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The Best of 2022

December 31, 2022 · In: Featured, Lifestyle

I LOVE the feeling of a new year right around the corner and have been getting so excited about all that’s to come in 2023 (like my BOOK RELEASE)! Before I get too ahead of myself though, I wanted to look back at this past year and reflect a bit. Particularly on all the fun recipes and cake decorating tutorials that YOU loved most.

Here are the top 10 greatest hits of 2022: 

Black Velvet Cake

I made this all black cake for Halloween and it turned out to be a mega-hit on Instagram and TikTok, which made it a mega-hit on this blog too. The cake itself has ZERO food coloring in it – the magic ingredient is black cocoa powder! Since it’s the same stuff used in Oreo cookies, the cake ends up tasting like Oreo cookies and is just delicious. Paired with my favorite black buttercream, it’s a cake fit for Wednesday Addams. 

black velvet cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Funfetti Buttercream

For my birthday, I could not stop thinking about putting sprinkles in my buttercream and turning it into Funfetti buttercream. Paired with my Funfetti cake, it was an absolute joy to make and to eat! I’m a firm believer that sprinkles make everything more fun.

funfetti buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow

Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

My husband requested a strawberry shortcake for Father’s Day, and for the sake of being over the top, I decided to make a strawberry shortcake layer cake. It turned out so tall that it should not be called a shortcake at all. He loved it though! Layers of fluffy white cake, whipped cream frosting, sweetened fresh strawberries, and baked shortbread crumbles. Top it with fresh chamomile flowers for extra cuteness! 

strawberry cake with chamomile flowers by sugar and sparrow

White Chocolate Ganache

This has been one of my number one recipes for years, and this past year I decided to finally make a video for it! The video shows how to make the recipe, drip a cake with it, and troubleshoot if things go awry. White chocolate ganache can be super finicky, but with this video and detailed recipe, you’ll love working with it!

Strawberry Buttercream 

This Strawberry Buttercream recipe is so good I could eat it by the spoonful! It uses freeze dried strawberries, which are packed with flavor yet won’t add any liquid to the buttercream (unlike fresh strawberries). The result is the most amazing strawberry flavored buttercream that is the perfect consistency for frosting cakes, piping cupcakes, and adding to all kinds of bakes! 

strawberry buttercream recipe by sugar and sparrow

Fiber Art Cake

I felt like getting creative with some piping, so I made this fiber art-inspired cake and it turned out to be one of my most popular Reels of 2022. It was so much fun to make! While I don’t have a tutorial for this specific cake, I do have this Fiber Art Cake tutorial that will show you all those piping techniques I used. 

Brown Butter Frosting

This past year, I learned how to brown butter! I turned it into brown butter frosting and it was the best idea. It pairs so well with pretty much any cake recipe, but I particularly enjoyed it with my pumpkin cake and chocolate cake. I’m hoping to make more brown butter recipes in 2023!

brown butter frosting recipe by sugar and sparrow

Lemon Lavender Cake 

After I discovered the secret to making the perfect lavender buttercream, I had to put it on some lemon cake first and foremost. This lemon lavender cake is perfect for spring or summer and just bursting with bright flavors – zesty lemon and just the right amount of lavender. A must try! 

lemon lavender cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Strawberry Cake

This strawberry cake recipe has been a blog favorite for a while, but this year the Pancake Princess decided to review it as part of her Best Strawberry Cake Bake Off and it jumped back into my top 10. I absolutely love this cake: layers of moist, delicious strawberry infused cake made with fresh strawberries (pureed and reduced for maximum flavor) and my favorite strawberry buttercream recipe. 

strawberry cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Salted Caramel 

This is probably the easiest salted caramel you could ever make – only four ingredients and no candy thermometer required! I love using this as a drip on my cakes, in between layers, and whipping it into salted caramel buttercream. It’s the perfect recipe for anyone who’s ever been intimidated to try making caramel! 

easy salted caramel recipe

2022 was such a great year and I’m looking forward to ringing in a whole new year of possibilities! I’m wishing you all the very best in the coming year and hope you have great memories to look back on from this past one.

By: Whitney · In: Featured, Lifestyle

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@sugarandsparrowco

LEMON RASPBERRY CAKE 🍋♥️ this cake has the dreamie LEMON RASPBERRY CAKE 🍋♥️ this cake has the dreamiest layers: soft and zesty lemon cake with raspberries baked into every bite, thick homemade raspberry filling, and lemon raspberry buttercream with the prettiest natural color 😍 
 
✨recipe linked in my bio or at https://sugarandsparrow.com/lemon-raspberry-layer-cake/
 
#lemonraspberry #lemoncake #raspberrycake #pinkcake #layercake
SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM ✨I could eat this salty SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM ✨I could eat this salty-sweet caramel frosting by the spoonful but it’s absolutely delicious on cakes, cupcakes, macarons, and more 🙌🏽 I use my homemade EASY salted caramel recipe here but you can use any salted caramel sauce that you love.⁣

✨Full recipe (including homemade salted caramel) + cake pairing suggestions are on my blog at https://sugarandsparrow.com/salted-caramel-buttercream-recipe/ 
⁣
SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM⁣
Yield: 2.5 Cups ⁣
⁣
INGREDIENTS⁣
1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature⁣
3 1/2 Cups (420g) powdered sugar⁣
2 tsp vanilla extract⁣
1/2 Cup (120ml) salted caramel sauce, room temperature⁣
Pinch of salt⁣
⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣
1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on high until it’s creamy and light in color, 5-6 minutes. ⁣
2. Turn the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down the bowl and paddle after each interval.⁣
3. With the mixer still on low, mix in the vanilla extract, salted caramel, and a pinch of salt. Continue mixing on low speed until fully combined. ⁣
⁣
#saltedcaramel #caramel #cakedecorating #frosting #buttercream
NO-CHURN BERRY CRISP ICE CREAM✨you don’t need any NO-CHURN BERRY CRISP ICE CREAM✨you don’t need any fancy equipment to whip up this delicious ice cream that tastes JUST like berry crisp a la mode! I layered my favorite 3-ingredient no-churn vanilla ice cream base with ribbons of homemade berry filling + buttery oat streusel in every bite. Even if you’ve never made ice cream from scratch before, I promise you can master this recipe!! 
 
🍦Full recipe linked in my bio or find it at https://sugarandsparrow.com/no-churn-berry-crisp-ice-cream/

#nochurnicecream #icecream #icecreamlover #berries #summerdessert
STRAWBERRY SHEET CAKE 🍓based on my favorite strawb STRAWBERRY SHEET CAKE 🍓based on my favorite strawberry layer cake recipe, this sheet cake version is so fun to decorate + such a crowd pleaser! I love using a combination of fresh and freeze-dried strawberries to create the most powerful authentic flavor ✨
 
🍓Full recipe (with strawberry buttercream) at https://sugarandsparrow.com/strawberry-sheet-cake-recipe/
⁣ 
STRAWBERRY SHEET CAKE⁣ 
Serves 24
⁣ 
INGREDIENTS⁣ 
1 Cup (12oz) fresh strawberries, pureed ⁣ 
3/4 Cup (180ml) whole milk, room temp⁣ 
2 1/2 Cups (265g) sifted cake flour⁣ 
2 tsp baking powder⁣ 
1/4 tsp baking soda⁣ 
1/2 tsp salt⁣ 
3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temp⁣ 
1 2/3 Cups (350g) granulated sugar⁣ 
3 large eggs, room temp⁣ 
1/3 Cup (75g) sour cream, room temp⁣ 
2 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣ 
1-2 drops pink food coloring (optional)⁣ 
⁣ 
INSTRUCTIONS⁣ 
1. Simmer the strawberry puree in a saucepan over medium-low heat for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point the puree should have reduced from 1 Cup to 1/2 Cup (if you have more, keep cooking!). Refrigerate until room temp, then whisk together with the whole milk and set aside.⁣ 
2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and line a 13×9 inch baking pan. 
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. ⁣ 
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on high until creamy, 2 min. Add the sugar and beat with the butter until light and fluffy, 2 min. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and sour cream, then turn the mixer to high and beat for 1 minute.⁣ 
5. With the mixer on low, add all of the dry ingredients at once until just combined, then add the strawberry milk mixture and pink food coloring (if using) until just combined. Give the batter a few stirs by hand to make sure everything is incorporated without over-mixing. ⁣ 
6. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. ⁣ Cool completely to room temperature before topping with strawberry buttercream (full recipe at the li
COOKIES & CREAM ICE CREAM CAKE 🤎 If you’re an Oreo COOKIES & CREAM ICE CREAM CAKE 🤎 If you’re an Oreo lover, this is your sign to make an ice cream cake this summer: no-churn cookies & cream ice cream set on an Oreo cookie crust, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream frosting. The perfect amount of Oreos in EVERY BITE! 

Full recipe link in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/cookies-and-cream-ice-cream-cake/ 

OREO CRUST
22 Oreo cookies
5 Tbsp melted butter

ICE CREAM LAYER
2 Cups (480ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
14 Oz sweetened condensed milk
15 Oreo cookies, roughly chopped

TOPPINGS
12.8 Oz jar of hot fudge
Whipped cream frosting (see full recipe link)
4 Oreo cookies, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix together the Oreo crust ingredients and pack tightly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Freeze while you make the ice cream.
2. In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream and vanilla to stiff peaks. Fold in the sweetened condensed milk until uniform, then fold in the chopped Oreos. Pile the ice cream on top of the Oreo crust, smooth it down, cover and freeze overnight.
3. When the ice cream layer is set, top with the hot fudge, whipped cream frosting, and more chopped Oreos. Store in the freezer until ready to serve! 

#oreocake #icecreamcake #nochurnicecream #birthdaycake #cookiesandcream

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