Dessert | Baking | Cake | Food and Recipes | Recipes | vegetarian
Book Cake Recipe
This Book Cake Recipe is easy to make with a simple sheet cake and frosting. It is the perfect cake for all the book lovers out there.
Hello there, my friend 👋! Want to make something sweet for your favorite bookworm? This book cake is easy to make and looks super cute.
Let’s get started!
Utensils You Need
These are the utensils and/or equipment you need to make this recipe:
- A 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Large mixing bowls.
- Several smaller mixing bowls.
- A whisk.
- A hand mixer or stand mixer.
- A rubber spatula.
- Oven mitts
- Serving plates.
The Recipe
Book Cake
This decorated sheet cake transforms into a cute book cake that's perfect for birthdays, celebrations, graduations, or any book-themed event.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
- 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For decorating:
- Fruit roll up any color
- Gel food coloring any color
- White frosting
- Edible markers or food coloring markers
Instructions
Make the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Alternate between adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Blend until just combined – don’t overmix!
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely in the pan.
Make the frosting:
- In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until fully incorporated.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
Decorate the cake:
- Level the cake if needed to create a flat surface.
- Slice the cake in half lengthwise so you have two long rectangles.
- Place one half of the cake on a serving platter. This will be the bottom half of the “book”.
- Frost the top of the cake with a generous layer of frosting.
- Place the other half of the cake on top to create the other side of the “book”.
- Frost the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting (crumb coat). Chill for 15-20 minutes.
- Frost the entire cake again with a thicker layer of frosting.
- Flatten a fruit roll up and gently press it along the side of the cake to create the “spine” of the book.
- Tint some of the white frosting with any color of your choosing and spread it in a thin layer over the top and one side of the cake to create the book pages.
- Use edible markers or food coloring markers to write a title and author on the top of the book. Get creative with your book design!
Notes
- Use a cake leveler to create an even surface for decorating.
- For an extra pop of color, dye the cake batter before baking.
- Get creative with the frosting colors and decorations!
Alternative Ingredients
If you don’t have the ingredients I listed above, do not worry. You can swap them out for the alternatives below.
| Ingredient | Alternative |
| All-purpose flour | Cake flour, whole-wheat flour |
| Unsalted butter | Salted butter (reduce salt in recipe), shortening, vegan butter substitute |
| Buttermilk | Sour cream thinned with a little water, non-dairy alternative |
| Granulated sugar | Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup |
What to Serve with Book Cake
Book cake is so fun all on its own, but try pairing it with:
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- A tall glass of milk
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this cake with a different flavor?
Yes, you can. Try chocolate, red velvet, strawberry, or any other favorite cake flavor.
How long does the cake need to cool before decorating?
Make sure the cake is cooled completely before slicing and decorating for the best results.
How should I store leftover cake?
Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
