I rediscovered my mom's vintage "cream cake" recipe a few years ago and have experimented with it several times. I wanted to share my two favorite variations on this classic recipe with you.

So what is a cream cake?

Unlike cakes made with milk or buttermilk, a cream cake uses heavy whipping cream for its moisture and richness. It bakes up with a satisfyingly dense crumb that’s soft, chewy, and incredibly flavorful. These cakes are traditionally baked using the cold oven method—yes, you heard that right. You don’t preheat your oven. This method slows down the rise, giving the cake a tighter crumb and that signature pound cake texture. I adore the perfectly dense and chewy texture because the cake holds its structure well.

A little backstory...

I first started experimenting with dyeing this cake batter naturally. Pinks and purples don't work well if you're wondering! But I've had a lot of success using spirulina powders to dye these cakes blue or green.

I first started experimenting with this cake when I was baking for my son’s birthday parties. I wanted a sturdy cake that held its shape well but was still soft and full of flavor. It didn’t take long before I started getting requests for more cream cakes from friends and family.

I've baked this cake as standard cupcakes, mini cupcakes, and layer cakes with ease—it adapts beautifully.

Here are my two favorite cream cake variations:

Blue Spirulina Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting​
​These have an earthy vanilla flavor to them that is just divine.

(Note: for green cakes, use 1 Tablespoon green spirulina and no other colored powders).

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes with Black Cocoa Cream Cheese Frosting​
​My husband's personal favorite flavor combination!

​Black cocoa (affiliate link) is what gives Oreo cookies their classic look and flavor, so I incorporated it into the frosting. If you don't have black cocoa on hand, you can use dutch cocoa or regular baking cocoa powder as a substitute.

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Note about the frostings I use

I've tried making these cakes with buttercream frosting, but it tends to get a little too heavy. Our preferred frosting is a whipped cream cheese frosting. Sometimes I substitute the cream cheese for mascarpone cheese too - whichever I have on hand.

Cheers,

Stephanie Gonzalez

​Pretty. Simple. Sweet.​

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