I made this cake for a spring tea party with my daughter, and it instantly became our new favorite. It looks fancy, but it’s actually so simple  just a basic cake with flowers and butterflies on top! It’s perfect for birthdays, garden parties, or any sweet moment you want to make a little more magical. 

Butterfly Garden Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 ¾ cups sugar

• 4 eggs

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup milk

Shortcut option: Use 2 boxes of white or vanilla cake mix.

For the Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened

• 5 cups powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• Gel food coloring: pastel pink, purple, yellow, green

Decorations:

• Fondant butterflies (store-bought or DIY)

• Edible flowers or piped buttercream flowers

• Edible glitter (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Bake the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.

3. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

5. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.

6. Add dry ingredients and milk, alternating in small batches.

7. Pour into pans and bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

8. Cool completely before frosting.

2. Make the Buttercream:

1. Beat softened butter until creamy.

2. Slowly add powdered sugar.

3. Mix in vanilla and milk until smooth and fluffy.

4. Divide into 3–4 bowls and color each with a drop of gel food coloring (light pink, yellow, purple, green, etc.).

3. Frost the Cake:

1. Place the first cake layer on your cake stand. Add a layer of frosting.

2. Stack the second layer on top and frost the whole cake in a light pastel color (I like soft pink or vanilla white).

3. Smooth out the frosting or leave some texture for a garden look.

4. Decorate Like a Garden:

Add Buttercream Flowers:

1. Use small piping bags with star or petal tips.

2. Pipe tiny flowers around the top and sides of the cake using the colored buttercream.

3. Add little green leaves in between.

Place the Butterflies:

1. Gently press fondant butterflies onto the sides and top of the cake.

2. Let some “flutter” off the edge for a natural look.

 Add Finishing Touches:

1. Sprinkle with edible glitter if you like sparkle.

2. Optional: Add edible pearls, tiny flower candies, or fresh herbs like mint or lavender.

Note: If decorating butterflies feels tricky, don’t stress! You can use ready-made butterfly toppers, floral sprinkles, or pre-decorated fondant pieces to create the same sweet garden look with less effort. The best part? You get to make it your own and have fun along the way! 🦋🌸 make the same but shorter

Nutrition (Per Slice, Approximate):

Calories: 450
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 57g
Fat: 23g
Sugar: 46g
Fiber: 0.5g