Fluffy Neapolitan Cake Recipe Ever Made

Sweet layers of nostalgia dance through this classic neapolitan cake that reminds me of childhood summers.

Memories swirl between strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate sections blending perfectly.

Kids and adults adore these colorful dessert stripes.

My grandmother’s handwritten recipe inspired this delightful creation years ago.

Each slice tells a story of carefully balanced flavors and textures.

Light sponge layers promise a delectable experience waiting to unfold.

You cannot resist diving into this delightful three-colored masterpiece that celebrates simplicity and taste.

Neapolitan Cake That’s a Triple Threat

• Perfect for Beginner Bakers who want to impress without stress. The recipe breaks down each flavor layer into simple steps that anyone can follow, making cake creation feel like a fun kitchen adventure.
• Combines three classic cake flavors in one stunning dessert. Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry layers offer something delightful for every taste preference, ensuring no guest goes unsatisfied.
• Takes just over an hour to prepare and bake, making it an ideal weekend baking activity. Home bakers can create a show-stopping dessert without spending an entire day in the kitchen.
• Ideal for birthdays, potlucks, and special occasions where you want to make a memorable impression. Its beautiful layered appearance looks professionally made, yet requires only basic baking skills.

Everything You Need for a Neapolitan Cake with Style

• Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder: Classic cake base with standard leavening components for soft, tender texture.
• Eggs: Primary binding agent that provides structure and richness to cake layers.
• Butter: Adds moisture and creates tender crumb with rich flavor profile.
• Milk: Helps create smooth batter and enhances cake's moisture.

• Vanilla Extract: Signature flavor enhancer for classic cake taste.
• Cocoa Powder: Provides deep chocolate flavor for chocolate layer.
• Strawberry Puree: Authentic fruit flavor for strawberry layer, adds natural color and taste.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet frosting base.
• Heavy Cream: Provides creamy consistency and helps adjust frosting texture.
• Butter: Foundation for creating smooth, spreadable frosting.

• Pink Food Coloring: Allows decorative piping and aesthetic enhancement.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor to frosting.

How to Bake a Picture-Perfect Neapolitan Cake

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Grab three 8-inch round cake pans and coat them with cooking spray or butter, then line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Layer

• Flour
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk

Whisk dry ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs and cocoa. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk, stirring until smooth.

Step 3: Craft Vanilla Layer

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Milk

Follow same mixing technique as chocolate layer, incorporating vanilla extract for rich flavor.

Step 4: Develop Strawberry Layer

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Strawberry puree
• Pink food coloring

Mix ingredients similarly, adding strawberry puree and optional food coloring.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Pour each batter into prepared pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.

Step 6: Whip Up Creamy Frosting

• Softened butter
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Heavy cream

Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add sugar, mixing on low. Incorporate vanilla and cream, beating until fluffy.

Step 7: Assemble Magnificent Cake

Place chocolate layer on cake stand. Spread frosting between each layer. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting.

Step 8: Add Final Touches

Optional: Tint some frosting pink for decorative piping. Chill cake for 30 minutes before serving.

Tips for Distinct Layers and Fluffy Frosting

• Select Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, high-quality butter, eggs, and pure vanilla extract for the most delicious cake flavor and smooth texture.
• Prevent Layer Sinking: Avoid overmixing cake batters and ensure accurate measurements to prevent dense, heavy layers that might sink in the middle.
• Achieve Perfect Frosting Consistency: Let butter soften at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before making frosting to create a smooth, spreadable buttercream that won't tear cake layers.
• Color Carefully for Strawberry Layer: When adding strawberry puree, use less liquid to maintain cake batter consistency and consider adding a few drops of pink food coloring for vibrant appearance.
• Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate cake for at least 30 minutes after frosting to help stabilize layers and make clean, precise slicing easier.

Storage Advice for Neapolitan Cake Lovers

• Store covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days, keeping cake fresh and preventing drying out.
• Wrap individual slices or whole cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for 2-3 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Remove from freezer and let cake sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours, allowing gradual and even defrosting.
• Slice cake when completely thawed, and if needed, refresh frosting by gently running a warm knife over the surface to restore smoothness.

Pairings for the Pink-Chocolate-Vanilla Combo

• The light, fruity bubbles of a chilled rosé champagne perfectly complement the sweet strawberry and vanilla layers, creating a delightful contrast that enhances the cake's diverse flavors.
• Rich, dark espresso brings out the deep chocolate layer's intensity, offering a robust counterpoint that cuts through the cake's sweetness and provides a sophisticated tasting experience.
• Creamy, smooth vanilla bean ice cream adds a cool, refreshing element that balances the cake's richness, with its subtle vanilla notes harmonizing beautifully with the cake's own vanilla layer.
• A tart raspberry or strawberry sorbet provides a zesty, palate-cleansing effect that highlights the cake's strawberry layer, delivering a bright and refreshing accent to each bite.

Neapolitan Cake Variations That Work

• Gluten-Free Delight: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum for proper texture and structure.
• Vegan Version: Swap butter for vegan butter, use plant-based milk, replace eggs with flax eggs or applesauce, and create dairy-free frosting using coconut cream and vegan powdered sugar.
• Low-Sugar Option: Substitute granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, use sugar-free pudding mix for flavor layers, and create a lighter frosting using Greek yogurt and reduced powdered sugar.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Use coconut milk instead of regular milk, replace butter with coconut oil or vegetable shortening, and create a creamy frosting using dairy-free cream cheese or cashew cream.

Neapolitan Cake Questions Answered

• What are the key ingredients for making Neapolitan Cake?

The key ingredients include flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, strawberry puree, and food coloring to create the three distinct cake layers and buttercream frosting.

• Do I need any special equipment to make this cake?

You’ll need three 8-inch round cake pans, an electric mixer, wire cooling rack, and a cake stand. Standard kitchen tools like mixing bowls and measuring cups are also essential.

• How do I ensure each cake layer bakes perfectly?

Carefully measure ingredients, mix batter until just combined, and use a toothpick to test doneness. Each layer should be baked at 350F for 20-25 minutes, with the toothpick coming out clean when inserted into the center.

• Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the cake layers a day in advance and store them wrapped at room temperature. The frosting can also be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble the cake.

Neapolitan Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Layers of sweet nostalgia unfold in this classic Neapolitan cake, blending strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla into a delightful dessert. Creamy frosting and moist cake promise a delectable journey through Italian-inspired flavors that satisfy your craving for comfort and indulgence.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

Flour Mixture:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (chocolate layer)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (vanilla layer)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (strawberry layer)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (chocolate layer)
• ½ cup cocoa powder (chocolate layer)

Sweeteners and Fats:

• ¾ cup granulated sugar (chocolate layer)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar (vanilla layer)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar (strawberry layer)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (chocolate layer)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (vanilla layer)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (strawberry layer)
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened (frosting)
• 5 cups powdered sugar (frosting)

Flavor and Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs (chocolate layer)
• 2 large eggs (vanilla layer)
• 2 large eggs (strawberry layer)
• ½ cup milk (chocolate layer)
• ½ cup milk (vanilla layer)
• ½ cup strawberry puree (strawberry layer)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (chocolate and vanilla layers)
• 1 teaspoon strawberry extract (strawberry layer)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (frosting)
• 34 tablespoons heavy cream or milk (frosting)

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 1

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by greasing and lining with parchment paper.
2. Create each cake flavor batter separately by combining dry ingredients in individual bowls, then cream butter and sugar in separate mixing bowls.
3. Incorporate eggs and specific flavor extracts into the wet mixture for each layer – chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
4. Gradually fold dry ingredients and liquid components (milk or strawberry puree) into each batter, mixing until just combined and smooth.
5. Distribute batters evenly into prepared cake pans, ensuring uniform thickness across layers.
6. Bake cakes for 20-25 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center which should come out clean.
7. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to wire cooling racks until completely cooled.
8. Prepare buttercream frosting by whipping softened butter until creamy and light.
9. Slowly integrate powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream, beating until achieving a silky, spreadable consistency.
10. Assemble cake by placing chocolate layer first on a cake stand, spreading an even frosting layer between each subsequent layer.
11. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting, creating a smooth exterior.
12. Optional: Tint a portion of frosting pink for decorative piping details.
13. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes to stabilize frosting and enhance flavor melding.

Notes

• Swap out regular milk for dairy-free alternatives like almond or oat milk to make this cake suitable for lactose-intolerant guests.
• Experiment with natural food colorings like beet juice for strawberry layer or cocoa powder for deeper chocolate intensity to avoid artificial additives.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth batter and prevent potential curdling during mixing, creating a more consistent cake texture.
• Test cake doneness by gently pressing the center – it should spring back when fully baked, ensuring a perfectly moist and tender crumb.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 40 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg