First, I used two boxes of Betty Crocker white cake mix and instead of using oil, I used applesauce (it makes the cake really moist). Next, I divided the mix by into six containers. Then I dyed them all different shades of blue. See the Tie-dye cake tutorial for directions.
I like to use the gel food coloring because it doesn't make the batter runny.
Note: I used regular blue food coloring for the darkest blue and I used a few drops into the one next to it.
I used my judgement when color each container of icing. I gradually lightened as I went. The lightest color had a small hint of blue, but not enough to show up in pictures.
Not pictured is the of white buttercream frosting that was colored to match each batter container. I thought it would be cool if the icing was the same color as the layers.
I used a 9-inch round cake pan and baked each color for ten minutes. This took the longest because I only have one 9-inch cake pan. Note: butter and flour the pan before you put the batter in or the cake mix with stick to the pan and it can break when you pull it out.
I didn't wait for the layers to cool like I normally would. I flipped the pan upside down onto my cooling rack and it popped right out. I don't recommend this, as it could have been a disaster.
Once one layer cooled to touch, I would ice it with the matching color of frosting. Then I added another layer, and continued for six layers. Once the cake was together, I needed to do a crumb layer and put it in the fridge/freezer to chill so when it's time to decorate it would be smooth. Obviously I didn't do this. I actually decorated the cake at the baby shower, and finished right before the mom-to-be walked in.
I wanted the cake tto match napkins for the shower.
I used sugar sheets to make the circles.
I did the best in the time I had and I feel a little ashamed of the sloppiness.
To make the circles, I used the inside of my icing tip to cut out the circle shape out of the sugar paper.
I knew I wanted the cake to match the napkins, but I also wanted it to be baseball related so I used my blue Food Writer pen and made stitches.
For the name I used piping gel, which I dyed with food coloring. It was my first time to use the piping gel, so my ratio of food coloring wasn't quite where it needed to be in order for it turn out as dark as I wanted. We live, we learn.
All in all, I am fairly happy with the turn out and I plan to make another one in the future.
Aren't the gradient layers lovely?
Enjoy!
xx Tyna xx
