Every Mexican Panadería Sells This Pink Cake — But What Flavor Is It Actually?

Sometimes, nostalgic cakes get swept to the back of our memories and are easily replaced with new and upcoming inventions. In Mexican baking, pink cake or cortadillo (meaning "sliced") is the type of timelessly delicious pan dulce (sweet bread or sweet treat) that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. While the pink frosting might lead you to believe that the flavoring will be strawberry or cherry-like, the hue actually comes from food coloring. (Though pink is the most popular color, cortadillo frosting can also be white.) The frosting itself, typically a blend of powdered sugar and milk, tastes sweet and creamy. The cake part is your good, basic, buttery-flavored yellow cake. 

Cortadillo also goes by the name of "pastel de niños" (children's cake) because it is typically featured at children's birthdays, where its iconic dusting of rainbow sprinkles on top lends a festive look. The cake is made in one layer in a large pan and sliced into small squares or triangles. Some panaderías add layers to the cake and use strawberry jam or dulce de leche (aka "sweet milk," a combo of milk and sugar caramelized into a paste) in between layers. Other than birthdays, it is typically enjoyed at family events or saints day celebrations in Mexican communities. For the sweet-toothed, cortadillo is a Mexican dessert that should be tried at least once. Though there is a viral dessert with a lot of similarities to Mexican pink cake, make no mistake: the real thing is in a class all its own.

Dot cakes are individual cupcakes that went viral on social media in 2026. They are similar to cortadillo for their buttery sponge cake base, creamy frosting, and top layer of sprinkles. While not exactly alike (dot cakes' sprinkle layer is so thick you can't see through them to the frosting beneath, for instance), the main idea is the same. Cortadillo has been loved across generations in Mexico and its diaspora. That's why, with the rise of dot cakes, many social media users who grew up with cortadillo are keen to bring awareness to it as the original. 

As for what can go into a traditional Mexican pink cake, there are plenty of customizations. Recipes typically call for all-purpose flour. However, you can also use cake flour, which offers an extra moist, pillowy texture. One of the key differences between all-purpose flour and cake flour is that the latter has a lower protein content and is finely milled, meaning it naturally provides a fluffier texture. The frosting is also easy to adapt. You can add lemon or orange zest for a complementary burst of citrus, or make it extra rich with a little heavy cream. A thinner, glaze-like layer is possible, or a super thick one to really indulge in the creaminess. 

Bakeries in Mexico are at the heart of bringing families and friends together. Grabbing a slice of cortadillo at your local panadería and having it as a treat with a friend is a perfect way to enjoy this crowd-pleasing comfort snack. It's great alongside beverages such as hot chocolate and coffee. Or, of course, the next time a birthday rolls around, maybe try baking a Mexican pink cake yourself.