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Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

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The best easter dessert recipes

March 19, 2026 · In: Featured, Seasonal, Spring

24+ Best Easter Dessert Recipes

If you’re looking for Easter dessert recipes to end your meal on a sweet note, I’ve got you covered! From classics like carrot cake and coconut cake to irresistible lemon…

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lemon blueberry cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting on a cupcake stand

March 15, 2026 · In: Cupcakes, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring, Summer

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Based on my beloved lemon blueberry cake recipe, this cupcake version features super soft yet moist lemon cupcakes with fresh blueberries perfectly suspended inside and irresistible lemon cream cheese frosting….

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carrot cake with brown butter cream cheese frosting

March 13, 2026 · In: Cake, Fall, Holiday, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring, Winter

Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

If you thought carrot cake with cream cheese frosting was good, just wait until you try this recipe! It’s my favorite carrot cake that’s deeply moist, perfectly spiced, and taken…

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Rainbow layer cake with rainbow frosting

March 7, 2026 · In: Cake, Featured, Recipes, Tutorials

The Ultimate Rainbow Cake (Inside and Out!)

This is the ULTIMATE rainbow cake – six layers of rainbow colored cake layers inside, rainbow striped buttercream on the outside, and a rainbow sprinkled swirl border on top. I…

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st patricks day cake ideas by sugar and sparrow

March 6, 2026 · In: Cake, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring

St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Ideas

If you’re looking for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day desserts for your next celebration, here are all of my favorite ideas to inspire you. On this list you’ll find rainbow…

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rainbow swirl cupcakes tutorial

March 5, 2026 · In: Cupcakes, Featured, Recipes, Tutorials

How to Make Rainbow Swirl Cupcakes

In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to master the perfect rainbow buttercream swirl for cupcakes using just four colors of buttercream in one piping bag! Yes, there are technically…

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the best vanilla cupcakes recipe

March 1, 2026 · In: Cupcakes, Featured, Recipes

The Perfect Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

Originally published in 2018, this vanilla cupcake recipe has become my go-to (and many of yours)! I recently updated the photos to showcase how beautifully moist and fluffy they are….

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pistachio cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

February 27, 2026 · In: Cake, Featured, Holiday, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring

Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

After publishing this raspberry pistachio cake recipe a few years back (that you guys LOVED!) I wanted to revisit the recipe and see what other frosting flavors pair well with…

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how to make stabilized cream cheese frosting

February 24, 2026 · In: FAQ, Featured, Frosting, Recipes

How to Make Stable Cream Cheese Frosting for Cake Decorating

Cream cheese buttercream has a reputation for being difficult to work with – the consistency is naturally soft, which can make filling, frosting, and decorating cakes a challenge. If you…

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homemade gluten free chocolate cake

February 18, 2026 · In: Cake, Featured, Gluten-Free, Recipes

Perfect Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake (Easy & FUDGY)

This gluten-free chocolate cake is super rich and fudgy, so easy to make, and truly doesn’t taste like it’s gluten-free! It’s extra moist with the addition of brown sugar and…

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freeze dried cherry buttercream recipe

February 11, 2026 · In: Featured, Frosting, Recipes

Freeze-Dried Cherry Buttercream

I absolutely love adding freeze-dried fruit to my buttercream recipes for authentic flavor – I’ve done it before with freeze-dried strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. So when I saw freeze-dried cherries…

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conversation heart cakes by sugar and sparrow

February 9, 2026 · In: Cake, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Tutorials, Valentines

Mini Conversation Heart Cakes Tutorial

If you’re looking for a fun and delicious Valentine’s Day cake project, these mini conversation heart cakes check all of the boxes! I made them with my favorite extra moist…

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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!

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peppermint hot cocoa cake

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cake Recipe

Rainbow layer cake with rainbow frosting

The Ultimate Rainbow Cake (Inside and Out!)

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@sugarandsparrowco

ALMOND JOY CAKE 🤎🥥 this tastes just like an Almond ALMOND JOY CAKE 🤎🥥 this tastes just like an Almond Joy candy bar in cake form: layers of soft, fluffy coconut cake with silky chocolate ganache, sliced almonds, and the dreamiest coconut-almond buttercream! 

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it on over! Or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/almond-joy-cake-recipe/

#almondjoy #coconutcake #almondcake #cakedecorating #candycake
You butter believe I made myself the Halloween cos You butter believe I made myself the Halloween costume of my dreams!! 🧈 

#diyhalloweencostume
#foodcostume #halloweencostume #handmadecostume #bakerlife
MELTED CANDLE CUPCAKES 🖤🕯give me a few cupcakes, s MELTED CANDLE CUPCAKES 🖤🕯give me a few cupcakes, some dye-free black buttercream, and black chocolate ganache and watch me transform them into the spookiest edible centerpiece! 

Full tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/melting-candle-cupcakes/ but I have a condensed version below: 
 
SUPPLIES: ⁣ 
-9 cupcakes⁣  (made these with my small batch black velvet cake recipe!) 
-1 batch of dye-free black buttercream 
-boba straws or skewers (for stabilizing the taller candles) ⁣ 
-icing smoother + turntable ⁣ 
-black ganache for dripping⁣ 
-3 birthday cake candles⁣ 
-matches ⁣ to light them
⁣ 
INSTRUCTIONS: ⁣ 
1. Fill and stack the cupcakes: one stack of 2 cupcakes, one stack of 3 cupcakes, and one stack of 4 cupcakes. For the two taller cupcakes I inserted a boba straw through the middle to stabilize the stack for frosting. ⁣ 
2. Frost the stacked cupcakes with smooth buttercream and keep the top edge raw. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to let the frosting firm up. ⁣ 
3. Transfer the frosted cupcake candles  onto a small plate and pipe ganache around the edges and tops to look like melted wax. ⁣ 
4. Insert a birthday cake candle into each cake candle (keep the wick about 1/4 inch from the cake surface) and light! ⁣ 
⁣ 
#candlecake #halloweencake #cupcakes #blackvelvetcake #blackbuttercream
BISCOFF COOKIE BUTTERCREAM 🤎 this delicious frosti BISCOFF COOKIE BUTTERCREAM 🤎 this delicious frosting is flavored with Biscoff cookie butter and goes with literally ANY Fall cake recipe 🙌🏼 So far my favorite cake flavors to pair it with are pumpkin cake, banana cake, chocolate cake, coffee cake, and spice cake, but I am also testing a full-on Biscoff cake this week!! 

Full recipe + my favorite cake pairing suggestions are at https://sugarandsparrow.com/biscoff-buttercream/ 
⁣⁣ 
INGREDIENTS⁣⁣ 
1 Cups (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature⁣⁣ 
1/2 Cup (94g) Biscoff cookie butter⁣⁣ or spread
3 Cups (360g) powdered sugar⁣⁣ 
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣⁣ 
2 Tbsp whole milk, room temperature⁣⁣ 
1/4 tsp salt, or to taste⁣⁣ 
⁣⁣ 
INSTRUCTIONS⁣⁣ 
1. Cream the butter and Biscoff cookie butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or you can use a hand mixer and large bowl). Mix on medium-high until creamy and well combined, about 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.⁣⁣ 
2. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down the bowl and paddle after mixing in each addition. Add the vanilla, milk, and salt and continue mixing on low speed until smooth and combined, 1-2 minutes.⁣ 
⁣⁣ 
#biscoffcake #biscoff #buttercream #frosting #cakedecorating
DYE-FREE BLACK VELVET CUPCAKES 🖤 These all black c DYE-FREE BLACK VELVET CUPCAKES 🖤 These all black cupcakes use black cocoa powder (and NO food coloring!) to achieve that rich black color for the cupcakes + black buttercream. That means they won’t turn anyone’s mouth black AND they taste like Oreo cookies in deliciously moist cupcake form 👻

✨Full recipe (with dye-free black buttercream) is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-velvet-cupcakes/ 

BLACK VELVET CUPCAKES
Yield: 14 cupcakes

1 Cup (132g) all purpose flour
3/4 Cup (150g) granulated sugar
1/3 Cup (38g) black cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 Cup (60ml) vegetable oil
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 Cup (120ml) full-fat buttermilk*
1/2 Cup (120ml) hot coffee or hot water

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
2. Place all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl and whisk together to combine. Add the vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk and whisk until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the hot coffee (or hot water) and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. The batter will be very thin. 
3. Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake liners (no more than ⅔ full) and bake for 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it. Cool completely before frosting with dye-free black buttercream (full recipe linked in my bio).

*If you don’t have buttermilk on hand (I rarely do!), use 1/2 Cup whole milk mixed with 1 1/2 tsp vinegar or lemon juice. 

#blackcupcakes #blackbuttercream #blackcocoapowder #halloweencupcakes #halloweenbaking

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