When I first saw this idea for a cake, I thought, no way! I’m not much of a baker and I certainly am no cake decorator, so I was sure that I couldn’t make this. But now I have to say, if I can make this St. Patrick’s Day Ombre Cake, so can you!
It just takes a little patience and a little practice. Change the colors and you’ve got the perfect cake for nearly any occasion – baby showers, birthdays, or just because it’s Tuesday. Be sure to scroll down for the printable version of the recipe, but check out the step by step photos for more guidance.
St. Patrick’s Day Ombre Cake
Baking time: 18-22 minutes
Prep/Decorating time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients :
White Cake:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 12 egg whites, room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup milk
- Green food coloring
Buttercream Frosting:
- 2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 4 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup milk
- Green food coloring
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, shortening and sugar.
Add in the egg whites and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add in the milk and blend until smooth.
Divide batter between 5 bowls. Add drops of green food coloring into 4 of the bowls to make varying shades of green.
Prepare five 8-inch round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining the bottom with a parchment paper round. Divide the cake batter evenly between the pans.
Bake in 350-degree oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
To make the frosting, cream the butter until perfectly smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix again until smooth.
Add in the vanilla and then slowly add in the milk while mixing to reach desired consistency.
Divide the frosting between 5 bowls. Add green food coloring to 4 of them, making shades of green similar to the cake batter.
Level the top of each cake layer by slicing the rounded portion of the cake off. A cake leveler works best.
Starting with the darkest green cake, put the cake top side down on a cake plate. Add a thin layer of the darkest shade of green frosting to the cake.
Top with the second layer (next darkest shade), again with the leveled top side down. Top that with the corresponding frosting shade. Repeat this with the remaining cake layers.
Pipe frosting around the outside of each cake layer, leaving a broad line of frosting.
When all the cake layers have frosting piped along the outside, use a frosting scraper and blend the ombre frosting together as you level the frosting.
You can add a little extra pizzazz by piping some star or flower shapes around the top and bottom edges of the cake if desired.
Isn’t it beautiful? I’m not an expert baker or cake decorator by any means and yet, this is even achievable for me! Change up the colors to suit whatever the occasion and serve this all year round. It would be adorable for a baby shower, birthday party, or because it’s Tuesday.
St. Patrick’s Day Ombre Cake
Isn't it beautiful? I'm not an expert baker or cake decorator by any means and yet, this Ombre Layer Cake is even achievable for me! Change up the colors to suit whatever the occasion and serve this all year round. It would be adorable for a baby shower, birthday party, or because it's Tuesday.
Ingredients
White Cake
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 12 egg whites room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup milk
- Green food coloring
Buttercream Frosting
- 2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 4 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup milk
- Green food coloring
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-
Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add in the egg whites and vanilla and mix until smooth.
-
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add in the milk and blend until smooth.
-
Divide batter between 5 bowls. Add drops of green food coloring into 4 of the bowls to make varying shades of green.
-
Prepare five 8-inch round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining the bottom with a parchment paper round. Divide the cake batter evenly between the pans.
-
Bake in 350-degree oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
-
Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
-
To make the frosting, cream the butter until perfectly smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix again until smooth.
-
Add in the vanilla and then slowly add in the milk while mixing to reach desired consistency.
-
Divide the frosting between 5 bowls. Add green food coloring to 4 of them, making shades of green similar to the cake batter.
-
Level the top of each cake layer by slicing the rounded portion of the cake off. A cake leveler works best.
-
Starting with the darkest green cake, put the cake top side down on a cake plate. Add a thin layer of the darkest shade of green frosting to the cake. Top with the second layer (next darkest shade), again with the leveled top side down. Top that with the corresponding frosting shade. Repeat this with the remaining cake layers.
-
Pipe frosting around the outside of each cake layer, leaving a broad line of frosting. When all the cake layers have frosting piped along the outside, use a frosting scraper and blend the ombre frosting together as you level the frosting.
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