top with second layer and apply thin crumb coat. Chill 20 minutes.
  13. For gold drip: Heat heavy cream until just simmering. Pour over white chocolate chips and vegetable oil. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth.
  14. Mix in edible gold dust. Cool slightly until thick but pourable.
  15. Drip gold ganache carefully around cake edges using spoon or piping bag. Chill to set.
  16. Pipe sunflower buttercream rosettes or swirls on top for decoration.

Notes

Use room temperature butter for smooth buttercream. Achieve gold drip consistency by adjusting temperature: chill if too runny, warm if too thick. Cool cake layers completely before frosting to prevent melting. Natural, unsweetened sunflower seed butter recommended for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute half flour with almond flour. For dairy-free, use almond milk and vegan butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: Leo birthday cake, gold drip cake, sunflower buttercream, vanilla cake, zodiac cake, birthday dessert, easy birthday cake, golden cake

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/perfect-leo-zodiac-gold-drip-birthday-cake-recipe-with-sunflower-buttercream-tutorial/