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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 – 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 · In: Featured, Lifestyle, Recipes · Tagged: everything I baked

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gold drip cake tutorialGold Ganache Drip Cake Tutorial

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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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@sugarandsparrowco

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SHEET CAKE 🍓aka classic st STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SHEET CAKE 🍓aka classic strawberry shortcake toppings on a fluffy vanilla sheet cake and ideal for a crowd! It’s my favorite bakery-style white cake that’s so soft and moist, topped with silky whipped cream cheese frosting and thick homemade strawberry sauce. So easy to throw together with simple ingredients + a total showstopper ✨

Grab the recipe link in my bio or find it at https://sugarandsparrow.com/strawberry-shortcake-sheet-cake/ 

#strawberrycake #strawberryshortcake #sheetcake #whippedcreamfrosting #cakedecorating
ORANGE POPPYSEED CAKE 🍊this cake is unbelievabl ORANGE POPPYSEED CAKE 🍊this cake is unbelievably delicious with whipped mascarpone frosting!! The cake layers are soft and moist, packed with fresh citrus flavor, and has the satisfying crunch of poppy seeds in every bite. The mascarpone frosting keeps it light and refreshing and I love that it comes together in just about 5 minutes with minimal effort. A fancy cake that’s secretly simple!

Grab the recipe link in my bio or find it at https://sugarandsparrow.com/orange-poppyseed-cake-with-mascarpone-frosting/

#poppyseedcake #layercake #mascarpone #whippedcreamfrosting #cakedecorating
VANILLA SHEET CAKE (recipe below) 🥳 this cake i VANILLA SHEET CAKE (recipe below) 🥳 this cake is packed with vanilla flavor, SO soft and fluffy, fun to decorate, and ideal for feeding a crowd. It makes me so nostalgic for my childhood birthday cakes!! 
 
Full recipe (w/ frosting!) at https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-sheet-cake-recipe/
 
INGREDIENTS: 
2 1/2 Cups (265g) sifted cake flour
2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp salt 
3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temp 
1 3/4 Cup (340g) granulated sugar 
3 large eggs, room temp 
1/2 Cup (120g) sour cream, room temp
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract 
1 Cup (240ml) whole milk, room temp
 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease and line a 9×13 baking dish. 
2. Add the sifted cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside. 
3. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or with a hand mixer and large bowl), beat the butter on high speed for two minutes until creamy. Add the sugar and continue to beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and paddle as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing for about 10-15 seconds after each addition. Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix for one minute on high speed. 
4. Turn the mixer off and add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix on low speed until just combined, then add the milk in a steady stream and mix until just incorporated. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake springs back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the baking dish until room temperature, then frost with vanilla buttercream. 
 
#vanillacake #sheetcake #birthdaycake #vanilla #cakedecorating
LEMON CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM 🍋 if you love th LEMON CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM 🍋 if you love the tang of cream cheese frosting, you’re going to be obsessed with this lemon variation!! It’s light and refreshing, tangy and complex, and perfect consistency for cake decorating. I particularly love it on my lemon blueberry cake and lemon cupcakes 💛 

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temp
8 Oz (226g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temp
4 Cups (480g) powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Pinch of salt, or to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together on medium-high speed until light and creamy (no lumps), about 5 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.
2. Add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time and mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the bowl and paddle between additions. Add the lemon juice and salt and continue mixing on low speed until fully combined and smooth.
⁣
Full recipe + cake pairing suggestions linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/lemon-cream-cheese-buttercream/
⁣
#lemoncake #creamcheesefrosting #cakedecorating #buttercream #lemon
LEMON BLUEBERRY CAKE 🍋🫐 so soft and fluffy, LEMON BLUEBERRY CAKE 🍋🫐 so soft and fluffy, packed with zesty lemon flavor, blueberries in every bite, and absolutely scrumptious with lemon cream cheese buttercream. It’s Spring in cake form and I saw someone pair these cake layers with actual cheesecake filling last week and now I NEED TO TRY IT 💛 
⁣
Full recipe linked in my bio or at https://sugarandsparrow.com/lemon-blueberry-layer-cake/ 
⁣
#lemonblueberrycake #lemoncake #lemonblueberry #creamcheesefrosting #cakedecorating

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