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5 from 5 votes

McQueen Birthday Cake

This easy-to-make McQueen Birthday Cake is decorated with white chocolate buttercream and fun Cars decorations.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 8 -12 servings
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients 

  • ½ cups whole milk room temperature
  • 3 large egg whites room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cake flour
  • ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened but still cool

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with non-stick cooking spray; line the bottom with parchment or waxed paper round. Spray the paper rounds and sides of pan with non-stick cooking spray with flour.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine milk, egg whites, vanilla extract, and almond extract; set aside
  • Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of electric mixer at slow speed. Add butter; continue beating at slow speed until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no powdery streaks remaining.
  • Add all but ¼ cup of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed (or high speed if using handheld mixer) for 1 ½ minutes. Add remaining ¼ cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium (or high) speed and beat 20 seconds longer.
  • Spread batter evenly in prepared cake pan. Bake 23 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean,
  • Let cake rest in the pan for 3 minutes. Loosen from sides of pan with a knife, if necessary, and invert onto a wire rack. Reinvert onto an additional wire rack. Let cool completely, about 1 ½ hours.

Notes

  • High altitude changes: I reduced the baking powder to 1 ½ teaspoons, used ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar, and ½ cups whole milk + 1 tablespoon for high altitude.
  • Candy placement: Arrange M&M's and sprinkles strategically for a balanced look, perhaps creating a "racetrack" pattern.
  • Edible images: Consider using edible printed images of Lightning McQueen for added detail if you can't find a suitable cake wrap.
  • Practice piping: If adding any piped decorations, practice on parchment paper first.