Want a dessert that brings tropical vibes to your celebration? Hawaiian Birthday Cake, or Tropical Layer Cake, is a stunning vanilla sponge cake with passionfruit cream and a sunset ombré frosting that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. This festive tropical dessert, topped with vibrant fruit, is perfect for birthdays or any special occasion. Create this vibrant birthday cake and transport your guests to a flavorful island treat!
Why You’ll Love Hawaiian Birthday Cake
- Stunning Look: Sunset ombré frosting makes a vibrant birthday cake.
- Tropical Flavor: Passionfruit cream delivers a flavorful island treat.
- Celebration-Ready: Perfect centerpiece for festive tropical dessert parties.
- Customizable: Swap fruits or colors for your vibrant birthday cake.
- Make-Ahead: Bake layers early for easy festive tropical dessert assembly.
Ingredients for Hawaiian Birthday Cake
Here’s what you need for this vibrant birthday cake (makes ~12 servings):
Cake Layers:
- 2½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (180ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120g) sour cream
Passionfruit Cream Filling:
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (80g) passionfruit jam (or mango/guava jam)
Ombré Buttercream:
- 1½ cups (345g) unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Coral, orange, and yellow gel food coloring
Decorations:
- ½ cup sliced mango
- ½ cup sliced kiwi
- ¼ cup pineapple chunks
- Edible flowers (e.g., orchids or marigolds)
Equipment
- Three 8-inch round cake pans
- Mixing bowls
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Cake scraper
- Piping bag (optional for decor)
Ingredient Tips
- Sour Cream: Keeps this festive tropical dessert moist; don’t skip it.
- Jam: Passionfruit jam adds zing to this vibrant birthday cake; mango or guava works too.
- Butter: Soften for smooth buttercream in this flavorful island treat.
- Food Coloring: Gel colors create a vivid ombré for this festive tropical dessert.
- Fruit: Fresh mango and kiwi enhance the vibrant birthday cake’s tropical look.
Directions for Hawaiian Birthday Cake
Let’s make this vibrant birthday cake—a tropical celebration treat!
Preheat Oven
- I preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8-inch cake pans, lining with parchment for easy release of this festive tropical dessert.
Make Cake Batter
- In a bowl, I whisk 2½ cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt. In a stand mixer, I beat 1 cup butter and 1½ cups sugar until fluffy.
- I add 4 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla, mixing well.
- I alternate adding dry ingredients with ¾ cup milk and ½ cup sour cream, creating a smooth batter for this flavorful island treat.
Bake Cakes
- I divide the batter evenly among the pans and bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- I cool the cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to racks for this vibrant birthday cake.
Prepare Filling
- I whip 1 cup heavy cream with ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla to stiff peaks.
- I fold in ⅓ cup passionfruit jam for a zesty festive tropical dessert filling.
Make Buttercream
- I beat 1½ cups butter until pale, then add 5 cups powdered sugar in stages with ¼ cup heavy cream and 2 tsp vanilla.
- I divide into three portions, tinting with coral, orange, and yellow gel coloring for this vibrant birthday cake’s ombré effect.
Assemble and Decorate
- I spread jam and cream filling between cooled cake layers, apply a white buttercream crumb coat, and chill for 20 minutes.
- I frost with coral at the base, orange in the middle, and yellow on top, blending with a cake scraper.
- I top with mango, kiwi, pineapple, and edible flowers for a festive tropical dessert.\
Nutrition
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: ~1 hour (plus chilling)
- Servings: ~12 slices
- Calories: ~450–500 kcal per serving
- Macros per Serving: 65g carbs, 5g protein, 25g fat, 1g fiber
Variations for Hawaiian Birthday Cake
Try these spins on this flavorful island treat:
- Mango Filling: Swap passionfruit for mango jam for a sweeter festive tropical dessert.
- Coconut Cake: Add ½ cup shredded coconut to the batter for a vibrant birthday cake.
- Pink Ombré: Use pink and red hues for a different festive tropical dessert look.
- Mini Cakes: Bake in muffin tins for individual vibrant birthday cakes, inspired by LaylaCooks’ Spooky Halloween Cake.
- Vegan: Use plant-based butter and cream for a vegan flavorful island treat.
Serving Ideas:
- Pair with LaylaCooks’ Cucumber Blueberry Feta Salad for a fresh contrast.
- Serve with LaylaCooks’ Vanilla Raspberry Iced Latte for a tropical drink.
- Enjoy with LaylaCooks’ The Best Peach Sorbet for a sweet finish.
Storage
I store this festive tropical dessert covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. I let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving for soft buttercream. For longer storage, I wrap cake layers in plastic and freeze for up to 2 months, assembling fresh for a vibrant birthday cake.
Serving Tips
- Presentation: Display this vibrant birthday cake on a stand with tropical decor.
- Garnish: Add extra fruit or edible flowers for a festive tropical dessert.
- Pairing: Serve with LaylaCooks’ Cucumber Mint Agua Fresca or pineapple juice.
- Portion Size: 1 slice per person for a satisfying flavorful island treat.
- Occasions: Perfect for birthdays, summer parties, or tropical-themed events.
FAQs About Hawaiian Birthday Cake
Here are answers to common questions about this dish:
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, bake layers a day early and assemble before serving for a fresh festive tropical dessert.
Can I use other jams?
Yes, mango or guava jam works well for this vibrant birthday cake.
How do I get the ombré effect?
Apply colored buttercream in layers and blend with a scraper for this flavorful island treat.
Can I make it vegan?
Yes, use plant-based ingredients for a vegan festive tropical dessert.
How do I store it?
Refrigerate for 2 days or freeze layers for 2 months for a fresh vibrant birthday cake.
More Dessert Ideas You’ll Love
- Chocolate Mousse Cake
- Cinnamon Sugar Blondies
- Strawberry Shortcake Cake (with sponge cake)
- Moist Cinnamon Apple Cake: A Sweet, Simple Deligh
Conclusion
Hawaiian Birthday Cake is a stunning, tropical dessert that’s perfect for any celebration. This vibrant birthday cake, with its passionfruit cream and ombré frosting, brings island flair to your table. Create this flavorful island treat and enjoy the festive spirit of a festive tropical dessert!
Hawaiian Birthday Cake
Hawaiian Birthday Cake is a stunning, tropical dessert that’s perfect for any celebration. This vibrant birthday cake, with its passionfruit cream and ombré frosting, brings island flair to your table.
Ingredients
Cake Layers:
- 2½ cups 310g all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup 230g unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups 300g granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup 180ml whole milk
- ½ cup 120g sour cream
Passionfruit Cream Filling:
- 1 cup 240ml heavy cream
- ½ cup 60g powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup 80g passionfruit jam (or mango/guava jam)
Ombré Buttercream:
- 1½ cups 345g unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups 600g powdered sugar
- ¼ cup 60ml heavy cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Coral orange, and yellow gel food coloring
Decorations:
- ½ cup sliced mango
- ½ cup sliced kiwi
- ¼ cup pineapple chunks
- Edible flowers e.g., orchids or marigolds
Instructions
Preheat Oven
- I preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8-inch cake pans, lining with parchment for easy release of this festive tropical dessert.
Make Cake Batter
- In a bowl, I whisk 2½ cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt. In a stand mixer, I beat 1 cup butter and 1½ cups sugar until fluffy. I add 4 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla, mixing well. I alternate adding dry ingredients with ¾ cup milk and ½ cup sour cream, creating a smooth batter for this flavorful island treat.
Bake Cakes
- I divide the batter evenly among the pans and bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. I cool the cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to racks for this vibrant birthday cake.
Prepare Filling
- I whip 1 cup heavy cream with ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla to stiff peaks. I fold in ⅓ cup passionfruit jam for a zesty festive tropical dessert filling.
Make Buttercream
- I beat 1½ cups butter until pale, then add 5 cups powdered sugar in stages with ¼ cup heavy cream and 2 tsp vanilla. I divide into three portions, tinting with coral, orange, and yellow gel coloring for this vibrant birthday cake’s ombré effect.
Assemble and Decorate
- I spread jam and cream filling between cooled cake layers, apply a white buttercream crumb coat, and chill for 20 minutes. I frost with coral at the base, orange in the middle, and yellow on top, blending with a cake scraper. I top with mango, kiwi, pineapple, and edible flowers for a festive tropical dessert.
Notes
- For the filling, you can substitute passionfruit jam with mango, guava, or pineapple jam depending on availability.
- If fresh plumeria is not available, use another edible flower such as orchids or marigolds, or omit the flowers and add extra fruit for decoration.
- Bake the cake layers a day ahead to save time. Wrap cooled layers tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature until ready to frost.
- If you prefer a lighter buttercream, replace half of the butter with shortening to help the frosting hold better in warm weather.
- For the ombré effect, use gel food coloring rather than liquid coloring to achieve rich, vibrant shades without thinning the buttercream.
- Store the finished cake in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.
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