Heartfelt Ocean Breeze Cake
Dive into a slice of fun with this whimsical Heartfelt Ocean Breeze Cake, designed to resemble a funky pair of heart-shaped sunglasses—perfect for your Spring Break celebrations. Featuring vibrant blue ocean swirl cake layers, this delightful dessert captures the essence of sun-kissed beaches, while the zesty lemon Swiss buttercream adds a refreshing burst of flavor. Ideal for parties, picnics, or just a sweet treat to brighten your day, this cake not only looks fabulous but tastes heavenly too, making everyone feel like they're on a tropical vacation.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
yellow cake mix
2 (15 1/4 ounce) boxes (follow package directions, adding vanilla pudding mix)
vanilla instant pudding mix
2 (3 1/2 ounce) boxes (add to cake mix as per instructions)
royal blue gel food coloring
to taste (fold into batter)
cornstarch
for dusting (lightly dust work surface)
yellow fondant
1 pound (roll out for lenses)
egg whites
12 (room temperature)
white sugar
2 1/4 cups (combine with egg whites for buttercream)
unsalted butter
2 lbs (room temperature and cut into chunks)
lemon extract
2 teaspoons (add to buttercream)
vanilla extract
1 teaspoon (add to buttercream)
fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon (add to buttercream)
deep pink gel food coloring
to taste (fold into buttercream)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray two 9-inch square cake pans with nonstick spray, then line the bottoms with parchment paper and spray again.
2
Prepare the yellow cake mixes according to package instructions. In addition to the typical ingredients, also blend in the packages of vanilla instant pudding mix for added richness.
3
Divide the batter into three portions: scoop 2 1/2 cups into a small bowl and into two additional bowls to color. Color one bowl with 1 1/2 teaspoons of royal blue gel color for a dark blue hue, and the other with 1/2 teaspoon for a lighter blue shade. You’ll have three distinct batter colors: white, dark blue, and light blue.
4
Using a small ice cream scoop, drop alternating spoonfuls of the colored batters into the prepared cake pans, ensuring an even distribution. Once filled, gently swirl the batters with a wooden sticks for a marbled effect, ensuring that they merge well at the bottom.
5
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert them onto wire racks to cool completely. Once cooled, wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and freeze them overnight for easier cutting.
6
Using a large sunglasses stencil cut in half, unwrap the frozen cakes on a cutting board. Position the stencil halves on top of the cakes and trim around them with a sharp paring knife to create the sunglasses shape.
7
Place the trimmed cake pieces on a large cake board or platter, matching the halves. Apply a crumb coat of deep pink frosting over the cake and chill in the refrigerator or freezer until the frosting has hardened slightly, about 10-15 minutes.
8
While the cake chills, roll out yellow fondant on a surface dusted with cornstarch to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use the stencil cutouts to trace and cut out the heart lenses, placing each lens on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
9
Fit a piping bag with a #803 tip and fill it with some of the pink buttercream. Once the crumb coat is chilled and firm, frost the entire cake with smooth buttercream, using the piping bag for the sides and a small offset spatula for smoothness.
10
Return the frosted cake to the refrigerator or freezer for another 10-15 minutes to set the frosting. Once set, use a non-patterned paper towel to gently smooth over any imperfections in the frosting.
11
Finalizing the decoration, position the fondant heart lenses on the cake, ensuring they sit securely.
12
Allow the cake to reach room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving to let the flavors truly shine.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the theme of the Heartfelt Ocean Breeze Cake?
The cake is designed to resemble a whimsical pair of heart-shaped sunglasses, perfect for Spring Break celebrations.
What flavor is the cake base?
The cake features yellow cake layers enhanced with vanilla instant pudding for extra richness and a marbled ocean swirl effect.
What type of frosting is used for this recipe?
This recipe uses a zesty lemon Swiss buttercream made with egg whites, unsalted butter, and lemon extract.
How many cake mixes do I need?
You will need two 15 1/4 ounce boxes of yellow cake mix.
What size pans are required for the Heartfelt Ocean Breeze Cake?
The recipe requires two 9-inch square cake pans.
How do I achieve the marbled blue effect in the cake layers?
Divide the batter into three portions: white, light blue, and dark blue using royal blue gel food coloring, then drop spoonfuls into the pan and swirl with a wooden stick.
How long should the cakes bake?
Bake the cakes in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 35-40 minutes.
Why should the cakes be frozen overnight?
Freezing the cakes overnight makes them firmer and much easier to trim into the sunglasses shape using a stencil.
What is used to create the sunglasses shape?
A large sunglasses stencil cut in half is used as a guide to trim the square cakes with a sharp paring knife.
What are the lenses made of?
The lenses are cut from yellow fondant that has been rolled out to 1/8 inch thickness.
How many egg whites are used in the lemon Swiss buttercream?
The buttercream requires 12 room temperature egg whites.
What color is the exterior frosting?
The exterior frosting is a deep pink color achieved with gel food coloring.
How much butter is needed for the frosting?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of room temperature unsalted butter cut into chunks.
How do I smooth the frosting perfectly?
Once the frosting is set in the refrigerator, you can use a non-patterned paper towel to gently smooth over any imperfections.
What piping tip is recommended for the buttercream?
A #803 piping tip is used to help apply the pink buttercream to the cake.
What should I use to dust my work surface for the fondant?
Lightly dust your work surface with cornstarch to prevent the yellow fondant from sticking.
How long should the cake reach room temperature before serving?
Allow the cake to sit for 30-45 minutes at room temperature before serving to enhance the flavors.
Can I substitute the lemon extract?
While lemon provides a refreshing burst, you could use other extracts like almond or orange depending on your preference.
How many boxes of pudding mix are needed?
The recipe uses two 3 1/2 ounce boxes of vanilla instant pudding mix.
What is the purpose of the crumb coat?
The crumb coat is a thin layer of deep pink frosting that seals in crumbs before the final smooth layer is applied.
How much gel food coloring is used for the light blue batter?
Use 1/2 teaspoon of royal blue gel color for the light blue shade.
How much gel food coloring is used for the dark blue batter?
Use 1 1/2 teaspoons of royal blue gel color for the dark blue hue.
Should the egg whites be cold or room temperature?
The egg whites should be at room temperature for the best results when making Swiss buttercream.
Does the recipe include salt?
Yes, it includes 1/8 teaspoon of fine sea salt added to the buttercream.
How much sugar is in the frosting?
The buttercream uses 2 1/4 cups of white sugar.
What type of food coloring is best for this cake?
Gel food coloring is recommended because it provides vibrant color without thinning the batter or frosting.
What is the first step in preparing the pans?
Spray the pans with nonstick spray, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and spray again.
How long does the crumb coat need to chill?
The crumb coat should chill in the refrigerator or freezer for 10-15 minutes until hardened.
Can I make this cake for a picnic?
Yes, its whimsical design and refreshing flavor make it an ideal treat for outdoor parties and picnics.
What tool is used for the marbling?
A wooden stick is used to gently swirl the colored batters together.