St Patricks Day Green Cake (Print version)
Vibrant green-tinted sponge layers with creamy vanilla frosting, ideal for festive occasions.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake Components
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour (310 g)
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225 g)
06 - 1¾ cups granulated sugar (350 g)
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature (240 ml)
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 - ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
11 - Green gel food coloring
→ Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225 g)
13 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (480 g)
14 - ¼ cup whole milk or heavy cream (60 ml)
15 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt
17 - Green sprinkles or edible shamrock decorations (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla and almond extract until combined.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated.
06 - Add green gel food coloring and mix until batter reaches desired shade of green.
07 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat on high speed until fluffy and smooth.
10 - Tint a portion of frosting with green food coloring if desired for decorative piping.
11 - Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread with frosting, top with next layer, and repeat. Frost top and sides evenly.
12 - Finish with green sprinkles or edible shamrock decorations as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The buttermilk keeps the crumb tender enough that people will swear you bought it from a bakery
- That vibrant green somehow makes everything taste more festive, even if youre not Irish
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients blend together seamlessly, while cold ones can cause the batter to curdle or separate
- Gel food coloring is much more concentrated than liquid, so start with a tiny amount and add more gradually
03 -
- Weighing your pans with batter ensures perfectly even layers that bake at the same rate
- A touch of almond extract makes the vanilla flavor more complex without being obviously nutty