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Purple Ombre Cake Recipe

Purple Ombre Cake Recipe


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4.8 from 12 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Delightful purple ombre cake blends lavender hues into a dreamy dessert that mesmerizes guests with its gradient elegance. Silky layers of buttercream and moist cake create a sophisticated masterpiece you’ll adore serving at special celebrations.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients:

Primary Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Binding Ingredients:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Color Ingredient:

  • Purple food coloring (gel)

Frosting Ingredients:

Primary Ingredients:

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Liquid Ingredients:

  • 23 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Color Ingredient:

  • Purple food coloring (gel)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) and ready three 8-inch round cake pans by greasing and flouring them thoroughly.
  2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, whisking until uniformly blended.
  3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture. Incorporate eggs individually, then mix in vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually integrate dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with milk and mixing until a smooth, consistent batter forms.
  5. Separate the batter into three equal portions, then apply varying intensities of purple food coloring to create a gradient effect from deep to light lavender.
  6. Transfer each colored batter into prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick. Allow cakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Prepare frosting by whipping butter until creamy, then gradually blend in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until achieving a silky consistency.
  8. Divide frosting into three portions, tinting each with purple food coloring to match cake layers’ color progression.
  9. Stack cake layers from darkest to lightest purple, applying a thin crumb coat and refrigerating for 30 minutes to set.
  10. Apply final frosting layer, carefully blending colors to create a seamless ombre transition from deep to light purple.
  11. Chill cake for optimal texture and serve at room temperature.

Notes

  • Adjust food coloring gradually to achieve perfect purple gradient, using gel colors for more vibrant and concentrated shades without altering batter consistency.
  • Ensure ingredients are room temperature for smoother mixing and better cake texture, especially butter and eggs.
  • Test cake doneness by gently pressing the center – it should spring back and not leave an indentation, indicating proper baking.
  • Substitute regular milk with alternatives like almond or oat milk for dairy-free version, maintaining similar moisture and texture.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 550
  • Sugar: 60 g
  • Sodium: 210 mg
  • Fat: 30 g
  • Saturated Fat: 18 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 70 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 85 mg