Cozy Quilt Patchwork Cake (Printable)

A colorful sponge cake styled like a patchwork quilt, layered and finished with smooth buttercream frosting.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sponge Cake

01 - 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 4 large eggs
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
09 - Food coloring gels (red, yellow, green, blue, purple)

→ Buttercream Frosting

10 - 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar
12 - 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
13 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line five 8 x 8-inch square baking pans or prepare to bake in batches.
02 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add flour mixture and milk alternately to wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing just until combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly into five bowls and tint each with a different color using food coloring gels.
06 - Pour each colored batter into prepared pans, spreading evenly. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, continuing to beat until fluffy. Add milk as needed to reach desired consistency.
09 - Trim edges and cut each colored sponge into uniform 1¼-inch squares.
10 - Arrange squares on a large tray in alternating colors to create a patchwork pattern, adhering squares with thin buttercream layers. Build successive layers for a quilted effect.
11 - Coat top and sides with a thin buttercream layer, smoothing the surface. Optionally, pipe decorative lines to enhance the patchwork design.
12 - Refrigerate assembled creation for 30 minutes prior to slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of show-stopper that makes people gasp when you slice into it, revealing those unexpected rainbow squares.
  • Once you nail the technique, you'll find yourself making it for every celebration because it becomes your signature move.
  • The vanilla sponge is so tender and forgiving that even if your colors aren't perfectly aligned, it still tastes like a hug on a plate.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step—hot cakes are fragile, and trying to assemble a warm patchwork will result in broken squares and a messy cake. Cold cakes are forgiving and cut cleanly.
  • The texture of your buttercream makes or breaks the assembly—too soft and your patchwork collapses, too stiff and you can't spread it between squares. Test it on one square first and adjust your milk accordingly.
  • Gel food coloring is the difference between vibrant colors that pop and muddy colors that look dull. I learned this the hard way with liquid coloring that watered down my batter and muted the hues.
03 -
  • Keep your food coloring gel in a cool place and use just a toothpick's worth at a time—these gels are concentrated, and a little goes a remarkably long way.
  • If you're worried about your squares not being perfectly uniform, remember that slight imperfections actually make the patchwork look more handmade and charming, not less beautiful.
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