I’ve been wanting to try a watercolor cake for a while now. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated and had been putting it off! As is turns out, it couldn’t have been EASIER! The technique isn’t really different than icing a regular cake. The only difference is that you get to be a bit free-form with the color application. On another note, whenever I make Italian buttercream I always ask myself, “why aren’t I always making this because this is delicious?” Let’s face it: you can’t beat the refined silky texture!
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Watercolor Cake
Taste all the layers of the rainbow.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 Slices
Calories 156 kcal
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS:
For the Cake:
- 1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup salted butter 170g
- 3 egg whites
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
For the Italian Buttercream:
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 16 oz 32 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
INSTRUCTIONS:
For the Cake:
- Butter and paper three 6" pans and heat oven to 325f.
- Sift and mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add wet ingredients into a medium bowl and mix.
- Add wet to dry ingredients and mix until combined
- Pour into prepared pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
For the Buttercream:
- Beat the egg whites and 1/3 cup of sugar until soft peaks form.
- In a medium saucepan add the remaining sugar and 1/3 cup water then place on low heat. Stir constantly until sugar melts and becomes clear. Maintain at medium high heat until temperature reads 235-240F. Drizzle the sugar into the mixer immediately. Run mixer until merengue is body temperature. Add room temperature butter into running mixer one piece at a time. Beat until butter is combined and mixture has reached a silky consistency.
For Decoration:
- I used an 869 tip to pipe the dollops on top.
- For best results do a thin crumb coat after first assembling the layers, allow to set in the fridge for an hour or so then do a nice thicker coat where you get the edges clean and then add the colored buttercream, which you can smooth out to get the watercolor effect. If it's your first time doing all of this you might want to use regular buttercream as it is more manageable, Italian buttercream is silky and amazing but very soft when first applied. Either way the watercolor effect will look great!
Nutrition Facts
Watercolor Cake
Amount Per Serving
Calories 156
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
How much water for the buttercream recipe?
Also, do you have a video of you making the buttercream?
Hi there! Italian buttercream does not use water. If you’re more of a beginner I would actually recommend doing the filling and crumb coat in a regular buttercream as it is more sturdy. Then use the Italian buttercream for the watercolor coat and dollops. I’ll put of a video of making Italian buttercream soon 🙂
I believe Elise is asking how much water is added to the sugar for the syrup. Water isn’t listed in the ingredients, but the method says to combine the sugar and water and heat to 235°.
1/3 cup. Sorry about that!!
pretty 🙂
yummy!