💊 Pharmacy Cake Recipe

This cake combines delicious flavors with playful pharmacy-themed decorations—think fondant pill bottles, candy capsules, and a cheeky edible prescription label. It’s whimsical yet classy enough for a professional celebration.

🛒 What You’ll Need

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
½ cup sour cream

Buttercream Filling:

1 ½ cups unsalted butter (softened)
6 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Decoration:

White fondant (covering cake)
Red fondant (for cross emblem)
Light blue fondant (optional, for top tier)
Fondant or modeling chocolate (to shape pill bottles, capsules, and a stethoscope)
Edible ink pen or edible printed prescription label

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Chill cake before covering with fondant—it’s easier to get smooth sides.
Use cornstarch or powdered sugar to keep fondant from sticking while rolling.
Make fondant pill bottles and capsules 1–2 days ahead so they dry and hold shape.
For a realistic look, write tiny “Rx” and pill details with an edible marker.
Stack tiers with dowels for stability if making a multi-tier cake.

🧰 Tools You’ll Need

Stand mixer or hand mixer
Cake pans (round, 6-inch & 8-inch for tiers)
Rolling pin (for fondant)
Fondant smoother
Modeling tools
Parchment paper
Offset spatula
Cake turntable (optional but helpful)

🔄 Substitutions & Variations

Make cupcakes with mini fondant pill toppers instead of a full cake.
Use edible wafer paper to print pill bottle labels for realism.
Swap vanilla sponge for chocolate, red velvet, or lemon cake.

⏱️ Make Ahead Tips

Bake cake layers 1–2 days ahead and refrigerate wrapped tightly.
Buttercream can be made 2 days ahead and stored in fridge (re-whip before use).
Fondant decorations can be made up to a week in advance and stored in a cool, dry place.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Bake the Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with milk and sour cream until smooth. Divide into pans and bake 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.

Step 2: Make the Buttercream

Beat butter until creamy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar, then add cream, vanilla, and salt until fluffy.

Step 3: Assemble & Cover with Fondant

Level cake layers. Stack with buttercream between each layer. Apply a crumb coat, chill 20 minutes, then frost smoothly. Roll fondant and drape over cake, smoothing edges.

Step 4: Add Decorations

Shape pill bottles, capsules, and stethoscope from fondant. Place red cross emblem, prescription label, and candy pills. Arrange decor around cake tiers.

🧊 Leftovers & Storage

Store fondant-covered cake at room temp in a cool spot for 2–3 days.
If storing in fridge, wrap well to prevent condensation on fondant.
Freeze unfrosted cake layers for up to 2 months.

💬 Final Thoughts

A Pharmacy Cake is more than just dessert—it’s a personalized celebration of someone’s hard work and dedication in the medical field. Whether for a graduation, retirement, or special achievement, it’s the sweetest way to say “You’re just what the doctor ordered!”