Vanilla Strawberry Ombre Cake: A Layered Delight 🍰🍓
This cake combines the sweet flavors of vanilla and strawberry in a beautiful ombre design, perfect for a special occasion or a fun treat. The layered effect is not only visually stunning but also deliciously fluffy and moist.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Red food coloring (for the strawberry layers)
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3-4 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- Pink food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare Pans:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour 3 round cake pans, or line them with parchment paper.
2. Make the Cake Batter:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
3. Divide and Color the Batter:
- Divide the batter evenly into three bowls.
- Leave one bowl of batter plain (this will be the vanilla layer).
- Add a few drops of red food coloring to one of the other bowls and mix until you get a light pink color (this will be the middle layer).
- Add more red food coloring to the last bowl to get a deeper pink (this will be the strawberry layer).
4. Assemble the Cake Layers:
- Pour each color of batter into the prepared cake pans, spreading it out evenly.
- Start with the vanilla layer, then add the pink layer, and finally the deeper pink layer on top.
- Use a spoon or knife to gently swirl the layers together to create the ombre effect.
- Bake the cakes in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Cool the Cakes:
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Make the Frosting:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and beat until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream, and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. If you prefer a firmer consistency, add more powdered sugar.
- If desired, add a few drops of pink food coloring to match the ombre theme.
7. Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cakes have cooled completely, spread a layer of frosting on top of the vanilla layer.
- Place the pink layer on top and frost with more frosting.
- Add the strawberry layer on top and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
8. Decorate and Serve:
- Optionally, decorate the top with fresh strawberries or sprinkles to enhance the ombre effect.
- Slice and enjoy your beautiful, layered Vanilla Strawberry Ombre Cake!
Tips:
- Ombre Effect: The key to a successful ombre cake is using varying amounts of food coloring in each layer. Adjust the coloring to get the desired gradient effect.
- Frosting Texture: If the frosting is too thick, add a little more cream or milk to loosen it up. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
- Decorations: You can top the cake with fresh berries or edible flowers for a stunning finish.
This Vanilla Strawberry Ombre Cake is not only a visual treat but also a deliciously moist and flavorful dessert. Perfect for birthday parties, celebrations, or any time you want to impress with a beautiful and tasty cake! 🍰🍓
