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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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DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM ๐Ÿ–ค (recipe below) there DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM ๐Ÿ–ค (recipe below) there is ZERO food coloring in this black buttercream recipe which means it wonโ€™t turn your mouth black (or anything else ๐Ÿ’ฉ) + it tastes like Oreo cookie butter so itโ€™s a win all around!! The key is to use EXTRA dark black cocoa powder, which also comes in handy in my black velvet cake recipe ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ ideal secret ingredient for your Halloween cakes! 
โฃ
Full recipe (and the black cocoa powder I use!) is linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/dye-free-black-buttercream/
โฃ
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAMโฃโฃ
Yield: 2.5 Cupsโฃโฃ
โฃโฃ
INGREDIENTS:โฃโฃ
1ย Cupย (226g) unsalted butter, room temp
2 1/2ย Cupsย (300g) powdered sugarโฃโฃ
1/2ย Cupย (56g) EXTRA DARK black cocoa powderโฃโฃ*
1ย tspย pure vanilla extractโฃโฃ
2ย Tbspย whole milk, room temp
pinch of saltโฃโฃ
โฃโฃ
INSTRUCTIONS:โฃโฃ
1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, 4 min. Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on low until just combined, then add the rest of the powdered sugar. With the mixer still in the off position, sift in the black cocoa powder and add the vanilla, milk, and salt. Mix on low until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.โฃโฃ
2. Place the buttercream in an airtight container and allow the color to deepen for 24 hours or more. โฃโฃ

*I use a brand called The Cocoa Trader that I get on Amazon. Itโ€™s the darkest black cocoa powder Iโ€™ve seen so far!!
โฃโฃ
#blackbuttercreamย #naturalfoodcoloringย #blackcakeย #buttercream #blackcocoapowder
SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frostin SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting ๐Ÿงก This mini cake is a scaled down version of my favorite pumpkin cake recipe + makes the perfect amount for 2-4 people! Bake it as a 4-inch mini layer cake or a single layer 6-inch cake, either way is absolutely delicious and the perfect for date night, a small gathering, or any time youโ€™re craving pumpkin cake without having to make a huge dessert ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฝ

Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe (with thick and stable cream cheese frosting!) or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/small-batch-pumpkin-cake/ 

INGREDIENTS 
2/3ย Cupย (88g) all-purpose flour
1ย tspย baking powder
1/4ย tspย baking soda
1/4ย tspย salt
1ย tspย ground cinnamon
1/2ย tspย allspice
1/4ย tspย nutmeg
1/8ย tspย ground ginger
1/3ย Cupย (67g) packed brown sugar
2ย Tbspย (25g) granulated sugar
1/3ย Cupย (80ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
1ย large egg, room temp
1/2ย Cupย (125g) canned pumpkin puree
1/2ย tspย pure vanilla extract
โ€จINSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ยบF (177ยบC). Grease and line three 4-inch cake pans or one 6-inch cake pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate medium bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pan(s). If using 4-inch cake pans, bake for 22-26 minutes. If using a 6-inch cake pan, bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting (full recipe with cream cheese buttercream is linked in my bio!)โ€จ
#pumpkincake #smallbatchcake #minicake #creamcheesefrosting #fallbaking
TOP 10 FALL CAKES ๐Ÿ‚ These are not only MY favorite TOP 10 FALL CAKES ๐Ÿ‚ These are not only MY favorite Fall cake recipes, theyโ€™re yours too! ๐Ÿฅฐ

Comment โ€œFALLโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you all of the cake recipes shown here and all 36+ of my favorite Fall baking ideas โ€“ classic cakes like pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, spice cake, and cranberry orange cake, more complex flavor combinations like chocolate pecan pie cake with salted caramel and apple crisp cake, and cozy recipes like no-bake pumpkin cheesecake, homemade salted caramel, and my favorite brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars. 

https://sugarandsparrow.com/fall-baking-recipes/

#pumpkincakeย #applecake #fallcakeย #cakeinspirationย #cakeideas
The BEST pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting ๐Ÿงก The BEST pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting ๐Ÿงก this pumpkin layer cake is easy to make, perfectly spiced, so moist, irresistible with cream cheese frosting, and uses the ENTIRE 15oz can of pumpkin (no awkward leftovers!). Top it with pretty piped pumpkins to make it extra cute ๐Ÿฅฐ

Comment RECIPE to get the full recipe (with frosting + cake decorating tutorial) or find it linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/pumpkin-layer-cake-recipe/

INGREDIENTS
2ย Cupsย (265g) all-purpose flour
2ย tspย baking powder
1ย tspย baking soda
1ย tspย salt
2ย tspย ground cinnamon
1ย tspย allspice
1ย tspย nutmeg
1/2ย tspย ground ginger
1ย Cupย (200g) packed brown sugar
1/2ย Cupย (100g) granulated sugar
1ย Cupย (240ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
4ย large eggs, room temp
15ย Ozย (425g) canned pumpkin puree
2ย tspย pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ยบF (177ยบC). Grease and line three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 32-36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Cool the cakes completely to room temp before frosting!

#pumpkincake #creamcheesefrosting #layercake #cake #fallbaking
EASY HOMEMADE SALTED CARAMELโœจ(recipe below) even i EASY HOMEMADE SALTED CARAMELโœจ(recipe below) even if youโ€™ve never made salted caramel from scratch before, this recipe is VERY beginner friendly + nearly fail proof! There are only 4 ingredients involved, no candy thermometer required, and takes just 10 minutes to make ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ this is my go-to caramel for drip cakes, drizzling desserts, flavoring coffee, adding it to buttercream, and so much more! ๐Ÿฏ โ€‰
โ€‰
Full recipe (with video + detailed instructions) linked in my bio or at https://sugarandsparrow.com/salted-caramel-recipe/
โฃโ€‰
SALTED CARAMELโ€‰
Yield: 1.25 Cupโฃs
โฃโฃโ€‰
Ingredients:โฃโฃโ€‰
1ย Cupย (200g) white granulated sugarโฃโฃโ€‰
6ย Tbspย (85g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into cubesโฃโฃโ€‰
1/2ย Cupย (120ml) heavy whipping cream, room temperatureโฃโฃโ€‰
1 1/4ย tspย kosher saltโฃโฃโ€‰
โฃโฃโ€‰
Instructions:โฃโฃโ€‰
1. Place the sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and stir constantly until it melts into an amber-colored liquid and no sugar clumps remain, 5-6 minutes.ย โฃโฃโ€‰
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Carefully add the butter (it will bubble up when you do) and use a whisk to combine it with the sugar mixture until the butter is fully melted and incorporated, 2-3 minutes.ย โฃโฃโ€‰
3. Add the heavy whipping cream in a steady stream while whisking. As soon as the cream is incorporated, let the caramel boil for a full minute before removing it from the heat and stirring in the salt.ย โฃโฃโ€‰
4. Let the caramel cool to room temperature before using it in a cake recipe or as a drip. If youโ€™re using it to drizzle over ice cream or warm baked goods, you only need to cool it slightly (20 minutes or so). It will thicken as it cools.ย โฃโฃโ€‰
โฃโฃโ€‰
#caramelย #saltedcaramelย #bakedfromscratch #caramelcakeย #caramelsauce

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