Description
This stunning purple ombre cake features layers of vanilla-flavored cake in graduated shades of purple, frosted with smooth vanilla buttercream. It’s the perfect centerpiece for any celebration.
Ingredients
- Basic white cake batter (recipe not included)
- Purple gel paste food coloring
- 450g (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 575g (5 cups) confectioner’s sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- 1-2 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line five 6-inch cake pans.
- Divide the basic white cake batter evenly into five bowls.
- Add varying amounts of purple gel paste food coloring to each bowl to create progressively darker shades.
- Pour each colored batter into its own pan and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake layers cool completely on wire racks.
- To make the frosting, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add confectioner’s sugar gradually, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla extract, salt, and heavy cream, and beat until fluffy and spreadable.
- Level each cake layer if necessary. Stack the cake starting with the lightest layer at the bottom.
- Spread frosting between each layer. Apply a thin crumb coat to the entire cake and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Apply the final coat of frosting and smooth it out.
- Tint remaining frosting in various purple shades and decorate with piped patterns as desired.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant and controllable color.
- Chilling the cake between crumb and final coats helps set the structure.
- You can flavor the frosting with almond or lemon extract for variation.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
