Piñata Cake: the easy, beautiful cake to make for birthday parties

If you've been searching for a gorgeous, impressive cake to serve for birthday parties, engagement parties, and other special occasions, look no further than the piñata cake. Named after the popular Mexican piñata party game, where people bash a paper-mache figure filled with sweets, this amazing cake contains a candy surprise inside.

Piñata cake is made by layering cakes on top of one another, with the center of two of the cake layers removed to make space for candy. When the cake is cut, the candy spills out for everyone to enjoy.

Piñata cake is moist, with a tender, soft crumb. It's decorated in a rich buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles or nerds. If you want to make a stunning, delicious cake that people will be talking about for years to come, this piñata cake recipe is perfect for you.

How to Make Piñata Cake

Ready to make the best, most eye-catching piñata cake ever? Here's what to do! Start by greasing two cake pans with cooking spray, and lining them with parchment paper. Divide all of the ingredients in half and set one half aside. Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy and light. Beat in 3 of the eggs one at a time. Add the flour and milk to the butter mixture until the batter is just combined. Pour the batter evenly between the pans.

Bake the cakes at 355°F for 40 minutes, then take them out of the oven and let them cool for 10 to 15 minutes in the pans. Remove the cakes from the pans and pop them on racks to cool to room temperature. Make two more cakes using the other half of the ingredients you set to the side. While the second batch of cakes is baking, beat the vanilla and butter until airy. Add in the sugar until the frosting reaches your preferred consistency. Cut a 4-inch circle in the center of two of the cakes.

To assemble the piñata cake, put one whole cake on a platter. Decorate the top with buttercream. Layer one of the cakes with a hole in the center on top of the bottom cake. Spread the buttercream on top of the cake. Stack the second cake with a hole in on top of it. Fill the hole with candy, but make sure you don't overfill it! Place the final cake on top.

Decorate the entire cake with buttercream and garnish with Nerds and chocolate chips. When it's time to cut the cake, watch your guests' amazement as the brightly colored candies spill out of the cake!

Piñata Cake Flavor Variations

You can add cocoa powder to make a chocolate piñata cake or dye the cake or buttercream for a fun festive cake.

Try adding other flavored essences to the batter instead of vanilla. Almond, lemon, and orange are all tasty options.

You can also make a flavored buttercream instead of using vanilla buttercream. Chocolate, strawberry, lemon, orange, and raspberry are some great flavors to try.

How to Make Rainbow Piñata Cake

Making a rainbow piñata cake is easy. After making the cake batter, divide it into two bowls. Add your desired color of food coloring, then bake the cakes. Repeat with the remaining batter when baking the third and fourth cake. The more food coloring you use, the more vibrant the cake colors will be.

Tips for the Best Piñata Cake

Use room temperature ingredients to make your piñata cake.

Don't overmix the cake batter.

Your cakes are done baking when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean and crumb-free. Don't underbake the cakes. If they're too soft, your piñata cake will collapse.

Make sure to line up the cakes with the holes in the middle when assembling the cake.

How to Store Piñata Cake

Cover the cake and keep it at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 355°F. Spray 2 cake pans with cooking spray, then line each with parchment paper.

Cream half the butter, half the sugar, and half vanilla until fluffy and light. Beat 3 of the eggs in one at a time.

Alternating between the two, add in half the flour and half milk until the batter is just combined.

Pour the batter evenly between the pans.

Bake for 40 minutes, then remove from the oven and let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Make two more cakes using the remaining ingredients.

To make the buttercream, beat the vanilla and butter for 5 to 7 minutes, until airy.

Beat in the sugar gradually, until the frosting reaches your desired thickness.

Slice the top of each cake, so they're flat. Cut a 4-inch circle in the center of two of the cakes.

To assemble the pinata cake, put one whole cake on a serving platter. Cover the top with buttercream.

Layer one of the cakes with a hole in the center on top of it. Spread the buttercream on top of the cake.

Stack the second cake with a hole in on top. Fill the hole with candy. Place the final cake on top.

Decorate the entire cake with buttercream and garnish with Nerds and chocolate chips.

Notes

Use two 8-inch round cake pans to make your piñata cake.