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Perfect Pink Ombré Layer Cake with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

pink ombré layer cake - featured image
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A beautiful and approachable pink ombré layer cake with silky vanilla bean buttercream, perfect for special occasions and celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened (room temperature)
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • Pink gel food coloring (AmeriColor gels recommended)
  • For the Vanilla Bean Buttercream:
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream or whole milk (adjust for desired consistency)
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla bean paste
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, 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 light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Mix in vanilla bean paste.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain, add small amounts of pink gel food coloring to the other two bowls to create a gradient from pale to vibrant pink.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. For buttercream: Beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy (~2 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed, then increase speed until fluffy.
  10. Add heavy cream, vanilla bean paste, and salt. Beat 2-3 minutes until light and spreadable. Adjust cream if needed.
  11. Assemble cake: place darkest pink layer on plate, spread buttercream, add medium pink layer, more frosting, then lightest pink layer.
  12. Coat entire cake with thin crumb coat. Chill 20 minutes, then finish frosting smoothly or with swirls using an offset spatula.

Notes

Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning batter. Keep butter at room temperature for smooth batter and buttercream. Chill crumb coat before final frosting for clean finish. Sift powdered sugar for silky buttercream. Rotate pans halfway through baking for even layers.

Nutrition

Keywords: pink ombré cake, vanilla bean buttercream, layer cake, easy cake recipe, celebration cake, birthday cake, ombré cake, vanilla cake

Find it online: https://avabake.com/perfect-pink-ombr-e-layer-cake-recipe-easy-vanilla-bean-buttercream-tutorial/