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Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

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cupcake decorating

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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toasted smores cupcakes by sugar and sparrow

June 30, 2020 · In: Cupcakes, Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Summer

Toasted S’mores Cupcakes

I can’t tell you how many requests I’ve gotten for a cupcake version of my S’mores Cake with Toasted Marshmallow Buttercream. It’s one of my all-time favorite recipes (s’mores fan…

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holiday wreath cupcakes

December 13, 2019 · In: Featured, Holiday, Seasonal, Tutorials

Festive Christmas Wreath Cupcakes Tutorial

As I was out for a wintery walk the other day, I couldn’t help but notice pretty Christmas wreaths adorning the doors in my neighborhood and it dawned on me…

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goodie girl cookies

November 4, 2019 · In: Lifestyle

Goodie Girl Cookie Cupcakes + Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, I got a big package in the mail with the word COOKIES stamped on the side in huge, bold letters (imagine the intrigue of all the…

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dia de los muertos cupcakes

October 14, 2019 · In: Halloween, Seasonal, Tutorials

Dia De Los Muertos Spiderweb Cupcakes

When it comes to spooky sprinkles, SprinklePop is killing it. They’ve got the perfect collection of Halloween and Fall-themed sprinkles, and I’ve gotten to create some amazing projects with them…

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cactus cupcakes tutorial

July 24, 2019 · In: Featured, Seasonal, Summer, Tutorials

Sprinkled Cactus Cupcakes Tutorial

A few years back, the ultra-creative Alana Jones-Mann popularized the cactus cupcake trend and it was one of the earliest cupcake projects I tried. I’ve gotten to make the design…

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beach cupcakes by sugar and sparrow

June 24, 2019 · In: Featured, Lifestyle, Seasonal, Summer, Tutorials

The Cutest Beach Cupcakes

Summer is finally here and I could not be more thrilled about it! Probably because where I live, this is the only season where we have three pretty consecutive months…

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geode cupcake toppers by sugar and sparrow

May 13, 2019 · In: Decorations & Garnishes, Featured, Recipes, Tutorials

Mini Geode Cupcake Toppers Tutorial

I’m really dazzled by geodes (who isn’t?!) and have been dying to make some sort of geode-inspired edible creation for quite some time now. So when JOANN sent me these…

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sprinkle rose cupcakes tutorial

March 18, 2019 · In: Featured, Seasonal, Spring, Tutorials

Sprinkled Rose Cupcakes Tutorial

Spring deserves to be celebrated, and that’s just what I think of when I look at these cupcakes. They remind me of a Spring parade and kindof make me want…

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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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homemade blackberry cake filling recipe

Blackberry Cake Filling

Sugar and sparrow vanilla sheet cake

The Best Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe

woven tapestry inspired cake tutorial by sugar and sparrow

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@sugarandsparrowco

HALLOWEEN CANDY BUCKET CAKE 🎃🍫🍬 this jack-o-lanter HALLOWEEN CANDY BUCKET CAKE 🎃🍫🍬 this jack-o-lantern cake is SO fun to make with two bundt cakes frosted with buttercream to look like a pumpkin candy bucket + lots of Halloween candy to fill it with. The perfect Halloween party cake!! 
 
A condensed tutorial is below but you can find the full tutorial link (with recipes I used!) in my bio + on my blog at  https://sugarandsparrow.com/halloween-candy-bucket-cake-tutorial/
 
🎃 Candy Bucket Cake Tutorial: 
 
1.  Bake two bundt cakes. I doubled my one-bowl chocolate cake recipe and divided it between two 9.5-inch bundt cake pans, then baked at 350F for 35 minutes.  
2. Fill and crumb coat the cakes in the shape of a pumpkin. I used my dye-free black buttercream recipe for this, but any flavor will do.  
3. Frost the cake. I used my vanilla buttercream recipe tinted with @americolor Electric Orange for the frosting. A flexible plastic smoother is KEY to shaping the roundness of the pumpkin (I got mine on Amazon) + I made my own little tool for the grooves from a leftover yogurt container. After I chilled the cake I hand-smoothed the finish with a little parchment paper to iron out the imperfections.  
4. Carve the jack-o-lantern. I chilled the frosting until it was firm to the touch, then used an X-acto knife to cut out the eyes and mouth. 
5. Add the handle. I inserted some crafting wire into hollow black licorice to create the candy bucket handle before sticking it into the cake.  
6. Fill with your favorite Halloween candy!  
 
#halloweencake #pumpkincake #partycake #cakedecorating #bundtcake
These are 10 of the Halloween cake and cupcake rec These are 10 of the Halloween cake and cupcake recipes I’d make for a spooky party! 👻

Comment “HALLOWEEN” and I’ll send all of these recipes and cake decorating tutorials + even more from my Halloween baking archives – spooky classics like my dye-free black velvet cake and pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, plus Halloween party cake tutorials and easy Halloween cupcake designs. 

https://sugarandsparrow.com/halloween-cakes-cupcakes-treats/

#halloweencake #halloweencupcakes #cakedecorating #halloweenbaking #halloweenpartyideas
DYE-FREE BLACK VELVET SHEET CAKE 🖤👀 if you’re look DYE-FREE BLACK VELVET SHEET CAKE 🖤👀 if you’re looking for a black cake that won’t stain your teeth, look no further! This sheet cake version of my favorite black velvet cake recipe uses black cocoa powder to create the dark black color for this whole cake without ANY food coloring, and it tastes just like Oreo cookies (but in deliciously moist cake form). Top that black buttercream with googly eyes for the perfect easy Halloween cake 👻

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-velvet-sheet-cake/

You can also use the same ingredients and amounts for my black velvet layer cake recipe from a few Reels back! Just lower the oven temp to 325F and bake in a 9x13 pan for 30-35 min 🖤

#blackbuttercream #blackcake #blackvelvetcake #halloweencake #sheetcake
SNICKERS CAKE 🤎🥜 this truly tastes like a sweet an SNICKERS CAKE 🤎🥜 this truly tastes like a sweet and salty Snickers bar, but in cake form: decadent chocolate cake layers filled with soft chocolate peanut butter nougat and thick, gooey peanut caramel, all wrapped up in chocolate buttercream. Make this for the Snickers lover in your life!! 
⁣ 
Comment ‘RECIPE’ and I’ll send it right to you, or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/snickers-cake-recipe/ 
⁣ 
#snickerscake #chocolatecake #caramel #birthdaycake #cakedecorating
BLACK VELVET CAKE 🖤 can you believe that this deli BLACK VELVET CAKE 🖤 can you believe that this deliciously moist all-black cake is made with ZERO FOOD COLORING?! The magic of black cocoa powder creates the perfect black cake + dye-free black buttercream for the ultimate Halloween party cake that won’t turn anyone’s mouth black 👻 plus it tastes like Oreo cookies so I’m obsessed!!

Full recipe (with black buttercream + my fave black cocoa powder) linked in my bio or at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-velvet-cake-recipe/
 
You’ll also find recipes for a cupcake version, a vegan version, and a small batch version if you search “black velvet” at https://sugarandsparrow.com 
 
BLACK VELVET CAKE  
2 Cups (265g) all purpose flour 
1 2/3 Cups (340g) granulated sugar 
2/3 Cup (80g) black cocoa powder 
2 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp salt 
1/2 Cup (120ml) vegetable oil 
2 large eggs, room temperature 
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 
1 Cup (240ml) full-fat buttermilk, room temp
1 Cup (240ml) hot coffee or hot water 
 
INSTRUCTIONS 
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and line three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients. Add the vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk and whisk together. Slowly pour in the hot coffee (or hot water) and whisk until combined. 
3. Pour into prepared cake pans and bake for 32-36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool before frosting with black buttercream. Full recipe (with frosting!) linked in my bio✨⁣⁣⁣ 
⁣ 
*If you can’t find buttermilk, mix together 1 Cup (240ml) whole milk + 1 Tbsp white vinegar as a substitute. ⁣ 
⁣⁣⁣ 
#blackcake #blackbuttercream #blackvelvetcake #cakedecorating #halloweencake

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