Description
Sweet layers of Vanilla Strawberry Ombre Cake reveal a stunning gradient from pale pink to deep rose. Delicate vanilla sponge and luscious strawberry cream create a mesmerizing dessert that delights both eyes and palate with elegant French-inspired charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Decoration and Coloring Ingredients:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring
- Fresh strawberries
- Edible gold sprinkles
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare cake pans at 350F (175C) by greasing and lining three 8-inch round pans with parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking flour, baking powder, and salt together thoroughly.
- In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture, then incorporate eggs individually, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
- Blend vanilla extract into the mixture, then gradually fold in dry ingredients, alternating with milk to create a smooth, consistent batter.
- Separate batter into three equal portions, leaving one natural and tinting the other two varying intensities of pink using food coloring, mixing until colors distribute evenly.
- Transfer each colored batter into prepared pans, distributing carefully and baking for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted.
- Allow cakes to cool completely on wire racks, ensuring total temperature reduction before frosting.
- Whip butter until creamy, then gradually introduce powdered sugar and milk, beating until achieving a fluffy consistency.
- Incorporate vanilla extract into frosting, then divide into three portions, leaving one natural and creating two pink variations with increasing color intensity.
- Position darkest pink cake layer on serving plate, spreading thin frosting layer between each subsequent cake layer.
- Apply frosting from darkest pink at bottom to lightest at top, carefully blending edges to create seamless ombre gradient effect.
- Smooth entire exterior, ensuring color transition appears natural and elegant.
Notes
- Softly fold ingredients gently to maintain air bubbles, ensuring a light and fluffy cake texture.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant, consistent pink shades without altering batter consistency.
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, creating a more uniform cake batter with better rise.
- Chill cake layers before frosting to prevent crumbs from mixing into the icing and maintain clean color transitions.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Reduce sugar by 25% for a less sweet option, which works well with the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries.
- Dairy-free alternative: Replace butter with coconut oil and milk with almond milk for similar rich results.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 462 kcal
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 134 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg