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Perfect Ombre Blue Buttercream Graduation Cake

ombre blue buttercream cake - featured image
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A stunning ombre blue buttercream layer cake decorated with stars, perfect for graduation parties. This cake combines moist layers with smooth, creamy buttercream for a memorable celebration dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons (10g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for cake layers)
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature (can substitute almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30-45ml) heavy cream
  • Blue gel food coloring (varying amounts for shades)
  • Small star-shaped sprinkles or sugar stars (optional)
  • Edible glitter dust (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans or line with parchment paper. Bring eggs, milk, and butter to room temperature.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a mixer bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter and 2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk in three parts, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly among pans, smoothing tops with an offset spatula. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  7. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  8. For buttercream, beat 1 cup softened butter on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, starting on low speed, then increase speed. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons heavy cream, adjusting for consistency. Beat until light and fluffy.
  9. Divide buttercream into four bowls. Tint three bowls with blue gel food coloring to create light, medium, and dark blue shades; leave one bowl pale or white.
  10. Assemble cake by placing darkest blue layer on plate. Spread thin layer of buttercream on top. Repeat with medium blue, light blue, and pale blue layers.
  11. Apply a thin crumb coat with pale buttercream over entire cake. Chill 20-30 minutes to set.
  12. Frost cake smoothly with pale buttercream. Using piping bags filled with each blue shade, pipe small star shapes around cake from dark blue at bottom to light blue at top.
  13. Optionally, sprinkle with edible stars or glitter dust for decoration.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning buttercream. Soften butter but do not melt for smooth piping. Chill crumb coat before final frosting for best results. Test piping pressure on parchment paper before decorating. For dairy-free, substitute vegan butter and plant milk. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and consider xanthan gum.

Nutrition

Keywords: ombre cake, blue buttercream, graduation cake, star decorations, layered cake, easy cake recipe, buttercream frosting

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/perfect-ombre-blue-buttercream-graduation-cake-5-easy-decorating-tips-with-stars/