Easter Cake Recipe (Festive Spring Layer Cake)

This delicious Easter cake recipe is as fun to make as it is to eat!

With soft pastel layers and a sweet lemon frosting, it’s a beautiful dessert that’s perfect for spring gatherings.

The bright colors make it a standout treat, and the light, fluffy texture pairs perfectly with the zesty sweetness of the frosting.

Whether you’re hosting Easter brunch or bringing dessert to a family dinner, this cake will be a hit.

If you’re planning your holiday menu and want even more inspiration, be sure to browse these Easy Cake Recipes for Easter for simple, crowd-pleasing desserts everyone will love

A pastel Easter cake with yellow frosting, topped with candy eggs and sprinkles. A slice shows pink, yellow, and blue layers on a plate by decorated eggs and a blue cloth. Text reads "Easter Cake Recipe" for your festive dessert inspiration.

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How to Make an Easter Layer Cake

Let the eggs, milk, and butter sit at room temperature before mixing for a smoother batter. To make this simple Easter cake, start by preheating your oven to 350°F and melting the butter.
In a large bowl, mix white cake mix, melted butter, egg whites, milk, and lemon juice. White cake mix works best because it allows the pastel colors to shine through.
Divide the batter into three separate bowls and add pink, yellow, and blue food coloring.
Pour each into greased 8-inch cake pans and bake.
Let the cakes cool completely before frosting.

A bowl of vanilla cake batter. Top Right Three bowls of brightly colored batter in pink, yellow, and blue. Bottom Three baked round cakes in aluminum pans, each one orange, green, or yellow.

Prepare the frosting by mixing softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice, and yellow food coloring.
Layer and frost the cake, then decorate with Easter candy or sprinkles.

A bowl of powdered sugar, whipped yellow frosting, and a finished yellow-frosted cake topped with colorful candy eggs and sprinkles—a delightful Easter Cake Recipe perfect for your spring celebrations.

Flavor Variations to Try

Swap the pastel colors for brighter shades, or turn it into a full rainbow cake inspired by our Unicorn Cake for an extra fun surprise inside.
Add shredded coconut on top for a “grass” effect.
Use a basket weave piping technique or piped frosting flowers for a more decorative, bakery-style finish.
Skip traditional sprinkles and decorate the base with Cadbury mini eggs or jelly beans for a festive, candy-filled touch.

Don’t Forget To…

Scroll down to print the full recipe with step-by-step instructions and exact measurements.
Check out my Kitchen Essentials for the pans, mixing bowls, and baking tools I use to make this recipe a breeze.
Save or share this recipe on Pinterest!

A slice of colorful Easter layer cake on a white plate. The cake has three vibrant layers—blue on the bottom, yellow in the middle, and pink on top—frosted with bright yellow icing and topped with pastel sprinkles. The background features spring-themed decorations including a blue crocheted placemat, pastel gingham eggs, wooden beads, and a white ceramic vase with greenery.

Can I make this Easter cake ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the cake layers a day in advance and keep them tightly wrapped at room temperature. For longer storage, refrigerate or freeze the layers and frost before serving.

Can I use a different frosting?

Absolutely. Buttercream works beautifully, but cream cheese frosting, whipped frosting, or even a chocolate frosting can be used depending on your flavor preference.

Can I freeze this cake?

Yes. Freeze unfrosted cake layers tightly wrapped in plastic wrap for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.

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If you’re planning your full Easter menu, you’ll definitely want to browse more of our Easter dessert ideas. From festive Easter cupcakes to colorful Spring cookie ideas, there are plenty of easy options to round out your table.

A slice of colorful layer cake from an Easter Cake Recipe, with blue, yellow, and pink layers covered in yellow frosting and white sprinkles, sits on a white plate against a pastel-themed background.

Fix baking fails fast with this handy troubleshooting guide.

A round cake with bright yellow frosting, topped with pastel-colored sprinkles and small candy eggs, sits on a plate with more colorful sprinkles around its base—perfect for trying out a festive Easter Cake Recipe.

Hosting Easter? I planned it for you. This complete, done-for-you Easter dinner menu includes recipes, a prep timeline, and a grocery list — everything you need to serve 8–10 guests without the stress.

Let kids help in the kitchen with these 10 fun no-bake Easter treats they can mix, decorate, and make themselves!

Easy Easter Cake Recipe

This Easter cake recipe creates a beautiful layer cake that’s moist, fun to decorate, and ideal for Easter brunch or family gatherings.

Print Pin Rate

Course: desserts

Cuisine: American, Cake

Keyword: Easter Cake Recipe, Easter Layer cake

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 50

Servings:

Author: momma lew

Ingredients

Cake:

2 15.25 ounce boxes white cake mix
8 egg whites
2 ½ cups milk
1 cup butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Yellow blue, pink food coloring

Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter softened to room temperature
2 pounds powdered sugar
6 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Yellow food coloring

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Melt your 1 cup of butter.
In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, melted butter, 8 egg whites, milk, and lemon juice.
Spray three 8 inch cake pans with non-stick spray.
Divide the cake batter between the 3 bowls
Add pink food coloring to one bowl, yellow to another and blue to another.
Pour each color batter into a prepared pan.
Bake the cakes for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool slightly and then remove from the pans onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cakes are completely cooled you can make your frosting.
In a large bowl combine your softened butter, powdered sugar, 6 tablespoons milk, yellow food coloring and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Place one cake on your cake plate and top with a good amount of the frosting and spread out.
Top with the other cake.
Place frosting on top of that one and add the final cake layer.
Frost the cake completely.
Using a piping bag or ziploc bag with the corner snipped off to pipe around the edge.
Decorate with Easter candies and or Easter sprinkles.

Notes

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Easter Cake Recipe

How to Make an Easter Layer Cake