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Everything I Baked in April

April 29, 2026 · In: Featured, Lifestyle, Recipes

There’s something so satisfying about looking back on a month in the kitchen โ€“ the flavors I was inspired by, the recipes that came together easily, but especially the recipes that challenged me. April was all about light and refreshing Spring/Summer flavors like lemon, strawberry, raspberry, and a classic hummingbird cake that you readers have been requesting for years. I published 5 new recipes, made 2 of my existing recipes for friends, and finalized 2 recipes that will be coming your way in May!

Whitney DePaoli of Sugar & Sparrow with cupcakes

New April Recipes

Here are the latest recipes that went live on my site in April:

Strawberry Lemon Cake
strawberry lemon cake recipe

Vanilla Raspberry Layer Cake
vanilla raspberry layer cake recipe with raspberry filling and raspberry frosting

Strawberry Cupcakes
strawberry cupcakes recipe with strawberry frosting
Hummingbird Cake
hummingbird cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Seedless Raspberry Cake Filling
seedless raspberry filling recipe for cake and cupcakes

Recipes I Revisited

There were a couple events that I donated desserts to this month, and it was such a good feeling to revisit these recipes and confirm that they’re just as delicious as I remember:

Oreo Cupcakes
black velvet cupcakes with oreo buttercream

This Oreo cupcake recipe went live last year but I got to make them for a church fundraiser and enjoyed them all over again!

Matcha Cake
Matcha cake with edible moss

I made a double batch of my matcha cake recipe as a sheet cake for my good friend’s rebrand event! I topped it with edible moss, pretty piping, chamomile, and a buttercream transfer for the logo.


Coming Soon

And here are some recipes I obsessed over, went through many rounds of testing, and are in the process of being published to my site! You’ll see them live in May.

Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Zesty lemon cupcakes that are so fluffy and moist + lemon cream cheese buttercream. Heaven.

No-Bake Marbled Strawberry Cheesecake
no bake marbled strawberry cheesecake

My favorite no-bake cheesecake base, marbled with the prettiest strawberry compote. Perfect for Spring and Summer!

whitney depaoli from sugar & sparrow holding a cupcake

I hope you love these new recipes! I had a blast making them. If there are any dessert recipes you’re craving, leave me a comment and they might make it onto my baking list!

By: Whitney ยท In: Featured, Lifestyle, Recipes ยท Tagged: everything I baked

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Comments

  1. Debbie says

    April 30, 2026 at 2:15 pm

    Whitney, I saw your recipe for the Swiss Buttercream. If I am looking to make a cream cheese Swiss Buttercream, how much cream cheese would I need?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 1, 2026 at 9:31 am

      Hi Debbie! I’ve never made cream cheese flavored Swiss Meringue Buttercream so I’m not sure how to go about adding cream cheese to this recipe. Instead, I would look for a dedicated cream cheese Swiss Meringue Buttercream and follow that. This one looks thoroughly tested: https://korenainthekitchen.com/2013/03/28/cream-cheese-swiss-meringue-buttercream-frosting-success/

      Reply

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Everything I baked in Juneโ˜€๏ธI was so motivated to Everything I baked in Juneโ˜€๏ธI was so motivated to bake this month (summer flavors had me INSPIRED!) and could barely keep up with myself but I ended up publishing 7 new recipes on my website + finalized 5 more that will be up ASAP! 

Comment โ€œJUNEโ€ to get all the recipes that are available now:

-Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake
-Rocky Road Cupcakes (w/ homemade marshmallow creme filling!)
-Blackberry Lavender Cake
-Homemade Blackberry Filling
-Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
-Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Bars
-Berries & Cream Sheet Cake

https://sugarandsparrow.com/everything-i-baked-in-june
โ€‰
#cake #bakersofinstagramย #bakingย #bakingloveย #cakedecorating
WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING โ˜๏ธ this easy 4-ingre WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING โ˜๏ธ this easy 4-ingredient whipped cream frosting is deliciously light, comes together SO easily, and is stabilized with cream cheese to make it the perfect thick consistency for filling and frosting cakes and cupcakes!! Itโ€™s so good with my strawberry shortcake sheet cake and berries & cream cake and I have a feeling Iโ€™m going to be whipping it up for many more summer cakes๐Ÿ˜

Full recipe with cake pairing suggestions at https://sugarandsparrow.com/whipped-cream-cheese-frosting/ 

INGREDIENTS 
1ย Cupย (8oz, 226g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, cold
1ย Cupย (120g) powdered sugar
1ย tspย pure vanilla extract
2 1/2ย Cupsย (600ml) heavy whipping cream, cold

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Chill the bowl of your stand mixer (or the large bowl youโ€™ll be using with your hand mixer) into the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. Into the cold mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and beat on medium speed with the whisk attachment until creamy, 2 min. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until mostly incorporated, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and mix for 1 min.
3. Add the vanilla extract, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream (down the side of the bowl so it doesnโ€™t fly everywhere). Once all the cream is added, continue mixing on medium-high for just about 30 seconds longer, keeping a close eye on the mixing bowl to watch it thicken. It should come together into a thick, silky frosting consistency at this point, where you can dip the whisk into the frosting and it holds a slight peak when you hold it upright.
4. Use the frosting immediately to decorate cakes and/or cupcakes for best results!

#whippedcreamfrosting #creamcheesefrosting #cakedecorating #whippedcream #frosting
TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS ๐ŸŽ† These are just a few TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS ๐ŸŽ† These are just a few of my favorite summer dessert recipes that will disappear at any Fourth of July celebration.

Comment โ€œJULYโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you all 20+ of my favorite 4th of July dessert ideas โ€“ naturally red white and blue desserts like my berries and cream cake, easy no-bake desserts, no-churn ice cream, strawberry shortcake inspired recipes, and all the treats that will go FAST at any barbecue.

https://sugarandsparrow.com/4th-of-july-desserts/

#fourthofjuly #4thofjuly #summerdessert #partycake #dessertideas
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS ๐Ÿ“my hot take: str STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS ๐Ÿ“my hot take: strawberry shortcake toppings on a buttery, soft sugar cookie base is WAY BETTER than traditional strawberry shortcake. I topped my favorite sugar cookie bar recipe with silky whipped cream cheese frosting + homemade strawberry sauce and now Iโ€™m ruined ๐Ÿ˜ต

Full recipe is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/strawberry-shortcake-cookie-bars/ 

SOFT SUGAR COOKIE BARS
2ย Cupsย + 2 Tbsp (283g) all purpose flour
1ย tspย baking powder
1/2ย tspย baking soda
1/2ย tspย salt
3/4ย Cupย (170g) unsalted butter, room temp
1ย Cupย (200g) granulated sugar
1ย large egg
1ย large egg yolk
1 1/2ย tspย pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350ยบF (177ยบC). Grease and line anย 8-inch square baking panย with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy release.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer) cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy, 2-3 min.
4. Turn the mixer to medium and add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until combined, then add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until a uniform cookie dough forms.
5. Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan in an even layer, all the way to the edges. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are just starting to brown. 
6. Cool the sugar cookie bars in the pan for 30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Top with whipped cream cheese frosting and strawberry sauce (full recipe linked in my bio!)

#strawberryshortcake #strawberries #whippedcreamfrosting #cookiebars #sugarcookies
BLACK FOREST CAKE ๐Ÿ’ this is my favorite thing to m BLACK FOREST CAKE ๐Ÿ’ this is my favorite thing to make during cherry season! My version is decadent chocolate cake soaked with homemade cherry syrup, fresh cherry filling, and whipped cream frosting. Top it with a chocolate ganache drip if you want to go the extra mile! 

Full recipe + decorating tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-forest-cake-recipe/

PS Iโ€™m working on a sheet cake version of this recipe thatโ€™s even easier! Stay tuned.

#blackforestcake #cherrycake #chocolatecake #cherries #cakedecorating

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