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Perfect School Colors Ombre Layer Cake

school colors ombre layer cake - featured image
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A quick and easy ombre layer cake in school colors, perfect for graduations and celebrations, featuring moist layers and tangy cream cheese frosting with a charming diploma topper.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring in school colors (amount varies)
  • 8 oz (227g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • White fondant or modeling chocolate (for diploma topper)
  • Black edible marker or food-safe pen
  • Thin ribbon or edible gold dust (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans with butter and dust with flour; line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
  3. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low; alternately add flour mixture and milk in three parts, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Gradually add gel food coloring to create light, medium, and dark shades of school colors; mix gently.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans. Bake 25-28 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  8. Let cakes rest in pans 10 minutes; invert onto cooling racks and cool completely.
  9. Beat cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add vanilla extract and salt; beat until fluffy.
  10. Level cake layers if needed. Place darkest layer on plate; spread about ½ cup frosting on top. Add medium layer and repeat. Finish with lightest layer on top.
  11. Apply thin crumb coat of frosting; chill 15 minutes.
  12. Apply thicker frosting layer all over cake; smooth with offset spatula and bench scraper. Chill if needed.
  13. Roll out white fondant thinly; cut 3 x 1.5 inch rectangle. Draw diploma details with edible marker; tie ribbon or brush with edible gold dust. Place on cake.

Notes

Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning batter. Chill crumb coat before final frosting for smooth finish. Bring eggs and milk to room temperature before mixing. If layers dome, lower oven temperature by 10°F and bake longer. For gluten-free, use almond flour; for dairy-free, use vegan cream cheese and margarine.

Nutrition

Keywords: ombre cake, graduation cake, layer cake, cream cheese frosting, school colors cake, celebration cake, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/perfect-school-colors-ombre-layer-cake-easy-step-by-step-recipe/