This week I had the opportunity to guest blog for Lil Luna. This is a great craft and recipe blog with lots of DIY projects and free printables. I decided for my guest post I would create an amazing cake. After all it is an amazing blog and what I contributed had to be nothing less than amazing too. I had my mind set on recreating the champagne cake I made for New Year’s Eve from my previous blog post . It was moist, yummy and made from scratch. I was in heaven and knew this recipe was a keeper. But with Valentines Day right around the corner, I wanted to give this post a romantic flare. I didn’t want to add fondant hearts and red food coloring to just any cake and call it romantic. I wanted something elegant, grown up and indulging. I was onto something here but couldn’t quite decide on just the right recipe. Then a few days before my post was due, my wonderful neighbor came over with a belated Christmas gift. A glorious bottle of my favorite bubbly, Moscato. The best stuff on the planet. But this was not just any Moscato. It was even better (if that’s possible). It was Pink Moscato. The perfect romantic drink. I never knew it existed but I was intrigued and just like any baker I immediately thought of what it would taste like in dessert form. Cake specifically. The Champagne cake was to die for, so I thought adding the Pink Moscato in place of the Champagne would create a masterpiece. Boy was I right! The cake turned out moist with hint of Moscato and it wasn’t overly sweet. It was perfect. I was ready to dig in but first I needed to top it with something spectacular. My favorite way to drink any Moscato is to plop a big, juicy Strawberry at the bottom of my glass, then pour the bubbly right over it. So, I knew pairing this cake with fresh Strawberry frosting was the perfect marriage. To make this cake extra romantic, I decorated it with large rosettes. The perfect dessert for Valentines Day and the perfect fit for Lil Luna too. Sweet, to die for and a keeper, just like the blog. Pop on over and take a peak at Lil Luna. But don’t forget to try this recipe first. It’s that GOOD!!!
Before you begin, wash and dry about a cup and a half of strawberries. If you can’t find them in season in your area, you can use frozen strawberries. Just bring them to room temp ( nuke them in the microwave for faster results, just make sure they are cooled before adding to frosting) and puree them into a smooth sauce using a food processor or blender. This will go into your frosting that you will prepare while your cake is baking. This is what turns it a pretty pink. No yucky artificial dyes here…just pure indulgence.
Sift your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. In a separate small bowl, mix your egg whites and vanilla. Now that all of your ingredients are prepared and measured out, you are ready to mix your batter following the directions below. 
- Test if your cake is fully baked by placing a toothpick in the center and pulling it out. If it comes out clean, your cake is done.
- If the sides have already pulled away from the pan, your cake is over-baked.
- Keep an eye on it the last few minutes of baking to test it.
- You may have to rotate your pans midway through baking if your oven heats unevenly.
Thanks for stopping by. Here you will find all things sweet. Learn to bake like a pro, try a fabulous recipe, get inspired to decorate a beautiful cake, style the perfect party and so much more.
I just stumbled across your blog and I have so glad to have found it! You are seriously talented!
thank you kelly!
I love/adore this cake is beautifullllll
Perfect treat for Valentine’s Day!!
Thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts – you were featured today!
–Mandy, http://www.SugarBeeCrafts.com
WOW! This is beautiful! Thanks for linking up at DianaRambles.com. I am now following via FB, Twitter, & Pinterest!
Ah, this looks deluxe! Love the frosting, my oh my!
Hopping by and following your lovely blog’s twitter, FB and Pinterest. I blog @ Getting Healthy with Essential Oils
I am also inviting you to join Tiddle Diddle Handmade Shoppe’s first giveaway event.
Your cake is beautiful. I wish I could decorate a cake so pretty. I love the cake stand too!
Stopping by from Sits Girls. Have a great weekend! Pinned also.
OMG! I love this cake but don’t think I can do this. Please come to my house and make it!
I promise Carli. You can do this! Just read the direction thoroughly, pre-measure all of your ingredients and pre heat your oven before you begin. If you are prepared it make it much easier to bake.
This sounds delicious! On my to-bake list. It looks so pretty too.
WHOA this looks simply divine! Your pictures are so amazing!! Visiting from Sharefest, Happy Saturday
That does look amazingly yummy!
Found you from SITS. That cake looks awesome. I would love a piece of that right now
I’ll pin this and look it over to see if I could even come close to doing this. Not sure though – lol
Beautiful! Newest follower
Thank you for sharing at All My Bloggy Friends last week. I look forward to seeing what you share this week 
Lovely cake, lovely display!!! Following now. Follow me too http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2013/01/love-me-love-my-dog.html
That cake is just beautiful. I love your cake plate as well. Lynaea @ EverydayBloom.com
This cake looks absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and we would appreciate it if you would link back this recipe to us. Hope you will join us again this week. New follower Marlys @ Thisandthat
What a beautiful cake! You did such a great job! Thanks for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back this week with another delicious recipe!
I agree that pink Moscato is the best stuff on the planet. I WILL be trying this!
This is just amazing– so going to try this–not a baker but this worth a try!
I really want to reach through the screen and have a bite
Thanks so much Ladies for the kind words and for leaving a comment. I promise if you follow my directions, the cake will be amazing. Even if you are not a seasoned baker.
Try it and let me know what you think.
Made the cake today – simply amazing!! Thank you for the great recipe. I couldn’t get the frosting right, guess I will have to make more cake until I perfect it
I am glad you tried the cake stephanie. What do you think went wrong with the buttercream? Explain to me what happened and I can try and help you get it right next time.
Looks divine!!! Was curious if anyone has made this at high altitude and what adjustments would need to be made?
Omg… This sounds amazing! I love Moscato and I cannot wait to make this!
Omg…this looks amazing! I love Moscato and can’t wait to try this cake!
What is 10X confectioners sugar? How big is this bag in ounces?
it’s confectioners sugar. A two pound bag should be 32 ounces. Thanks for asking…I will add that into the ingredients list accurately.
What kind of flour? I used cake flour and both times my cake was as flat as a pancake. What am I doing wrong??
I use softasilk cake flour. If you cake is falling flat it could be a number of things. The oven temp, overmixing and your ingredients being too cold could be the problem. How did you prepare your batter?
I prepared the ingredients exactly as stated. Left butter out to soften- didnt overmix the ingredients- and the oven temp was fine. The wine was somewhat chilled but mainly was room temp when I added it. Twice I tried doing the cake and twice it turned out flat. The second time I even beat the batter less and still had the same results.
I am sorry you have had problems with this lovely cake. There are a few factors that could be contributing to your cake falling flat. Do you have an oven thermometer? Not many of us know exactly what our ovens temps are without it. My oven, for example, has hot pockets and the oven thermometer reads at least 50 degrees hotter than what I set it too. Here is a link that gives your more examples of what could have gone wrong. Hope this helps. http://www.southernliving.com/food/how-to/how-to-bake-a-cake-tips-for-perfect-cakes-00417000072432/
I have been wanting to try this recipe !
Tried it twice today as cupcakes.
The texture seems to be more like a muffing than cakey, and the color seems to have gone a little green.
I’m okay with the texture, it’s nice and moist, but as far as the color…did you use a clear vanilla extract ?
It tastes wonderful !
Getting ready to make the frosting for it.
I am glad you liked it. Yes, the color is a little surprising. As you can tell from my pictures here on this post, it does look a little green or blue-ish. My only guess would be the acidic reaction from the bubbly Moscato and the baking powder or baking soda. I used regular vanilla and not the clear kind.
Perfect ! Thank you so much ! Love your blog ! You are wonderful !
I Can’t Remember How I found You Maybe Pinterest But I sent This To my Husband To Make For My Bday And He Did! SO YUMMY! of Course He Didn’t Do The Fancy Decorating But So Yummy! He Said The frosting Was runny With 2 1/2 Tbs Of Milk So He Had To add More Powdered Sugar But Anyway I Was In Heaven! Thank You for creating Such A Fabulous And Delicious Cake!
OMG I’m so glad I found this blog, I love it. So many ideas, But I have a question. Can I use Moscato Champagne instead of regular Moscato?
Thanks for subscribing Alejandra. I don’t see why you couldn’t use Moscato Champagne. There are lots of recipes out there for Champagne cake that are scrumptious so I am sure it would turn out lovely. Let me know!!
JUST STUMBLED ACROSS YOUR BLOG! SO GLAD I DID, I HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME PINK MOSCATO IN THE FRIDGE AND STRAWBERRIES IN THE FREEZER..THINKING THIS CAKE WILL BE A MUST TRY THIS WEEK!!
The frosting completely curdled and I followed the directions…did it twice and it still happened
Hi Lina. Because of the high liquid content of pureed strawberries, the frosting will always curdle when added to the butter/sugar mixture. It just needs to be mixed until it’s smooth. It will always come together if the ingredients were measured properly. It just might take a few minutes.
I have never been one for any type of alcohol, even wine…UNTIL I married my very own PrinceCharming. Turns out ol’charming boy is a WINE salesman and he introduced me to Moscato. I fell in love, (or was that lust) with a moscato diasti and had it served at our wedding. The best part is? I get my wine free! Yayness! So I am definitely trying this cake recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I love Moscato, but the regular smooth wine, not the sparkling wine. Which one did this recipe call for? The bottle looks like a sparkling wine top. Has anyone used regular Mos
The recipe called for the sparkling Moscato. I don’t think it would taste much differently to use a different brand or style of Moscato. Anything sweet would work for this cake.
I used the frosting recipe and it turned out amazing!! I didn’t have enough strawberries for the full amount but it still turned out great and it didnt curdle. Thank you for sharing!!
so glad you tried it. Thanks for reading my blog
It is very yummy cake and i would love to make it but what is a moscato?
It is a sparkling wine.