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Sunset Ombre Floral Layer Cake

A breathtaking three-tiered vanilla layer cake featuring a stunning sunset-colored buttercream ruffle gradient, adorned with fondant daisies and edible gold pearls.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 24 slices
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Party
Calories: 680
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Vanilla Bean Sponge
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1.5 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 2.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
  • 1.5 cups whole milk room temperature
  • 0.5 cup sour cream room temperature
Ombre Buttercream & Decor
  • 3 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 8 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 0.25 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 set gel food coloring yellow, orange, coral, magenta
  • 1 pack fondant flowers and gold pearls for decoration

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer
  • Cake pans (8-inch, 6-inch, 4-inch)
  • Piping bags and large petal tip
  • Cake turntable and dowels

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and parchment-line an 8-inch, 6-inch, and 4-inch cake pan.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
  3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and sour cream.
  4. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined.
  5. Divide batter into pans. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean (25-45 minutes depending on pan size). Cool completely.
  6. Whip butter for the frosting until pale. Gradually add powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
  7. Divide buttercream and dye into pale yellow, orange, pink, and magenta.
  8. Level, crumb coat, and stack the cakes using support dowels.
  9. Using a petal piping tip, pipe overlapping ruffles starting with magenta at the bottom, blending up to yellow at the top.
  10. Decorate with fondant daisies, edible gold pearls, and painted metallic gold vines.

Notes

Ensure cakes are fully chilled before stacking and piping to prevent structural collapse and melting frosting.