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Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

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black buttercream

black velvet cake plant based

October 20, 2025 · In: Cake, Featured, Halloween, Recipes, Seasonal, Vegan

Vegan Black Velvet Cake (Dye-Free!)

This vegan black velvet cake is so moist and fudgy, tastes like Oreo cookies, and has a deep black color without a single drop of food coloring (so it won’t…

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black velvet cupcake recipe by sugar and sparrow

October 21, 2023 · In: Cupcakes, Featured, Halloween, Recipes, Seasonal

Black Velvet Cupcakes

I made this striking black velvet cake last Halloween and it has since become one of my most popular recipes (and a personal favorite of mine as well)! I love…

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dye free black buttercream easy recipe

October 12, 2023 · In: Featured, Frosting, Halloween, Recipes, Seasonal

EASY Dye-Free Black Buttercream Recipe

Whenever I share this black velvet cake recipe I get so excited to say that the cake layers don’t have any food coloring in them. The black cocoa powder turns…

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black velvet cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

October 5, 2022 · In: Cake, Featured, Halloween, Recipes, Seasonal

Spooky Black Velvet Cake Recipe (Dye-Free!)

In honor of the spookiest season of all, I’ve whipped up a cake recipe that’s sure to satisfy all the Halloween lovers: black velvet. The cake layers are pitch black,…

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black buttercream recipe with minimal food coloring

October 15, 2021 · In: Featured, Frosting, Halloween, Recipes, Seasonal

Black Buttercream Recipe with Minimal Food Coloring

UPDATE 2023: I recently found a way to make black buttercream with ZERO food color gel, so if you’re looking for a dye-free alternative be sure to check out this…

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halloween witch cauldron cake by sugar and sparrow

October 7, 2019 · In: Halloween, Seasonal, Tutorials

Halloween Witch Cauldron Cake

It’s the season of all things scary and if you’re planning a Halloween party to celebrate, you know that the dessert table has to be creepy (yet tasty!). I’m all…

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monster cake by sugar and sparrow

October 1, 2019 · In: Featured, Halloween, Seasonal, Tutorials

Spooky Black Buttercream Halloween Cake

This was originally a guest post that I wrote for SprinklePop’s blog. It’s too good not to re-share over here, because this Halloween cake is such a fun and easy showstopper…

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galaxy cake by sugar and sparrow

September 11, 2019 · In: Tutorials

Galaxy Cake Tutorial

If you were offered a ticket to space, would you go? I totally would (even though I’d be terrified) because I have always been captivated by all things space. The…

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Welcome to Sugar & Sparrow

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mini black velvet layer cake

Mini Black Velvet Cake Recipe

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brown butter cream cheese frosting recipe for cakes and cupcakes

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

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@sugarandsparrowco

SPICE CAKE 🤎 filled + frosted with brown butter cr SPICE CAKE 🤎 filled + frosted with brown butter cream cheese frosting for the dreamiest Fall cake!! These spice cake layers are perfectly moist with the ideal amount of spice, and the rich nutty caramel notes combined with the classic tang of cream cheese frosting take the flavor beyond.

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it right to you! Or find the full recipe linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/spice-cake-recipe/

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 Cups (298g) all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 3/4 Cups (350g) packed brown sugar 
3/4 Cup (180ml) vegetable oil
1 Cup (240g) unsweetened applesauce
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temp

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 6-inch cake pans or two 8-inch cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, add the brown sugar, vegetable oil, and unsweetened applesauce. Whisk together until uniform, then whisk in the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla.
4. Whisk in half of the dry ingredients, followed by all of the buttermilk, then the rest of the dry ingredients. 
5. 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 completely before frosting (full recipe with brown butter cream cheese frosting linked in my bio)

#spicecake #cakedecorating #layercake #cakelover #creamcheesefrosting
PUMPKIN CUPCAKES 🧡 topped with spiced cream cheese PUMPKIN CUPCAKES 🧡 topped with spiced cream cheese frosting to give every bite the most heavenly pumpkin spice flavor! The perfect cupcakes to kick off your fall baking 🍂

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it right to you!

You can also find the link in my bio (or google ‘Sugar and Sparrow Pumpkin Cupcakes’) 

#pumpkinspice #pumpkincake #pumpkinseason #falldesserts #creamcheesefrosting
OATMEAL CREME PIE CAKE 🙌🏼 I’m always thinking abou OATMEAL CREME PIE CAKE 🙌🏼 I’m always thinking about this cake during back-to-school season because Oatmeal Creme Pies take me right back to my elementary school days! It’s layers of tender brown sugar oatmeal cake with the gooiest homemade marshmallow filling and tastes just like the real deal in cake form – perfect party cake for an Oatmeal Creme Pie lover! 

Full recipe linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/oatmeal-creme-pie-cake/ 
 
#oatmealcremepie #vintagecake #layercake #partycake #cakedecorating
NO-BAKE BISCOFF CHEESECAKE ✨this is the perfect EA NO-BAKE BISCOFF CHEESECAKE ✨this is the perfect EASY no-bake dessert for Fall and I cannot get over the incredible spiced caramel flavor!! I added Biscoff cookie butter to my favorite no-bake cheesecake base, piled it onto a Biscoff cookie crust, then topped it with a melted cookie butter drip + tons of crunchy cookie crumbs.  
 
🤎Full recipe linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/no-bake-biscoff-cheesecake/ 
 
BISCOFF CRUST: 
1 8.8oz package Biscoff cookies (250g) 
1/3 Cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted 
 
FILLING: 
16 Oz (452g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temp 
1/4 Cup (50g) powdered sugar 
3/4 Cup (210g) creamy Biscoff cookie butter 
1 tsp ground cinnamon 
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
1 Cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream, cold 
 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
1. Combine the Biscoff crust ingredients until the mixture resembles wet sand, then press firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.  
2. In a large bowl, whip the cream cheese until smooth, then add the powdered sugar, cookie butter, cinnamon, and vanilla and mix until smooth.  
3. In a separate medium bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, then fold into the cream cheese mixture until no streaks remain. 
4. Add the filling on top of the Biscoff crust, cover, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. 
5. Once set, top with melted cookie butter and crushed Biscoff cookies. 
 
#biscoff #biscoffcheesecake #nobakecheesecake #biscoffcake #nobake 
A mini pumpkin spice latte cake to celebrate my SI A mini pumpkin spice latte cake to celebrate my SIL 🥳 two 6-inch layers of spiced pumpkin cake with the most delicious coffee buttercream + a little vintage piping for good measure ☕️ making a birthday cake for my family and friends will always be my favorite love language!!

👩🏽‍🍳 Recipes: perfect pumpkin layer cake + coffee buttercream (both found at sugarandsparrow.com) or you can find a dedicated PSL cake recipe in my book! 
✨ Piping Tips: @wiltoncakes tip 3 for the writing + tip 4B for the borders
☕️ Garnish: chocolate covered espresso beans

#pumpkincake #birthdaycake #pumpkinspicelatte #minicake #cakedecorating

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