Pink Champagne Cake (GF & DF Option)

Pretty in pink, light in texture, and bursting with bubbly charm, this pink champagne cake is what celebrations are made of. Whether you’re clinking glasses for a birthday, bridal shower, or simply a Saturday night in with sparkle, this easy cake is your new go-to showstopper. The recipe can be made alcohol-free, gluten-free and/or dairy-free.

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The Best Pink Champagne Cake

Topped with fresh strawberries, swirls of silky pink champagne buttercream, and a sprinkle of sparkle, it’s sweet, elegant, and surprisingly easy to make. It also has an alcohol-free, gluten-free and dairy-free option to keep things inclusive for everyone at the party. Here’s why you’ll love it.

• Elegant Flavor – The subtle sparkle from pink champagne gives this cake a delicate, not-too-sweet flavor that pairs beautifully with the bright strawberry filling.
• Versatile – Made with a boxed mix, but dressed to impress. Ideal for birthdays, showers, holidays, or anytime you want a little pink and a little glam.
• Diet-Friendly – Easily adapted to alcohol-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets without compromising texture, taste, or that dreamy frosting swirl.

What Makes Up A Pink Champagne Cake

• Pink Champagne Cake Layers – Perfectly soft and fluffy and made with an easy doctored cake mix.
• Strawberry Filling – Subtly sweet and made with either fresh or frozen strawberries.
• Pink Champagne Buttercream – Silky smooth with a sublime hint of pink champagne.

Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions

Cake

Pink champagne – Any type of pink champagne or sparkling wine will work. If you are alcohol free, fruit juice or non-alcoholic sparkling wine will work wonderfully.

Sour cream – For the best flavor, go for full-fat sour cream. You can also use full-fat plain yogurt.

Eggs – You will need 3 large, room temperature eggs. For an egg-free swap, use JustEgg or a powder egg replacer.

Vegetable oil – Neutral tasting oil, such as vegetable or canola is best, but avocado or olive oil will work too.

White cake mix – Any brand of white cake mix can be used. If you’d like to make this gluten-free, pick your favorite gluten-free cake mix. Make sure it’s the same size as the one listed in the recipe, though.

Filling

Strawberries – Fresh or frozen strawberries can be used with fabulous results.

Granulated sugar – Helps to sweeten the filling ever so slightly. It can be replaced with organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, or monkfruit.

Lemon juice – Fresh or bottled lemon juice.

Cornstarch – This is needed to help thicken the strawberry filling. You can substitute arrowroot powder or potato starch.

Buttercream

Pink champagne – Any type of pink champagne or sparkling wine will work. If you are alcohol free, fruit juice or non-alcoholic sparkling wine will work wonderfully. You will be reducing this to compound the flavor.

Salted butter – Any brick-style salted butter will work. Use whatever kind you prefer and that fits your dietary needs.

Powdered sugar – Required for a silky smooth buttercream. I have not tested it, but I would venture to say that it can be replaced with a sugar-free substitute such as Swerve.

Optional: Pink food coloring – While optional, it adds to the cake’s elegance.

Optional: Sprinkles – Add the perfect touch of glam and sparkle.

How to Make the Pink Champagne Cake

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment.
2. Mix: In a large bowl, whisk champagne, sour cream, eggs, and oil until smooth. Add cake mix and stir until just combined.
3. Bake: Divide between pans and bake for 22–25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
4. Cool: Let cakes rest in pans 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Strawberry Filling

1. In a saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and salt.
2. Simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
3. Mash the berries if a smoother consistency is preferred.
4. Pour into a shallow dish, press plastic wrap to the surface, and chill until fully cool.

Pink Champagne Buttercream

1. Reduce the champagne: Bring to a boil, then simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (about 10-15 minutes). Cool completely.
2. Beat butter until light and fluffy (about 5-10 minutes).
3. Mix in powdered sugar and salt on low speed.
4. Add the cooled champagne reduction and pink coloring (if using). Beat on high for 5 minutes until fluffy.

Assembly & Decoration

• Stack: Place one cake layer on a cake board or stand and brush on some pink champagne. Top with approximately 1/2 cup of buttercream and spread evenly. Pipe a frosting border, fill with strawberry filling, and top with the second cake layer.
• Frost: Apply a crumb coat, chill for 20 minutes, then add the final layer of frosting. Smooth the sides and top with an offset spatula or cake smoother.
• Decorate: Gently press sprinkles into the sides while the frosting is fresh. Pipe swirls around the top edge with a Wilton 1M tip, and top with halved fresh strawberries and more sprinkles.

Pink Champagne Cake Flavor Twists

• No alcohol? Use non-alcoholic sparkling wine or fruit juice.
• Flavor swaps: Try raspberries or blueberries instead of strawberries.
• Mix it up: Sub in lemon, strawberry, or funfetti cake mix for a playful twist.

How To Store A Pink Champagne Cake

Store the leftover pink champagne cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving for the softest crumb and best flavor.

Alternatively, leftover cake can be frozen in an airtight container or sliced and wrapped in plastic wrap.

The Best Box Mix Pink Champagne Cake

If you’re searching for the perfect pink champagne cake, this one’s got it all—fluffy, flavorful layers, a luscious strawberry center, and a buttercream that’s silky smooth with just a kiss of champagne. It’s elegant, whimsical, and surprisingly simple to make. Plus, it’s gluten-free and dairy-free friendly, so everyone can have a slice of sparkle yum. 

Whether you’re toasting a big moment or just treating yourself to something sparkly and sweet, this cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. One bite, and you’ll see why it’s the most incredible pink champagne cake you’ll ever taste.

If you bake it, I’d absolutely love for you to leave a star rating and review – it helps so much! And don’t forget to tag me on social media @cakedbykatie so I can see (and share!) your gorgeous bake.

Fun Flavorful Cake Recipes

• Gluten-Free Honey Blackberry Cake (Dairy-Free)
• Sangria Cupcakes
• Cranberry Orange Cake (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Option)

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