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Perfect Galaxy Leo Birthday Cake Recipe with Easy Purple Ombre Layers

Perfect Galaxy Leo Birthday Cake - featured image
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A vibrant and bold purple ombre layered cake with a classic vanilla base and cream cheese frosting, perfect for Leo birthdays and cosmic celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • Gel food coloring in shades of purple
  • 8 oz (227g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale, about 5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
  5. With mixer on low, alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk in three parts, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Add gel food coloring progressively for light lavender, medium purple, and deep purple shades. Stir gently until smooth.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks until completely cool.
  9. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and salt. Mix until creamy.
  10. Assemble cake by layering darkest purple cake with frosting, then medium purple with frosting, and top with lightest purple layer. Apply a thin crumb coat and chill 15 minutes, then finish frosting smoothly.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant hues without thinning batter. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for smooth mixing. Do not overmix batter to avoid tough cake. Cool layers completely before frosting to prevent melting. Apply a crumb coat and chill before final frosting for smooth finish. Trim cake tops if cracked for even layers.

Nutrition

Keywords: birthday cake, galaxy cake, purple ombre cake, Leo birthday cake, cream cheese frosting, vanilla cake, cosmic cake

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/perfect-galaxy-leo-birthday-cake-recipe-with-easy-purple-ombre-layers/