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Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

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wilton tip 4b

pumpkin layer cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

October 9, 2025 · In: Cake, Fall, Featured, Holiday, Recipes, Seasonal

Perfect Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe

This is my all-time favorite pumpkin layer cake recipe that I can’t help but bake all cozy season long! The cake layers have amazing spiced pumpkin flavor, are so tender…

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watercolor cake tutorial by sugar and sparrow

June 24, 2021 · In: Featured, Tutorials

Watercolor Cake Tutorial

I’ve always been inspired by painterly textures when it comes to my cakes, and although watercolor buttercream has been around for quite some time, it hasn’t gotten old in my…

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vegan chocolate cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

March 22, 2021 · In: Cake, Featured, Recipes, Vegan

Vegan Chocolate Cake Recipe

I know I’m not alone when I say my love for chocolate cake runs DEEP. I’ve just always had a soft spot in my heart for a good chocolate cake…

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sprinkle cake tutorial by sugar and sparrow

August 14, 2020 · In: Cake Basics, Tutorials

How to Decorate a Cake with Sprinkles

Sprinkles these days aren’t what they used to be (in the best way). I remember swooning over the little vials of rainbow jimmies and sugar sprinkles in the baking aisle…

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cascading floral cake tutorial by sugar and sparrow

April 24, 2020 · In: Featured, Seasonal, Spring, Tutorials

Cascading Floral Cake Tutorial

Before the whole world shut down, I made this colorful Cascading Floral Cake inspired by the pretty Spring flowers that were just starting to bloom. Nowadays, seeing the Spring flowers…

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cascading heart cake tutorial

February 7, 2020 · In: Featured, Seasonal, Tutorials, Valentines

Cascading Heart Cake Tutorial

Two years ago, I got this wild idea to make some fondant hearts and cascade them down the side of a cake with pretty piping and Valentine’s Day conversation hearts….

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mini christmas tree cakes by sugar and sparrow

December 4, 2019 · In: Featured, Holiday, Seasonal, Tutorials

How To Make Mini Christmas Tree Cakes

Some people love to decorate gingerbread houses for the Holidays, but I think these mini Christmas tree cakes are such a fun alternative! Not only are they quicker and easier…

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buttercream sweater cake

November 13, 2019 · In: Fall, Featured, Holiday, Seasonal, Tutorials, Winter

Buttercream Knitted Sweater Cake Tutorial

I don’t know about you, but every time I go to a JOANN store I end up wandering down all the aisles and tossing things into my cart that I…

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sugar and sparrow chai cake recipe

September 27, 2019 · In: Cake, Fall, Featured, Holiday, Recipes, Seasonal, Winter

Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake Recipe

I’m a tea lover all year round, but once the weather gets colder and things start to get cozy, chai is a staple in my tea cabinet. This spiced vanilla…

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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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fall dessert recipe ideas

36+ Best Fall Dessert Recipes for Cozy Baking

eggless vanilla cake that can be made vegan

Eggless Vanilla Cake Recipe (Can Be Made Vegan!)

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@sugarandsparrowco

MONSTER HALLOWEEN CAKE 👀 🥳 give me a handful of pi MONSTER HALLOWEEN CAKE 👀 🥳 give me a handful of piping tips and some googly eyes sprinkles and this is what happens 😆 I love this cake design so much because you can truly go with the flow with your buttercream piping. The googly eyes will make that piping come alive! 
⁣
The full tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/buttercream-monster-cake-tutorial/
⁣
👩🏽‍🍳 buttercream recipe: my vanilla buttercream at https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-buttercream-recipe/
🎨 frosting colors: @americolor Electric Green, Electric Purple, Orange, and Deep Pink + added black cocoa powder for the black piping⁣
✨piping tips: @wiltoncakes 1M, 104, 4B, 233, 10, and 16 ⁣
👀 eye sprinkles: @michaelsstores
⁣
#monstercake #halloweencake #cakedecorating #halloweenparty
#buttercream
APPLE CRISP CAKE 🍏I took everything I love about a APPLE CRISP CAKE 🍏I took everything I love about apple crisp and turned it into the ultimate layer cake with deliciously moist spiced apple cake, homemade apple pie filling, buttery crumble topping, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. This cake is packed with warm fall flavors, incredible textures, and truly tastes like apple crisp in cake form! 🙌🏽

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + https://sugarandsparrow.com/apple-crisp-cake-recipe/

#applecake #layercake #cakedecorating #fallbaking #applecrisp
CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfect CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfectly spiced apple cupcakes topped with a swirl of salted caramel buttercream and drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce – these are the ideal Fall cupcakes if you ask me! 

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes/

#applecupcakes #saltedcaramel #caramelcupcakes #fallbaking #caramelapple
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there is ZERO food coloring in this black buttercream recipe which means it won’t turn your mouth black (or anything else 💩) + it tastes like Oreo cookie butter so it’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 🙌🏼 ideal secret ingredient for your Halloween cakes! 
⁣
Full recipe (and the black cocoa powder I use!) is linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/dye-free-black-buttercream/
⁣
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM⁣⁣
Yield: 2.5 Cups⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INGREDIENTS:⁣⁣
1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temp
2 1/2 Cups (300g) powdered sugar⁣⁣
1/2 Cup (56g) EXTRA DARK black cocoa powder⁣⁣*
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣⁣
2 Tbsp whole milk, room temp
pinch of salt⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣⁣
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.⁣⁣
2. Place the buttercream in an airtight container and allow the color to deepen for 24 hours or more. ⁣⁣

*I use a brand called The Cocoa Trader that I get on Amazon. It’s the darkest black cocoa powder I’ve seen so far!!
⁣⁣
#blackbuttercream #naturalfoodcoloring #blackcake #buttercream #blackcocoapowder
SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frostin SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting 🧡 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 you’re craving pumpkin cake without having to make a huge dessert 🙌🏽

Comment RECIPE and I’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 
2/3 Cup (88g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/3 Cup (67g) packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
1/3 Cup (80ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
1 large egg, room temp
1/2 Cup (125g) canned pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). 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!)

#pumpkincake #smallbatchcake #minicake #creamcheesefrosting #fallbaking

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