Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Ombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes written by Amanda Rettke of I Am Baker!
I have to tell you, I am not a cake decorator. I’ve said it before, many, many times. It’s why you don’t see many decorated cakes on my site. I’ve even taken the Wilton Decorating Classes. What I discovered during those classes is that it just wasn’t fun to make a decorated cake.
Through blogging, I’ve had the opportunity to meet (online) Amanda Rettke of I Am Baker and become friends. She is such a sweet person, always generous with her knowledge and time.
Amazed by her beautiful creations, I’d envy her talent with every single cake she’d make. She’s the original creator of the famous Rose Cake! Amanda’s cakes aren’t just beautiful on the outside though. She also puts surprises on the inside. A candle in a Pumpkin Cake, a Bee in a Beehive cake, A ring for an engagement cake.
It was no surprise that Amanda put all her talent into an incredibly user friendly instructional book to make her Surprise Inside Cakes!
Every word, every instruction, every step by step photo (especially the photos) had me wanting to run to the kitchen to make one of her cakes. After reading this book, cover to cover and drooling over her cakes, I felt ready to make the Rainbow Heart Cake on the front cover of her book! As easy as she makes it all look, I knew I needed to take baby steps.
I decided to start out simple with her Ombre Cake.
Did I mention her cake recipes? Amanda’s cool with box mixes or with using your own recipe for the cake but she boasts that her recipes don’t dome. Not having to level a cake, yup, I was sold! I can tell you, and you can see it here in the photos, no leveling required. (I did miss the cake scraps from cutting off the dome.) Her vanilla cake recipe was so light and airy, a true vanilla cake.
And the chocolate cake recipe? It might just be the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had. And you know I’ve had my fair share of chocolate cake.
An Ombre cake is is easy to make. A great starter cake, if you want to try out Amanda’s cake creations.
For the decoration. I used the 1M Tip. I considered doing the roses all over the cake but chickened out at the last minute. I used Amanda’s star technique and just got sloppy with it. I ended up with what I like to think of as a ruffled effect. It took me maybe 15 minutes to decorate the entire cake. And it didn’t matter that my frosting wasn’t perfectly piped, evenly spaced. If I noticed a spot where I could still see cake, I just piped in more frosting.
To create the lighter chocolate frosting (the middle layer) I combined about 1 cup of the chocolate frosting with 2 cups of the vanilla frosting.
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If frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If frosting is too thick, add in more cream or milk.
recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.comVanilla and Chocolate Buttercream frostings
Ingredients
Vanilla Buttercream
Chocolate Buttercream
Instructions
for the Vanilla Buttercream
for the Chocolate Buttercream
Notes
My girls got a hold of this book and have already created a list of my next cakes to make, starting with the Maypole cake for my daughter’s birthday this coming weekend! I can’t wait to get started.
Amanda has generously offered to give one of my readers their own copy of Surprise Inside Cakes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can find your own copy of Surprise Inside Cakes where books are sold or you can order it on Amazon!
want more cake?
Oreo Cookies and Cream Bundt Cake
this post contains affiliate links, I’ve gotta pay for my chocolate somehow!
Devils food chocolate cake is my favorite!
A really moist chocolate cake with a chocolate fudge icing. Need a glass of milk just thinking about it.
Can I say that this cake is beyond stunning and is making me want to start a bit of baking in stilettos. This book is a must this season – and her cakes don’t dome – I need to try that!!! Fabulous job Joan!
I think you mean “Ombre” – the French term for graduated color (shades going from light to dark). “Hombre” is the Spanish term for “man.” Similar pronunciations, but very different meanings.
Yes I did, I corrected it as fast as I could!
Chocolate cake with Hershey’s chocolate frosting!
My favorite cake is cheesecake with chocolate ganache.
This looks so good … I love Chocolate … I think this might be one of my cooking/backing projects for the weekend
Wow, what’s a surprise cake!
I would love to bake a surprise cake for mom’s 94th birthday coming next month. My mom will be tickle to see the heart shape inside to show her i love her.
I tried to enter to win but it won`t let me in. :’-(. Favorite cake is Angel`s food cake.
What a great looking cake! I would love her book!!!
My favorite cake is chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting!
LOVE red velvet! Joan your cake is stunning,and makes me want to start decorating
Favorite cake is anything in dark, rich chocolate.
I can’t pick just one!!
Wowsa! You did such a beautiful job decorating that cake! Very impressive, my dear. Take a “bow”!
I love chocolate and berry blends. gives a delightful twist on cake and cupcakes.
WOW…they are works of art!!!
What a beautiful cake! I love to bake but am not so good at the decorating either. This I have to try though!
Oh and my favorite cake is Boston Cream Poke cake…yum!
Oh, my favorite cake? That would be coconut…or maybe dark chocolate….or, well, actually any kind of cake ๐
My favorite cake is . . . any and every one that tastes delicious! I just looove cakes!
Vanilla Cake, thanks
I love chocolate cake with almost any other flavor: mint, caramel, coffee, peanut butter, etc.
What’s my favorite cake? Um, let’s see.. I’d have to say anything chocolate. However, vanilla, carrot, spice and lemon are good too. Ok, I’d have to say anything with icing..or simply with the word “cake” in its name. Sorry, I have a sweet tooth..hard to decide. Good thing I love to bake! ๐
love dark chocolate cake of any kind
Chocolate with chocolate frosting
I love and enjoy many cake flavors, but my fav is German chocolate cake!
my favorite cake is coconut and chocolate; I love either a white chocolate or dark,frosted with whipped creme and coconut flakes. I make these with frozen organic coconut yogurt, or with a simple cake batter…but this ombre cake has my head spinning; and I would love to win this book!
German chocolate – chocolate, pecans, and coconuty goo! How can you not love it?
Can’t wait to try one these cakes! They look fantastic!
I came across this in my newsfeed from someone, and was amazed at the couple cakes I saw….
I LOVE baking cakes, for family, and this is definitely something I would love to try to make ๐
Way to go & keep up the awesome work!!
This is cake is beautiful!! You are definitely a cake decorator. I just finished reading Amanda’s book and it’s amazing. I don’t know where to start because there are so many great ideas in there. You picked a great one to start with ๐ Her vanilla cake recipe is one I need to try as soon as possible because vanilla is my favorite cake!
Her cakes look so good. I’d love to have this book.
Absolutely stunning cake!
I love the heart inside
Coconut cream. This looks like such a fun cookbook; I have seen it before; would love to win it!
I’m a simple girl. I love white cake with vanilla frosting, though Italian cream cake runs a close second.
German Chocolate cake is one of my favorites…. it reminds me of my dad
I love a good old chocolate cake, but I’m going to have to try some of these others.
Italian Cream Cake is the ‘bomb’
Chocolate with chocolate frosting so rich and thick it could be fudge
Carrot cake is my favorite!
Chocolate Cake
My favorite cake is #1 Black Forest #2 Chocolate Mousse
I love a classic chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. But I’ve recently become obsessed with pineapple upside-down cake!
I am so going to try this cake – looks amazing!
Love a black forest!
This is stunning and cannot wait to try it. I tried to access those recipe links and I get a potato Advertisement. Bummer as I like to try new recipes.
I just checked all the links and they go to the correct recipes, which cake were you trying to check out?
Hi, it was the chocolate and vanilla ones from the Ombre cake. I do have an amazing boiled chocolate cake recipe already but it is a different consistency/texture to my other cakes so far.
My favorite cake is chocolate with chocolate buttercream but I have a rule to never turn down any cake…as long as its fresh!
I love yellow cake with mocha buttercream frosting, chopped walnuts and chocolate sprinkles! Yum!
Amanda Rettke makes beautiful cakes! I would never, ever turn down a piece of any cake!! ๐
Red velvet cake… chocolate, cherry, Cream cheese butter icing… what more could u possibly want? Lol…
Honestly, my favorite cake is ice cream cake, but I am dying to make one of Amanda’s cakes for my son. Yours is stunning, Joan!
OH MY GOD!! What a gorgeous cake Joan! My favorite cake is carrot cake, daughters is everything chocolate. Have to try your cake, I will be calling you in the middle of the night!! LOL Nettie
I like chocolate cakes.
Will definitely be making this cake. Would also love to win this book. Crossing my fingers.
Yum! This just makes me want to turn the oven on!
I am fascinated with these creative cakes!! I’d love to try those recipes which I am sure are creative and inspiring!!!
Your cake is beautiful!
Chocolate cake
Really, almost any flavor of cake. I love them all!
Like most all cakes but would really like to make your rainbow heart cake!
Red Velvet Cake with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
I love the combination of chocolate and vanilla! And this cake looks delicious!
Red Velvet is my favorite.
My favorite cake is sponge cake. I use it when making a Boston Cream Pie.
Such a yummy looking cake and a great giveaway!
My favorite cake has to be chocolate cake with chocolate frosting or nutella cloud frosting, yum!
Yummy!
My favorite has always been white cake!
My favorite is Chocolate Cake with white buttercream frosting
oh my goodness, this is so much fun! pinned!
this cake looks so good, I am going to try this one, I to need baby steps, and I do love chocolate cake, with buttercream frosting, my favorite
A good devil’s food with a light vanilla buttercream
I love any chocolate cake……or carrot cake…..well, cake in general basically.
I love chocolate and vanilla together I would love to try this cake. Where can I get the cake recipe?
I love chocolate cake the best, but this pattern of ombrรฉ is fantastic! I opted to do ombrรฉ roses last month, but, this looks just as fun…and it’s all chocolate! Mmmm!
A triple dark chocolate cake…
My favorite cake is coconut cake with Buttercream icing sprinkled with lots of coconut. Your chocolate ombre cake looks amazing.
Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting
Oh my, this is so pretty.
This cake looks so good. If you bring that to a party they will think you paid someone to make that for you.
I’m going to make this one soon
I love any lemon cake.
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting
OMG that cake is absolutely fantastic! Fantastic!!!!!!
Yellow Cake w/Chocolate Frosting (all time favorite)
My favorite is a peanut butter Italian meringue buttercream filled sour cream chocolate cake that I usually frost with dark chocolae ganache. I decorate it with chocolate buttercream rosettes that hold peanut butter chip piped filigree pieces or salted peanuts. The sides are covered with crushed peanuts. Delish!
Anything three layered! (and I really love how you decorated your cake. it’s beautiful. I can bake well, but the frosting techniques always get me. I’m going to try it your way!) ๐
I LOVE a densely chocolate cake with simply home-canned wild black raspberry jam for the filling and lightly chocolate swiss meringue buttercream for the frosting.
Gorgeous cake, Joan!!
My favorite cake would have to be German Chocolate ๐
My favorite cake is Spice cake with Peanut butter frosting. My Mom even made it for my wedding
I made a Chocolate pumpkin marble cake with brown sugar glaze that was divine!!!! Best cake (that I’ve baked and tasted) in a while!
Hope I win!!
Anything chocolate!!
My favorite cake is chocolate cake with vanilla frosting
This is amazing ๐
Chocolate cake
Wow ~ this cake is BEAUTIFUL and looks delicious ! I would love to serve this to my husband. My favorite cake is first moist and second vanilla of some kind ๐
My favorite cake is devil’s food with buttercream frosting!
I love love love love devil’s food cake with peanut butter frosting and filling. agh, i’m drooling thinking about it right now.
White almond cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting YUM! I really like the look of the ombre frosting ! It would be so nice to win this cookbook ๐
I love the look of the Ombre cake, simply beautiful!!!!!! Chocolate is my favorite anyway. ๐
ANYTHING chocolate !!!!!!
SUCH a gorgeous cake!!! Great job Joan!
I’ve found my next birthday cake, yummy!
Joan – this turned out perfectly! Great job!
Hummingbird cake and carrot cake are my favorites!
Chocolate Mud cake, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Superb cake by the way
My fave cake is yellow cake with chocolate frosting!!!!!!!yum!!!!!!!!!!!
Favorite? Chocolate! Your cake is gorgeous ๐
I like a triple chocolate guiness cake with guiness cream cheese frosting.
my favorite is black forest cake
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite. I love that frosting technique!
carrot cake.
A carrot cake has always been a favorite of mine.
I love a yellow cake with chocolate frosting!
i can’t wait to make the ombre cake with buttercream frosting
My favorite cake is all cake. I mean what’s not to love about cake?
Chocolate Linzer torte my amateur baker cousin made – so good!
I love my Mom’s Cheesecake!
I love a triple chocolate cake with a chocolate butter frosting, looks like marshmellow and does not taste overly sweet.
5Tbsp. flour -cook flour and water till translusent, set aside to cool, blend butter and sugar till smooth,
1 cup of water add flour mixture to sugar and butter mixture and vanilla and mix for 10 minutes till of 1 cup of sugar marshmellow consistancy. Enjoy!
1 lb. of butter *Melt 1 cup chocolate chips for a chocolate frosting.*
1 Tsp vanilla
Chocolate for sure!!
Absolutely gorgeous cake!! I love that it is half chocolate. Now I want cake ๐
Hugs,
Sami
Wow! Stunning cake—I pinned it because I must try it soon….found this at cheerios and latte saturday party. Have a great weekend!
My favorite cake is a dirt cake !!!
Thank u for the awesome recipes !!
I am really loving any kind of chocolate cake frosted with Hershey’s especially dark chocolate frosting recipe. The frosting really takes it over the top and you don’t even need a mixer. You can use a whisk.
Deep chocolate cake with rich chocolate icing and a strawberry/chocolate filling.
My favorite cake is french vanilla with chocolate cream cheese frosting!
Strawberry cake!
Devils’ Food Cake!!!
Wow, your cake is gorgeous Joan! My hand hurts just thinking about decorating it. ๐ Having vanilla and chocolate will keep everyone happy!!