The Perfect Neapolitan Cake Recipe for Sweet Celebrations

Sinking your fork into a dreamy Neapolitan cake bursting with classic strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate layers.

Soft, moist textures blend perfectly in this nostalgic dessert that sparks childhood memories.

Each colorful slice tells a delightful story of sweet combinations.

Vibrant pink, creamy white, and rich brown create a visual feast that promises incredible flavor.

The harmonious trio of tastes will surprise you with its balanced elegance.

Light yet decadent, this cake transforms an ordinary celebration into a magical moment.

Grab your mixing bowls and let the baking adventure begin!

Why Neapolitan Cake Is A Crowd Favorite

• Celebrate Colorful Layers: This Neapolitan cake delivers a stunning visual feast with its classic pink, white, and chocolate layers, mimicking the beloved ice cream flavor that sparks nostalgia and joy.
• Enjoy Effortless Baking: The straightforward recipe requires simple ingredients and basic baking techniques, making it perfect for both novice and experienced home bakers wanting to create an impressive dessert.
• Delight in Flavor Harmony: Each slice offers a delectable combination of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate cake layers that blend seamlessly, providing a delightful taste experience that appeals to multiple palate preferences in one single cake.
• Craft a Show-Stopping Dessert: This cake transforms an ordinary gathering into a special occasion, impressing guests with its elegant appearance and crowd-pleasing flavor profile that brings smiles and excitement to any celebration.

What You’ll Use For Neapolitan Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A soft, fine flour that provides structure and tenderness to the cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweet foundation that helps create a light, delicate cake texture.
• Eggs: Binding agent that adds richness and helps the cake rise.

• Vanilla Extract: Classic flavor enhancer that adds depth and aroma.
• Butter: Provides richness, moisture, and a smooth, creamy taste.
• Milk: Helps create a soft, tender crumb and adds moisture to the cake.

• Strawberry Puree: Fresh, vibrant ingredient for the pink layer with natural fruity flavor.
• Cocoa Powder: Rich, deep chocolate component for the brown layer.
• Strawberry Extract: Intensifies the strawberry flavor in the pink layer.

How To Make Neapolitan Cake Easily

Step 1: Prepare Baking Workspace

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper, ensuring smooth coverage on bottom and sides. Lightly butter the parchment to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Vanilla Cake Layer

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

• Unsalted butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Whole milk

Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined. Pour batter into one prepared cake pan.

Step 3: Develop Chocolate Cake Layer

• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

• Melted butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Buttermilk

Blend wet and dry ingredients carefully. Transfer batter to second cake pan.

Step 4: Craft Strawberry Cake Layer

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

• Softened butter
• Eggs
• Strawberry puree
• Vanilla extract

Fold ingredients together, adding pink food coloring if desired. Pour into third cake pan.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Place all three pans in preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating midway. Test with toothpick – it should come out clean when inserted.

Step 6: Cool Cake Layers

Remove pans from oven. Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer to wire cooling rack. Allow complete cooling before frosting.

Step 7: Prepare Vanilla Buttercream

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

Whip until smooth and fluffy.

Step 8: Assemble Neapolitan Cake

Place chocolate layer on serving plate. Spread thin layer of buttercream. Add vanilla layer, more frosting, then strawberry layer. Cover entire cake with remaining buttercream.

Step 9: Decorate and Serve

Optionally garnish with chocolate shavings, fresh strawberries, or sprinkles. Slice and enjoy your spectacular Neapolitan creation!

Neapolitan Cake Tips To Know

• Perfectly Prep Pans: Use parchment paper circles for easy cake removal and zero sticking, ensuring a flawless cake release every time.
• Temperature Precision: Allow ingredients like eggs and butter to reach room temperature before mixing to create a smoother, more consistent batter with better volume.
• Layer Love Technique: Carefully level each cake layer with a serrated knife to guarantee even, professional-looking stacked layers that look bakery-perfect.
• Color-Blocking Hack: When creating the classic strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate layers, use gel food coloring for vibrant, intense colors that don't thin out the batter.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Wrap unfrosted cake layers in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to two days or freeze for one month, making party prep significantly easier and less stressful.

How To Keep Neapolitan Cake Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store leftover cake slices in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover each slice with plastic wrap to prevent drying out and preserve moisture.
• Freezing: Wrap individual cake slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer-safe container. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated cake slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds to restore softness. For best texture, let cake sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before enjoying.
• Room Temperature: Keep cake at room temperature for 2-3 hours maximum. After that, refrigerate to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.

Best Pairings For Neapolitan Cake

• Complement with Fruit Medley: Serve slices of Neapolitan cake alongside a fresh berry compote featuring strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries to enhance the cake's layered flavor profile.
• Pair with Creamy Beverage: Enjoy a cold glass of milk or a rich cappuccino that balances the cake's sweet and rich chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry layers.
• Match with Vanilla Ice Cream: Top each cake slice with a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream to amplify the cake's creamy texture and complement its three distinct flavors.
• Select Complementary Wine: Choose a light moscato or rosé wine that provides a subtle sweetness and refreshing contrast to the cake's decadent layers.

Ways To Change Up Neapolitan Cake

• Berry Bliss Neapolitan: Replace vanilla layer with mixed berry puree, adding fresh raspberries and blueberries between layers for a fruity explosion of flavor.
• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Swap vanilla layer with rich dark chocolate cake, incorporating cocoa powder and chocolate chips for intense chocolate experience.
• Tropical Paradise Neapolitan: Substitute vanilla layer with coconut cake, adding mango and passion fruit compote between layers for a vibrant, tropical twist.
• Nutty Caramel Fusion: Replace vanilla layer with caramel-infused cake, sprinkle toasted almonds and pecans between layers for added crunch and warmth.

Neapolitan Cake FAQs

• What makes a Neapolitan Cake different from other layer cakes?

The cake uniquely combines three classic flavors – vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry – in a single dessert, representing the traditional Italian ice cream colors and taste profile.

• Do I need special baking skills to make this cake?

Not at all! This cake requires basic baking techniques like mixing batter, using separate cake pans, and layering. Even intermediate home bakers can successfully create this stunning dessert.

• Can I substitute fresh strawberries with something else if they're not in season?

Yes, you can use strawberry jam, freeze-dried strawberry powder, or strawberry extract to achieve the signature pink layer and fruity flavor when fresh berries aren’t available.

• Why are the cake layers baked separately instead of using one batter?

Separate batters ensure each flavor maintains its distinct color and taste, creating the signature striped effect that makes Neapolitan Cake visually appealing and delicious.

Neapolitan Cake Recipe

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

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Description

Creamy layers of Neapolitan cake blend classic strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate flavors into a nostalgic dessert that sparks childhood memories. Sweet harmony dances across each delightful slice, inviting you to savor pure indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Layers:

Main Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour (for each layer)
• ½ cup (120 ml) cocoa powder (chocolate layer)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) baking powder (for each layer)
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) baking soda (for each layer)
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) salt (for each layer)

Wet Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 ml) unsalted butter, softened (for each layer)
• ¾ cup (180 ml) granulated sugar (for each layer)
• 2 large eggs (for each layer)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract (vanilla layer)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) strawberry extract (strawberry layer)
• ½ cup (120 ml) milk (for chocolate and vanilla layers)
• ½ cup (120 ml) strawberry puree (for strawberry layer)

Frosting Ingredients:

• 2 cups (480 ml) unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups (1200 ml) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
• ¾ tablespoons (11.25 ml) heavy cream or milk
• Pink food coloring (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare your workspace by positioning oven rack in the center and warming the oven to a precise 350F (175C) temperature.
2. Meticulously coat three 8-inch round cake pans with butter or non-stick spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper for seamless cake release.
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a clean mixing bowl, ensuring no lumps remain for a smooth cake texture.
4. Cream softened butter and sugar in a separate large bowl, beating until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale yellow.
5. Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition to maintain a consistent batter.
6. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, creating a silky, uniform cake batter.
7. Divide the base batter into three equal portions, reserving one section for each distinct flavor: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
8. For the chocolate layer, fold cocoa powder into one portion of the batter until fully integrated and rich brown.
9. Mix strawberry puree or concentrated strawberry extract into the second portion, creating a vibrant pink-hued batter.
10. Leave the third portion as a classic vanilla base, maintaining its pristine white color.
11. Carefully pour each flavored batter into its prepared cake pan, smoothing the surfaces with a spatula for even baking.
12. Position pans in the preheated oven, ensuring equal spacing for consistent heat distribution.
13. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through to guarantee uniform browning.
14. Test cake doneness by inserting a slender toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean with minimal crumbs.
15. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
16. Once completely cooled, level cake layers if needed and prepare for assembly and frosting.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth batter and even mixing, which helps create a consistent cake texture.
• Divide the batter equally among three pans for uniform layers representing classic strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate flavors.
• Consider using parchment paper circles at the bottom of cake pans to prevent sticking and guarantee clean layer removal.
• When combining batter colors, gently fold to maintain distinct color separation and prevent muddying of vibrant layer appearances.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg