Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this festive and visually stunning Ombre Cake, featuring layers of soft, moist white cake tinted in varying shades of green and frosted with a creamy green buttercream. Perfect for parties and special occasions, this cake combines classic vanilla flavors with a fun and elegant 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 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- Green food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cake layers evenly.
- Cream Butter, Shortening, and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup vegetable shortening, and 3 cups granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Add Egg Whites and Vanilla: Gradually add 12 egg whites and 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, mixing until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Add Milk and Mix: Slowly add 1 1/2 cup milk to the dry ingredients while mixing until the batter is smooth and consistent.
- Divide and Color Batter: Split the batter evenly into 5 separate bowls. Add green food coloring in varying amounts to 4 of the bowls to create different shades of green.
- Prepare Cake Pans: Spray five 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds to prevent sticking.
- Fill Pans and Bake: Evenly pour the colored batter into each prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely on wire racks before assembling.
- Make Buttercream Frosting: Cream 2 cups unsalted butter until perfectly smooth. Gradually add 8 cups sifted powdered sugar, mixing continuously until smooth and fluffy.
- Add Vanilla and Milk: Stir in 4 teaspoons vanilla extract and slowly add 1/2 cup milk while mixing to achieve the desired frosting consistency.
- Color Frosting: Divide the frosting into 5 bowls, adding varying amounts of green food coloring to 4 of them to match the cake layers’ ombre effect.
- Level Cake Layers: Using a cake leveler or a serrated knife, slice off the rounded tops of the cake layers to create flat surfaces for stacking.
- Assemble Cake Layers: Start with the darkest green cake layer, placing it top side down on a cake plate. Spread a thin layer of the matching dark green frosting over the top.
- Stack and Frost Layers: Continue stacking the remaining cake layers in order of lightest to darkest shades, adding the corresponding frosting between each layer.
- Crumb Coat and Smooth Frosting: Pipe frosting around the outside edges of the entire cake in broad lines. Use a frosting scraper to blend and smooth the ombre frosting on the outer layer, creating a seamless gradient effect.
- Serve: Once frosted and smooth, slice the cake into 12 pieces and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- This lucky St. Patrick’s Day Ombre Cake brings festive color and delicious flavor, making it the centerpiece of any party.
- Ensure all ingredients, especially eggs and butter, are at room temperature for best results.
- Using a cake leveler greatly improves the stacking and final appearance but a serrated knife works well too.
- Food coloring can be adjusted to your preferred shade intensity.
- For an extra touch, decorate with shamrock sprinkles or edible glitter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 63 g
- Sodium: 188 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 84 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg
