Description
This Easter Swirl Pie is a moist and fluffy vanilla cake swirled with pastel colors, topped with creamy frosting, and decorated with festive sprinkles. It’s the perfect spring dessert for Easter brunch or any special occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix
- ¼ cup water
- 4 egg whites (or 3 whole eggs for a slightly denser texture)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp clear vanilla extract (to maintain pastel colors)
- Food coloring (blue, pink, yellow, or your preferred colors)
- Pastel sprinkles or Easter candies for decoration
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2–4 tbsp heavy cream (adjust as needed for consistency)
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Batter
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, water, egg whites, vegetable oil, sour cream, and clear vanilla extract.
- Mix on low speed until combined, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
Step 2: Color and Swirl the Batter
- Pour 2 cups of batter into the greased baking dish.
- Divide the remaining batter into three separate bowls (about ½ cup each).
- Add blue, pink, and yellow food coloring to each bowl and mix until the colors are evenly distributed.
- Drop spoonfuls of each colored batter randomly over the white batter.
- Use a butter knife or skewer to gently swirl the colors together, creating a marbled effect. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 3: Bake the Cake
- Place the cake in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the cake cool completely before frosting.
Step 4: Make the Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy.
- Add salt and mix.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed to incorporate. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add vanilla extract and 2 tbsp of heavy cream. Mix on high speed for about 1 minute.
- If the frosting is too thick, add 1 tbsp of heavy cream at a time until it reaches a spreadable consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- (Optional) If you want colored frosting, divide it into bowls and mix in a few drops of food coloring.
Step 5: Frost and Decorate
- Spread the frosting evenly over the completely cooled cake.
- Sprinkle with pastel sprinkles or Easter candies for a festive touch.
- Slice and serve!
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions & Tips:
- Eggs: Use 3 whole eggs instead of 4 egg whites for a denser cake.
- Heavy Cream: Can be substituted with milk, but use less since milk is thinner.
- Clear Vanilla Extract: Prevents color distortion; regular vanilla will slightly darken the batter.
- Food Coloring: Gel food coloring works best for vibrant colors without affecting the consistency.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips:
- Room Temperature: Store covered for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Keeps fresh for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Wrap the unfrosted cake in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg