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A slice of Spring Watercolor Cake

Spring Watercolor Triple Layer Cake #SpringSweetsWeek

A lemon vanilla cake layered with buttercream and lemon curd then finished off with a gorgeous watercolor frosting effect and sprinkles!
5 from 24 votes
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Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 3 3/4 c. flour
  • 1 t. baking soda
  • 1 1/2 t. baking powder
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 1/2 c. 3 sticks butter, softened
  • 2 1/4 c. sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 t. Adams Extract Lemon Extract
  • 2 t. Adams Best Vanilla Flavor
  • 1 1/4 c. milk

For the frosting:

  • 4 sticks butter softened
  • 6 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 T. Adams Best Vanilla Flavor
  • 3 T. milk

For assembling and decorating:

  • 1 c. lemon curd
  • 2 oz. Easter Sprinkles
  • pink purple, blue, and yellow food coloring
  • white food coloring optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray three 8" round cake pans and place a parchment circle at the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside.
  • In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until it is smooth. Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon extract and mix well.
  • Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
  • Add in the milk and mix well. Add the remaining flour and mix until just combined.
  • Divide the batter between the three pans. I had about 2 cups of batter in each pan. Bake for 35 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 or 15 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edge of the cake and remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  • To make the frosting place the butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium high speed until smooth.
  • Add in the powdered sugar a half cup at a time.
  • Add in the vanilla extract and the milk and mix well. Add additional powdered sugar if needed.
  • To assemble the cake place one cake on a cake round. Spread 1/2 cup of buttercream frosting on the cake layer. Pipe a thin boarder around the outside of the layer then fill with 1/2 cup of lemon curd. Top with the second layer.
  • Spread 1/2 cup of buttercream frosting on the second cake layer. Pipe a thin boarder around the outside of the layer then fill with 1/2 cup of lemon curd. Top with the third layer.
  • Put a crumb coating of buttercream frosting on the cake and freeze it for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from freezer and cover with frosting.
  • Dip a bench scraper in hot water, dry it off, and smooth the frosting around the edges and top. Dip the scraper in water as needed.
  • Once the buttercream is smooth freeze for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, divide remaining frosting beteen 4 small bowls. Color one pink, one blue, one purple, and one yellow. Add white food coloring to make the colors more pastel.
  • Remove the cake from the freeze and place 10 one inch smears of each color frosting randomly around the outside of the cake.
  • Dip a bench scraper in hot water, dry it off, and smooth the frosting colors around the outside of the cake while smearing them together for a watercolor effect. Pick the bench scraper up and do another full spin of the cake as needed until it looks how you want it to look.
  • Place the remaining colored frosting in a piping bag trying to put one color on each side of the bag so it will come out swirled. You want a star tip in the piping bag.
  • Pipe a border around the bottom of the cake and another around the top edge of the cake.
  • To finish the cake place a little water on your fingers and spread it on top of the cake to make the frosting sticky.
  • Quickly pour the Easter sprinkles on the top of the cake until it is covered.
  • Cut into slices and enjoy!

Notes

A Hezzi-D original recipe