Pop the bubbly because this new year cake is here to turn your countdown into a sweet celebration! Picture fireworks—but on a cake. Everyone will stop mid-toast to admire (and devour) it.
Why this recipe is awesome
This new year cake combines a moist vanilla-champagne sponge with silky buttercream and celebratory sprinkles. It’s easy to bake, impressive to display, and perfect for ringing in the new year with style.
Ingredients

- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup milk + ½ cup champagne (sub: sparkling cider)
- Buttercream:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp milk
- Edible gold glitter or sprinkles
(Substitutions: use non-dairy butter and milk for vegan or cider for alcohol-free)
Tools & kitchen gadgets used
- 2 × 8″ round cake pans
- Electric mixer (hand or stand)
- Mixing bowls & whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Cake leveler or serrated knife
- Offset spatula
- Cake turntable (optional)
- Piping bag + round tip
- Champagne flute (for flavor splash!)
Step‑by‑step instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease & line cake pans.
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Alternate adding flour mix and milk+champagne until just combined.
- Divide batter into pans, bake 25–30 min until a toothpick is clean.
- Cool in pans 10 min, then on racks completely.
- Buttercream: beat butter + sugar, add milk until smooth.
- Assemble: level cakes, add filling, frost top and sides smoothly.
- Decorate: pipe rosettes, sprinkle edible gold glitter, drop fun sprinkles.
Calories & Nutritional Info
- ~380 kcal per slice (12 slices)
- High in sugar and fat—perfect for indulgence night!
- Can be made vegan/dairy-free with swaps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using flat champagne? → Won’t rise as well—use fresh fizz!
- Overmixing batter → Tough cake. Mix just until moistened.
- Skipping cooling time → Frost melts into crumb chaos. Chill first!
Variations & Customizations
- Chocolate‑champagne twist: swap ⅓ flour for cocoa powder.
- Berry filling: add strawberry or raspberry jam between layers.
- Citrus pop: add lemon zest to batter and frosting for zing.
FAQ Section
- Can I skip champagne? Use sparkling apple cider or extra milk—still stellar.
- Why two pans? For a tall, party-ready layer cake—one pan = flat.
- How to make dairy-free? Use plant butter and almond milk.
- Chocolate version possible? Yes—see variation #1 above.
- Can I freeze it? Yes, layers freeze up to 2 months; thaw before frosting.
- What frosting lasts best? Swiss meringue buttercream resists melting.
- Edible glitter okay? Yes, use food‑grade only—super festive!
Final Thoughts
This new year cake isn’t just dessert—it’s a celebration in body form 🎉. Snap pics, tag #NewYearCakeGlow, and don’t even think about store-bought trash next year!