Bake a Stunning Vanilla & Chocolate Ombre Cake with Easy Buttercream Frosting (Inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes!)

Creating a show-stopping cake doesn’t have to be intimidating, even if you’re not a seasoned cake decorator. This exquisite Vanilla and Chocolate Ombre Cake with its luscious Buttercream Frosting is a perfect example, drawing inspiration from the ingenious creations found in Surprise Inside Cakes by the incredibly talented Amanda Rettke of I Am Baker!

From Aspiring Baker to Confident Decorator: My Journey with Cake

I’ll be honest with you: cake decorating is not my forte. I’ve admitted it countless times, and that’s precisely why you won’t find an abundance of elaborately decorated cakes gracing the pages of my website. I even took those popular Wilton Decorating Classes, hoping to unlock a hidden talent. What I quickly realized, however, was that the meticulous, precise nature of traditional cake decorating just didn’t spark joy for me. It felt more like a chore than a creative outlet, and my passion for baking often overshadowed any desire to spend hours perfecting a fondant rose.

Yet, the world of baking holds an undeniable allure, especially when it comes to beautiful, celebratory cakes. My journey through food blogging opened doors to many wonderful connections, one of the most delightful being my online friendship with Amanda Rettke of I Am Baker. Amanda is not only incredibly sweet but also remarkably generous with her vast knowledge and precious time. Her spirit of sharing and her genuine love for baking truly shine through in everything she does.

The Magic of Amanda Rettke: Beyond the Beautiful Surface

I found myself consistently amazed and frankly, a little envious, of Amanda’s extraordinary talent with every cake she created. Her artistry is truly in a league of its own. She’s the brilliant mind behind the original, now-famous Rose Cake, a design that captivated the internet and continues to inspire bakers worldwide. But Amanda’s cakes offer more than just external beauty; they are renowned for their delightful “surprises inside.” Imagine cutting into a pumpkin cake to find a candle, discovering a buzzing bee hidden within a beehive cake, or even a sparkling engagement ring tucked inside a celebratory confection. This unique approach transforms a simple dessert into an unforgettable experience, adding a layer of wonder to every slice.

Given her incredible creativity and knack for making baking fun, it was no surprise when Amanda poured all her talent and wisdom into an incredibly user-friendly instructional book: Surprise Inside Cakes. This book is a game-changer for anyone who dreams of baking extraordinary cakes without feeling overwhelmed.

Embracing the Challenge: My First Foray into Surprise Inside Cakes

Reading Surprise Inside Cakes was an absolute joy. Every word, every instruction, and especially every step-by-step photo, made me want to drop everything and rush to my kitchen. Flipping through the pages, cover to cover, and practically drooling over the stunning cakes, I felt a surge of confidence. I almost felt ready to tackle the vibrant Rainbow Heart Cake featured so prominently on the book’s front cover! However, even with Amanda’s gift for making everything look effortlessly achievable, I knew I needed to take a more measured approach. Small, steady steps seemed like the wisest path for a self-proclaimed non-decorator.

So, I decided to begin my journey with something beautiful yet simple: her Ombre Cake. This cake offers a subtle “surprise” with its gradient layers of color and flavor, making it a perfect starting point to build confidence before diving into more complex designs. It’s visually impactful but surprisingly straightforward to execute, aligning perfectly with my desire for an impressive yet manageable baking project.

The Secret to Perfect Cake Layers: Amanda’s Recipes

And let’s talk about Amanda’s cake recipes! She’s incredibly flexible, encouraging bakers to use either a box mix for convenience or their own cherished family recipes. But here’s the kicker, and what truly sold me: she proudly boasts that her recipes don’t dome. For any home baker, this is revolutionary! Not having to level a cake means less mess, less waste, and a perfectly flat surface for stacking – a true time-saver and stress-reducer. I can confirm, as you can clearly see in these photos, absolutely no leveling was required. (Though I must admit, I did miss those delicious cake scraps from trimming off a dome!).

Her vanilla cake recipe was an absolute dream – incredibly light, airy, and bursting with authentic vanilla flavor. It’s the kind of vanilla cake that makes you rethink every other vanilla cake you’ve ever tasted. It serves as a perfect, delicate base, allowing the buttercream to truly shine.

And the chocolate cake recipe? Oh my goodness. It might just be the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Rich, moist, and deeply flavorful, it’s everything a chocolate cake should be and more. And you know, I’ve certainly had my fair share of chocolate cake experiences over the years! The quality of these base recipes truly elevates the entire Ombre Cake experience. An Ombre cake, with its gradual blend of colors and flavors, is indeed an easy and rewarding project, making it an ideal starter cake if you’re looking to try out Amanda’s inspiring cake creations.

Simple Elegance: Decorating the Ombre Cake

When it came to the decoration, I opted for simplicity and speed. I reached for my trusty 1M tip, a versatile tool that allows for a variety of beautiful effects. While I briefly considered covering the entire cake in delicate roses – a signature Amanda Rettke look – I ultimately “chickened out” at the last minute. Instead, I used Amanda’s star technique but allowed myself to be a little sloppy with it, embracing an imperfect, organic style. The result was what I like to call a “ruffled” effect, reminiscent of soft fabric folds. It’s surprisingly elegant and incredibly forgiving, perfect for bakers who aren’t striving for absolute perfection.

The best part? It took me maybe a mere 15 minutes to decorate the entire cake! The beauty of this technique is that it doesn’t matter if your frosting isn’t perfectly piped or evenly spaced. If I spotted any little peek-through spots where the cake was still visible, I simply piped in a bit more frosting until it was beautifully covered. This effortless approach makes cake decorating enjoyable rather than stressful, proving that you don’t need expert skills to create a stunning dessert.

To achieve the beautiful ombre effect in the frosting, creating a lighter chocolate shade for the middle layer was key. I simply combined about 1 cup of the rich chocolate buttercream with 2 cups of the creamy vanilla buttercream. This simple mix creates a perfectly balanced, lighter hue that transitions beautifully between the dark chocolate and pure vanilla layers, adding depth and visual interest to every slice.

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Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercream Frostings

Ingredients

Vanilla Buttercream

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 pound bag confectioner’s sugar
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup cream or milk

Chocolate Buttercream

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cream or milk

Instructions

for the Vanilla Buttercream

1. Using a mixer, beat butter and shortening until creamy and smooth. Add in vanilla and salt, mix again.
2. Sift powdered sugar, then slowly add sugar to butter mixture until all blended in. Make sure mixer is on low or you’ll have powdered sugar everywhere.
3. Add cream a few tablespoons at a time until a spreadable consistency is reached.

for the Chocolate Buttercream

1. Using a mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Add in vanilla extract, beat until well combined.
2. Sift cocoa and powdered sugar together. Slowly add sugar mixture to butter, until all combined.
3. Add in cream, a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Notes

If frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If frosting is too thick, add in more cream or milk.

Recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com

Did you make this recipe?

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The Continual Inspiration: More Cakes to Come!

The success of this Ombre Cake, combined with the sheer delight and ease of Amanda’s recipes, has truly ignited a new passion for baking in my kitchen. In fact, my girls got their hands on Amanda’s Surprise Inside Cakes book and have already curated an extensive wish list of my next baking projects! Topping that list is the enchanting Maypole cake, which they insist I create for my daughter’s birthday this coming weekend. I’m genuinely excited to dive into more of Amanda’s creations and bring more magic into our celebrations.

Good news for all you aspiring bakers out there! Amanda has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers their very own copy of this inspiring cookbook, Surprise Inside Cakes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t miss out on the chance to win a copy of Surprise Inside Cakes! You can also easily find your own copy wherever books are sold, or for ultimate convenience, you can order it directly on Amazon and have it delivered right to your door.

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