Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this festive Ombre Cake featuring five layers of moist white cake tinted in varying shades of green, layered and frosted with smooth buttercream icing. This vibrant cake is perfect for parties and gatherings, combining classic flavors with a playful presentation.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
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 1/2 cup milk
- Green food coloring
Buttercream Frosting
- 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- Green food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cake layers.
- Cream butter, shortening, and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Add egg whites and vanilla: Mix in the 12 room-temperature egg whites and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Combine dry ingredients and milk: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture, blending until smooth.
- Divide and color the batter: Split the batter evenly among five bowls. Add green food coloring drops into four of the bowls to create different shades of green, leaving one bowl uncolored for the lightest shade.
- Prepare cake pans: Spray five 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds for easy removal.
- Bake the cakes: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes: Remove cakes from the oven and let them cool completely in the pans before removing.
- Make the frosting: Cream unsalted butter until smooth. Slowly add sifted powdered sugar and mix well until fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract, then gradually add milk to reach desired consistency.
- Color the frosting: Divide the frosting into five bowls. Add green food coloring to four bowls to create matching ombre shades corresponding to the cake layers.
- Level the cake layers: Using a cake leveler or a serrated knife, trim the rounded tops off each cake layer to create flat surfaces for stacking.
- Assemble the cake: Place the darkest green cake layer top side down on a cake plate. Spread a thin, even layer of the darkest shade of green frosting on top. Repeat this process layering progressively lighter shades of green cake and frosting until all layers are stacked.
- Decorate the sides: Pipe broad lines of frosting from each of the shades around the outside edges of the cake layers. Use a frosting scraper to blend the frosting smoothly, creating a seamless ombre effect.
Notes
- The ombre effect is achieved by using various shades of green food coloring in both the cake batter and frosting.
- Using parchment paper in pans ensures easy cake removal without damaging delicate layers.
- Leveling the cake layers ensures a stable and professional-looking stacked cake.
- Applying the frosting in layers and then blending with a scraper gives a smooth gradient finish perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
- This recipe makes 12 servings, ideal for medium-sized parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 63g
- Sodium: 188mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 84g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 62mg
