• Cake
  • Frosting
  • YouTube
  • My Favorite Tools
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipes
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting
    • Ice Cream
    • Vegan
  • Cake Basics
  • Tutorials
  • Blog
  • About
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Sugar & Sparrow logo in script font

Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

  • Cake Basics
  • Recipes
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Filling
    • Frosting
    • Ice Cream
    • No-Bake
    • Small Batch
    • Vegan
  • Tutorials
  • Book
  • Blog
  • About

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

you’ll also love

mean girls cakeA Totally Fetch Mean Girls Party
gingerbread latte cake recipeGingerbread Latte Cake Recipe
no churn vanilla ice cream berry crisp toppingsNo-Churn Berry Crisp Ice Cream

Join the List

Stay up to date & receive the latest posts in your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Next Post >

How to Make Buttercream Poinsettias

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Sugar & Sparrow

Welcome to Sugar & Sparrow

Helping you whip up pretty desserts with confidence and creativity. And hopefully sharing a few laughs with you along the way!

Learn More

Connect

let’s bake!

Get my very best recipes, baking tips, and decorating tutorials sent to your inbox

Featured Posts

london fog cupcake recipe with earl grey tea

London Fog Cupcakes

baymax birthday cake tutorial

Baymax Birthday Cake

Peach Crisp Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

Search

Archives

Follow Along

@sugarandsparrowco

Everything I baked in June☀️I was so motivated to Everything I baked in June☀️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 “JUNE” 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
 
#cake #bakersofinstagram #baking #bakinglove #cakedecorating
WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ this easy 4-ingre WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ 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!! It’s so good with my strawberry shortcake sheet cake and berries & cream cake and I have a feeling I’m going to be whipping it up for many more summer cakes😍

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

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

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Chill the bowl of your stand mixer (or the large bowl you’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 doesn’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 🎆 These are just a few TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS 🎆 These are just a few of my favorite summer dessert recipes that will disappear at any Fourth of July celebration.

Comment “JULY” and I’ll send you all 20+ of my favorite 4th of July dessert ideas – 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 🍓my hot take: str STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS 🍓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 I’m ruined 😵

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

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

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line an 8-inch square baking pan 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 🍒 this is my favorite thing to m BLACK FOREST CAKE 🍒 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 I’m working on a sheet cake version of this recipe that’s even easier! Stay tuned.

#blackforestcake #cherrycake #chocolatecake #cherries #cakedecorating

Footer

On the Blog

  • Cake Basics
  • Recipes
  • Tutorials

Info

  • About
  • Privacy Policy & Disclosure

stay in the know

Copyright © 2026 · Theme by Sugar & Sparrow