St. Patricks Day Green Cake (Printable)
Vibrant green layered cake with creamy vanilla frosting, ideal for St. Patricks Day celebrations.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cake Components
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour (310 g)
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225 g)
06 - 1¾ cups granulated sugar (350 g)
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature (240 ml)
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 - ½ teaspoon almond extract
11 - Green gel food coloring
→ Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225 g)
13 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (480 g)
14 - ¼ cup whole milk or heavy cream (60 ml)
15 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt
17 - Green sprinkles or edible shamrock decorations
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture in three portions, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour mixture.
06 - Mix in green food coloring until batter reaches desired shade.
07 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar gradually on low speed. Incorporate milk, vanilla, and salt; beat on high until fluffy and smooth.
10 - Place first layer on serving plate. Spread frosting evenly, add next layer, and repeat. Frost top and sides completely.
11 - Finish with green sprinkles or edible shamrocks. Optionally tint a portion of frosting green for additional decoration.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The buttermilk keeps the sponge incredibly tender while still sturdy enough for layered perfection
- That green color brings instant joy to any room, like capturing spring in cake form
02 -
- Cool cakes completely before frosting or the butter will melt right off and create a mess
- Gel food coloring is much stronger than liquid, so start with just a few drops and add more gradually
03 -
- If you don't have buttermilk, mix regular milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes
- Check your cakes at 25 minutes since ovens vary and overbaking dries out the layers