Vintage Birthday Cake with Black Ribbon
This vintage birthday cake combines classic aesthetics with rich nostalgic flavors, featuring elegant piping, a dramatic black ribbon accent, and timeless ingredients like vanilla, chocolate, or lemon pound cake. Perfect for birthdays with a touch of sophistication and charm.
Equipment
- Cake pans
- Piping bags & tips
- Offset spatula
- Ribbon (for decoration)
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs room temperature
- 1 cup milk whole milk preferred
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting & Decoration
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter for buttercream
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- black ribbon food-safe or decorative
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pans.
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla extract. Alternate adding flour and milk to the mixture, starting and ending with flour.
- Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Make buttercream by beating butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then cream and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
- Frost the cake and decorate with vintage piping techniques. Wrap the cake base or tiers with black ribbon as desired.
Notes
Use food-safe ribbons or add a parchment layer underneath to avoid grease stains. Customize flavors and frosting to suit your celebration’s style and preferences.