Description

This stunning Vanilla Strawberry Ombre Cake is a visual and culinary delight! Layers of fluffy vanilla cake are paired with a creamy frosting and a beautiful ombre effect, creating a vibrant pink hue. Topped with fresh strawberries and edible gold sprinkles, this cake is perfect for any special occasion, from birthdays to celebrations that call for a showstopper dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
Pink food coloring (optional, for ombre effect)

For the Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pink food coloring (for ombre effect)

For Decoration:

Fresh strawberries, whole and halved
Edible gold sprinkles
Powdered sugar for dusting

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly into three bowls. Add different amounts of pink food coloring to each bowl, creating a gradient of light to dark pink batter for the ombre effect.
Pour the batters into the prepared cake pans, starting with the lightest color and ending with the darkest. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
While the cakes cool, prepare the frosting by creaming the butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until fully incorporated.
Add the milk (or heavy cream) and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy. If desired, add pink food coloring to achieve your preferred ombre frosting color.
Once the cakes are completely cooled, frost each layer with a thin layer of frosting. Stack the layers, starting with the lightest color at the bottom.
Frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting, smoothing out the sides and top. Use a spatula to blend the frosting colors for the ombre effect.
Decorate the top of the cake with fresh strawberries, arranging them whole and halved, and sprinkle with edible gold sprinkles. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Notes

If you don’t have pink food coloring, you can omit it or use another natural coloring to create the ombre effect.
This cake can be made a day ahead. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator if you prefer.
For a more pronounced ombre effect, consider adjusting the amount of food coloring in each layer of the cake and frosting.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American