Pink Vanilla Pocky Cake

Sometimes when you’re stressed you need cake. Just a little 6-inch personal-size cake with flecks of vanilla bean throughout, and possibly surrounded with your favorite guilty pleasure – strawberry pocky.

It helps you forget that you’re making a wedding cake and a groom’s cake next week.

And the fact that you’ll have to transport it in 592 degree weather.

And that somehow you’ll have to manage all this while looking fresh-as-a-daisy in your bridesmaid’s dress.

Clearly, I needed a cake.

This is a straight-forward yellow cake recipe with an American buttercream from the SprinkleBakes book.  I used cake flour instead of all-purpose and vanilla bean paste instead of extract. Both cake and icing have the taste and texture of the birthday cakes I remember as child.

Dress it in pocky– or don’t.  It’s delicious either way!

Pink Vanilla Pocky Cake

Yield: One six-inch cake, or one slightly shorter 8-inch cake                              [click for printable recipe]

Note: Cake flour is recommended for this recipe.

Yellow cake:

2 ¼ cups cake flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla bean paste

3 eggs

¾ cup whole milk, room temperature

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. In a standing mixer, beat butter using the paddle attachment until creamy and lightened. Add the sugar gradually; scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat in the vanilla.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.
  5. Divide batter between pans and bake approximately 22 minutes for 6-inch layers, 24 minutes for 8-inch layers. Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes, unmold and cool completely on wire racks. 

Pink vanilla bean frosting:

Note: if making an 8-inch version, increase the frosting recipe by 1/2

1 cup of unsalted butter, softened

2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar – the finest you can find (usually 10x)

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Pink gel food coloring

* Milk or heavy cream, optional

  1. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the butter and confectioners sugar.  Begin mixing on low speed until crumbly, and then increase to high and beat for 3 minutes. 
  2. Add vanilla bean paste and beat again for another minute until light and fluffy. Beat in food coloring a little at a time until the desired color is achieved.

*Note: If you find the buttercream is too stiff, you may add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is spreading consistency.

Assembly:

6-inch cake: Fifteen 6 quantity packets (90 pcs.) of strawberry cream pocky

8-inch cake: Seventeen-Eighteen 6 quantity packets         ”          “

  1. Frost cooled cakes with an off-set spatula and transfer remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large plain tip (a zip-top bag with the corner snipped would probably work also).
  2. Pipe icing in strait lines across the top of the cake. When finished, smooth the edges with an off-set spatula.  Press the strawberry pocky dipped-side down into the sides of the cake until completely covered.
  3. The finished cake slices easily if you place the knife between pieces of pocky.
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Oni
Oni
11 years ago

Gosh. It looks so good.

I want one.

Rebecca
Rebecca
11 years ago

Beautiful & looks so yummy! Now I need cake! Can you tell me what pocky is please, as I've never heard of this?

anniebakes
anniebakes
11 years ago

How do you cut your cakes so beautifully? I always mess mine up, thanks, anne of anniebakes

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
11 years ago

So pretty and girly and love the pale pink icing!

shira-hime
shira-hime
11 years ago

love! Pocky Sticks, my love!
very cool cake idea ;o)

greetings
shira

Anna
Anna
11 years ago

What a great idea! And it looks just lovely.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

I remember the first time I had pocky. I was in the 3rd grade and we had Japanese people come to our class and teach us about the Japanese culture. They taught us how to write our names and how they read from right to left, up and down. We learned how to make oragami bunnies. It was a blast. At the end of the day, they gave us strawberry pocky that we all enjoyed outside. I can't wait to make this cake! It looks delicious.

Michael
Michael
11 years ago

I have never heard of pocky! It looks so adorable!

Emma
Emma
11 years ago

Now to put some of those Koala Yummies on a cake:)

Tartlet Sweets
Tartlet Sweets
11 years ago

Omg, I friggin love Pocky! This cake is bonkers, but awesomely so!

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

This is a masterpiece of pink. I LOVE it!!!

Red Star to Lone Star
Red Star to Lone Star
11 years ago

This is absolutely the neatest cake decoration idea!

MJ
MJ
11 years ago

Wonderful cake, I am thinking for the next birthday of my princess…

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

What a fun little pocky fence all around just teasing you to "peek" over and see the cake inside! I love it!

Paula
Paula
11 years ago

This is so very pretty and I love the way you frosted it.

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

Very pretty! A great birthday cake.

Cheers,

Rosa

Sculpted Sweets!
Sculpted Sweets!
11 years ago

I love you! LOL! You basically summed up my week. No weddings but lots of birthdays! I literally have 10 cakes on the counter and 3 more in the oven! I'm thinking of trying this recipe right now! Whats one more cake? Ha! I've never had Pocky though, I will have to try that! Your definitely right on with 592 degree weather, I'm in south Texas and probably could bake outside!

Christina Marie
Christina Marie
11 years ago

So unbelievably pretty, elegant and creative! Love your mind. 🙂

Christina
http://www.becauseofmadalene.com

Yuri - Chef Pandita
Yuri - Chef Pandita
11 years ago

I love Pocky. and cakes. and pink. You're amazing 🙂

Vee
Vee
11 years ago

I'm soooo making this cake this weekend. Also, I have to tell you, I love your book! The Banana Pudding cake = DIVINE!!!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

This is so cute! And mmmmm pocky….

Tesei
Tesei
11 years ago

Beautiful cake, where do you get so many ideas from? Congrats!!!

Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie
11 years ago

Sigh – perfect, as always!

Leah Wickett
Leah Wickett
11 years ago

You have just given me my Step-Daughter's next birthday cake. She loves pocky, it's her favorite!

Mel
Mel
11 years ago

Pocky. On a cake. Amazing. I wish we could get the abundance of flavors they have in Japan. I'll have to settle with the few I have had. My husband, who is from Australia, and surrounded by Japanese culture, hates pocky. And we're both anime fans. He's a little crazy, though.

Karyn
Karyn
11 years ago

So lovely and elegant. I would never be able to get the frosting on the top straight. It would look like I had a few too many to drink before frosting the cake. Haha!

Suzanne Perazzini
Suzanne Perazzini
11 years ago

I always need cake though my waistline doesn't. That is one of the prettiest cakes I have seen in a while. All that thick frosting is to die for.

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
11 years ago

This is all kinds of pretty. Lovely, as always 🙂

Mercedes
Mercedes
11 years ago

This is incredibly adorable and oh-so-girly, just the way I like things to be!

Cupcake and Talk
Cupcake and Talk
11 years ago

The cake is lovely. I love the pattern you used to frost the cake.

Gloria
Gloria
11 years ago

You are the baking master! Lord, this looks so delicious and CUTE! I LOVE how you piped that frosting on the top, SO pretty. And it's like a little "secret" cake with the "strawberry pocky" around it! I've never seen or HEARD of that. You are truly an innovator and "sharer" of ideas! Again, YOU are the master baker!
Best,
Gloria

Gloria
Gloria
11 years ago

p.s. good luck with your wedding cake and groom's cake that you said you will be doing! I KNOW they will come out beautifully and deliciously if you are at the helm! The bride and groom will be SO pleased and happy.
gv xxoo

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

I have never heard of strawberry pocky – gotta look them up. Lovely way to decorate such a cute cake… and I really like the way you piped on the buttercream.

Sunshine - www.cancersurvivor26.blogger.com
Sunshine - www.cancersurvivor26.blogger.com
11 years ago

That is so cute. Never heard or seen pocky sticks but it looks amazing.

http://www.cancerinthecity.com

Jamie Levine
Jamie Levine
11 years ago

Best use of pokey yet!

melissa @ mamamiss.com
melissa @ mamamiss.com
11 years ago

ummm you had me at Pocky! This is gorgeous!!! HUGE fan of yours!! 🙂
xx ♥ Melissa @ mamamiss.com

Mel
Mel
11 years ago

So unique for a cake! And so lovely, really!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

LOVE this cake!! Don't think I have ever seen pocky sticks in pink. Pretty!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

My daughter loves pocky! We buy a ton at our commissary! What a stupendous cake:)

Vanessa [theteensytinyinsignificantdetails]
Vanessa [theteensytinyinsignificantdetails]
11 years ago

You're killing me, Heather! Must… find… pocky!!!

Tiffany, aka streusel
Tiffany, aka streusel
11 years ago

I love pocky sticks! Never imagined lining a cake with them…BRILLIANT!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

We live off of pocky sticks at my house. The cake looks wonderful.

Nash Nordin
Nash Nordin
11 years ago

Oh! My! God! This cake is absolutely stunning. I love pocky sticks!

thelittleloaf
thelittleloaf
11 years ago

I need to get myself some mini cake tins – there is ALWAYS time for a mini 'just for me' cake in my life 🙂

ThisGirlBlogs
ThisGirlBlogs
11 years ago

So pretty!! Love the pocky sticks 🙂

Jennifer (Delicieux)
Jennifer (Delicieux)
11 years ago

Oh my this cake is SO adorable and girly! I love it. I'd love this as a birthday cake. I've never heard of pocky, it's not something I've heard of in Australia.

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
11 years ago

Those pretty pink layers of thick thick frosting are calling my name!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

@Emma, Koala Yummies! Oh my goodness, I saw something just like them at Target yesterday and I almost screamed in excitement! No one else remembers them but me!

Rituparna
Rituparna
11 years ago

Delicious & Pink !

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
11 years ago

I haven't ever heard of pocky sticks, but they are s gorgeous on this cake!