Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or any special occasion with a splash of color by baking this eye-catching Green Velvet Layer Cake. Known for its vibrant hue and light chocolate flavor, this cake combines the charm of traditional red velvet with a green twist, making it a perfect festive centerpiece. Rich cream cheese frosting and a white chocolate garnish add the finishing touches to this decadent dessert.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons gel green food coloring
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Recipe not specified, standard cream cheese frosting recommended
For Decoration:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Green gel food coloring
- Optional: Rolled fondant for making shamrock decorations
Directions
- Prepare Pans and Preheat Oven:
- Butter and flour three 8-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy release. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix Cake Batter:
- In a large bowl, cream the vegetable oil and sugar together on medium speed for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Mix in the green food coloring, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract until evenly combined.
- Sift together the flour and baking soda. Alternately add these dry ingredients and the buttermilk mixed with vinegar to the creamed mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
- Bake:
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 32-37 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack covered with plastic film to cool completely.
- Frost and Decorate:
- Layer and cover the cake with your chosen cream cheese frosting.
- For the decoration, melt white chocolate chips with vegetable oil in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Add green food coloring to achieve the desired shade, then drizzle the mixture over the cake for a glossy finish.
- Optionally, use green fondant to create shamrock shapes for a thematic decoration.
Tips
- Ingredient Temperatures: Ensure that all ingredients, especially perishables like eggs and buttermilk, are at room temperature to ensure the batter mixes evenly without clumping.
- White Chocolate Consistency: If the white chocolate mixture is too thick for drizzling, gradually add more oil until it reaches a consistency similar to heavy cream.
- Decorating: Apply decorations while the chocolate or frosting is still wet to ensure they adhere properly.
Conclusion
This Green Velvet Layer Cake is more than just a treat; it’s a vibrant addition to any celebration. With its rich flavor and stunning presentation, this cake is sure to impress guests and make any occasion feel extra special. Enjoy the process of creating this delightful dessert and the joy it brings to your table!