Spring Ombre Pink Yellow (Printable Version)

A layered sponge featuring delicate pastel pink and yellow hues with silky buttercream finish.

# What You Need:

→ Cake Batter

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Food Coloring

09 - Pink gel food coloring
10 - Yellow gel food coloring

→ Buttercream Frosting

11 - 1½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
12 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
15 - Pinch of salt
16 - Pink and yellow gel food coloring

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour, mixing just until combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Tint one bowl with a small amount of pink food coloring for pale pink, tint the second with a small amount of yellow for pale yellow, and leave the third bowl plain or add a drop of both for a pastel peach if desired.
07 - Pour each colored batter into prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter on medium-high speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and 3 tablespoons milk or cream, beating until fluffy. Add additional milk if needed for desired consistency.
10 - Divide frosting into three bowls. Tint one bowl pastel pink, one pastel yellow, and leave one plain.
11 - Level cake layers if necessary. Place yellow cake layer on serving plate and spread with yellow buttercream. Top with peach or uncolored layer and frost with plain buttercream. Top with pink layer and frost with pink buttercream.
12 - Use remaining frosting to ombre the sides, blending from yellow at the base to pink at the top for a gradient effect. Smooth with a cake scraper or spatula.
13 - Decorate with pastel sprinkles, edible flowers, or as desired. Chill for 30 minutes before slicing for cleaner cuts.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The beautiful pastel ombre effect adds elegance and charm to any celebration.
  • Soft, moist sponge layers provide the perfect canvas for silky buttercream frosting.
  • Vegetarian-friendly with familiar ingredients, suitable for an international flavor palette.
  • Relatively straightforward medium difficulty — great for bakers wanting a creative challenge.
  • Yields a generous 12 servings, ideal for gatherings or parties.
02 -
  • Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for vibrant colors without altering batter consistency.
  • Level cake layers carefully to ensure even stacking and a professional look.
  • Chill the cake before frosting to prevent crumbs from mixing into the buttercream.
  • Apply a thin crumb coat frosting layer before final decoration for smooth sides.
  • Use an offset spatula and cake scraper to create a seamless ombre gradient on the cake sides.
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