Chocolate Chocolate and More!

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Ombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting

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!

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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.

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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!

Surprise Inside Cakes by Amanda Rettke of Iambaker.net

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.

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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.

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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.

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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.

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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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Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercream frostings

Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercream frostings

Ingredients

Vanilla Buttercream

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pound bag confectioner's sugar
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup cream or milk

Chocolate Buttercream

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup cream or milk

Instructions

for the Vanilla Buttercream

  1. Using a mixer, beat butter and shortening until creamy and smooth. Add in vanilla and salt, mix again.
  2. Sift powdered sugar, then slowly add sugar to butter mixture until all blended in. Make sure mixer is on low or you'll have powdered sugar everywhere.
  3. Add cream a few tablespoons at a time until a spreadable consistency is reached.

for the Chocolate Buttercream

  1. Using a mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Add in vanilla extract, beat until well combined.
  2. Sift cocoa and powdered sugar together. Slowly add sugar mixture to butter, until all combined.
  3. Add in cream, a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Notes

If frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If frosting is too thick, add in more cream or milk.

recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com

Vanilla and Chocolate layers come together in this Hombre Cake with Buttercream Frosting inspired by Surprise Inside Cakes

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!

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~Vertical Budnt Collage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Jan Salazar says

      A really moist chocolate cake with a chocolate fudge icing. Need a glass of milk just thinking about it.

  2. Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says

    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!

  3. Naomi says

    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.

  6. Chris says

    This looks so good … I love Chocolate … I think this might be one of my cooking/backing projects for the weekend

  7. Tanaquil says

    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.

  12. marcia d says

    Wowsa! You did such a beautiful job decorating that cake! Very impressive, my dear. Take a “bow”!

  15. Rachel Kolodziej says

    What a beautiful cake! I love to bake but am not so good at the decorating either. This I have to try though!

  16. marcia d says

    Oh, my favorite cake? That would be coconut…or maybe dark chocolate….or, well, actually any kind of cake 🙂

  17. Springer says

    My favorite cake is . . . any and every one that tastes delicious! I just looove cakes!

  19. LauriM says

    I love chocolate cake with almost any other flavor: mint, caramel, coffee, peanut butter, etc.

  20. Linda says

    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! 😉

  24. heidi says

    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!

  25. Rebecca Brewer says

    German chocolate – chocolate, pecans, and coconuty goo! How can you not love it?

  27. Bren says

    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 🙂
    Way to go & keep up the awesome work!!

  28. Zainab @ Blahnik Baker says

    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 🙂 Her vanilla cake recipe is one I need to try as soon as possible because vanilla is my favorite cake!

  33. Paula says

    I’m a simple girl. I love white cake with vanilla frosting, though Italian cream cake runs a close second.

  41. Shannon says

    I love a classic chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. But I’ve recently become obsessed with pineapple upside-down cake!

  44. Kerry says

    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.

      • Kerry says

        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.

  45. Jeffrey says

    My favorite cake is chocolate with chocolate buttercream but I have a rule to never turn down any cake…as long as its fresh!

  46. Rita H. says

    I love yellow cake with mocha buttercream frosting, chopped walnuts and chocolate sprinkles! Yum!

  47. Shirley says

    Amanda Rettke makes beautiful cakes! I would never, ever turn down a piece of any cake!! 🙂

  48. emily says

    Red velvet cake… chocolate, cherry, Cream cheese butter icing… what more could u possibly want? Lol…

  50. Nettie says

    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

  52. Denise V. Moses says

    Will definitely be making this cake. Would also love to win this book. Crossing my fingers.

  54. Barbara Seidler says

    I am fascinated with these creative cakes!! I’d love to try those recipes which I am sure are creative and inspiring!!!

  69. robin nickles says

    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

  73. Nicole B. says

    I love chocolate cake the best, but this pattern of ombré is fantastic! I opted to do ombré roses last month, but, this looks just as fun…and it’s all chocolate! Mmmm!

  75. Tammy Glover says

    My favorite cake is coconut cake with Buttercream icing sprinkled with lots of coconut. Your chocolate ombre cake looks amazing.

  78. Gabrielle says

    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

  83. Donna DeSanto says

    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!

  84. Candace says

    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!) 🙂

  85. Cristen says

    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.

  87. Diane Smith says

    My favorite cake is Spice cake with Peanut butter frosting. My Mom even made it for my wedding

  88. Naomi says

    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!!

  93. Joy Stamp says

    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 😀

  96. Christine LaValle says

    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 😀

  97. Sandy Crowe says

    I love the look of the Ombre cake, simply beautiful!!!!!! Chocolate is my favorite anyway. 🙂

  116. Linda Rielly says

    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

  121. Carol O says

    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.