Milk Bar Birthday Cake - Sheet Cake Version via Christina Tosi

x 1

My favourite.

Dessert
Baking
Comfort Food

The Cake

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 34 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 5 eggs
  • 12 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, shortening, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract. Slowly stream this mixture into the batter while mixing.
  5. In another bowl, whisk together the cake flour, 1 cup of sprinkles, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet ingredients until just combined.
  6. Divide the batter evenly between two greased and lined quarter-size sheet pans.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of sprinkles on top and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Milk Soak

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the whole milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.

Cake Crumbs

Ingredients

  • 33 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. In a stand mixer, combine the sugar, cake flour, light brown sugar, sprinkles, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add the oil and vanilla extract, mixing until small clumps form.
  4. Spread the mixture onto a lined sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely before using.

Fluffy Frosting

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pinch baking powder
  • citric acid optional

Preparation

  1. In a stand mixer, beat together the butter, shortening, and cream cheese until fluffy.
  2. Add the corn syrup and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
  3. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, salt, baking powder, and citric acid, mixing until fluffy and bright white.

Assembly

Preparation

  1. Place the first layer of cake on a serving platter.
  2. Brush half of the milk soak over the cake layer.
  3. Spread a quarter of the fluffy frosting over the soaked cake.
  4. Sprinkle a cup of cake crumbs over the frosting, pressing lightly to adhere.
  5. Repeat the process with the second layer of cake, soaking it with the remaining milk soak and topping with the rest of the frosting.
  6. Finish with another cup of cake crumbs on top.
  7. Freeze the assembled cake for at least 2 hours before serving.