It seems that I’m on a layer-cake-making frenzy lately, and you know, it kind of feels like home. So here’s what else: I’m excited to share my first cake tutorial video, as I mentioned I was working on in my “hello” video yesterday. Just a note that it’s not fancy, and it turns out I’m no cinematographer, but it was kind of fun talking to you for a change.
Back in September, I shared this cake to celebrate my blog’s 1st anniversary, and since then I’ve received several requests to explain how to achieve this sort of watercolour, pastel swirly effect, so here we are!
I came across this technique a few years ago from Serious Cakes, and it remains one of my favourite ways to whip up a super-pretty cake, and quickly. I’ve added my own twist, and what I love most about this effect is that no two cakes are the same, making it even more artful.
As I mention in the video, it really doesn’t need sprinkles, but I like to add some metallic and shimmer bits on top when I make this cake. The pastel swirling feels beachy to me, and these little decorations somehow fit (in my mind, anyway). Even sans sprinkles, the way the colours blend and change before your eyes while frosting is reason enough to give this a try. I tinted three small bowls of frosting for this version, but you can add as many colours as you wish–you honestly can’t go wrong.
This time I opted for dark chocolate cake, because I love the contrast of the pastel whipped vanilla frosting and the dark cake, but vanilla, or any flavour you can dream up, would likely be a delight. Taking cues from the cake layers for colour choices, or the other way around, works well too–a strawberry layer cake would be charming with blended shades of pink, white, red and even a hint of mint green. I personally love when a cake’s design, colours and flavours all make sense. You know?
When I look at this cake I suddenly feel an unrelenting need for a beach house, cotton candy, saltwater taffy and possibly a canvas and paint brush. Oh, and a slice of dreamy swirly pastel cake.
So, here’s the how-to video (a tad longer than the others will be) on how I frost this style cake, or how my hands do–I kept it zoomed in so you could really see what I was doing. Hopefully it helps you along!
Sweetapolita’s Notes:
- For my 8″ round cake in the video, I used 1.5 times this chocolate cake recipe and baked in 2 pans.
- I used 1 batch of this Whipped Vanilla Frosting
- For the deeper blue I used a couple of drops of Americolor Sky Blue
- For the pale seafoam colour, I used one drop of Americolor Sky Blue
- For the lavender, I used a few drops of Americolor Violet
followed by a ~2 drops of Americolor Electric Purple
- For the decorations, I used Silver Dragées (large)
, Silver Dragées (small)
and something very similar to this Blue Sparkling Sugar
- If you’re looking for some colour-combination inspiration, dive into Design Seeds–endless.
Good luck & enjoy!
Hi, Rosie! I think you have to change your Youtube settings–it says that the video is set to private… can’t wait to see the video you made of this gorgeous cake! :)
Me too. It comes up as private for me also.
Good luck!
Sorry about that, but it’s all reset now. Thanks!
Just watched the video! Great job Rosie.
Ps. Love your nails and cute apron!
Hi, just wanted to let you know that your video is set as private and I cant view it.
The video is reset now, Melanie–thanks!
Hi, I love this cake, the colors are beautiful! I clicked on the video to watch it, but it says that the video is private and wont let me see it…:(
I’m looking forward to seeing it and learn to do it! :)
The video is reset now, Angela–thanks!
me too, Rosie…I thought I was missing something. I can’t see the video.
Sorry about that, Frances–it’s all reset now!
Thank you. It was a great video, thank you, and it was lovely to hear your voice :) I look forward to future “how to” videos.
I ran into the same problem of video being set to private. I really do look forward to watching this tutorial of the dreamy looking cake!
You should be able to view it now, Lisa–sorry, it’s early!
Rosie! This video is so informative. You did a great job. I look forward to seeing more of your blog videos in the future!
Gah! You make it look so easy! I become a Nervous Nelly when I have to work with frosting… you should see the (delicious) mess I make.
Rosie,
I absolutely love the video, and you are a natural! You did an excellent job, and I love this technique. Can’t wait for more!
Congrats on your first video tutorail ! That’s such a nice technique, perfect for the summer ! I think I’ll try it in red, pink and white, with a red velvet cake for example. Thanks !!!
Hi Rosie! wow I LOVE your blog I stumbled onto it last year and I am addicted! I live in Brisbane and when I found SMB I was like what?? no one here that I have asked knows what it is ! I’m so happy to have learned more about cakes than I knew before! you are so amazing I love your recipes and blog you are awesome, thank you for sharing! you have made my love for cakes and all things sugar much more stronger!
Love this Rosie!
I think I’ll use this technique for my daughter’s upcoming birthday party!
Hey…..I must know…..where can I get those colored mixing bowls you’re using?!?!
Thanks for sharing more wonderful baking tips
xoxoxo
This comment is ages old now, but I thought I’d respond just in case you still wanted some. They look like melamine colored mixing bowls. If you search that on google, you’ll be overwhelmed with choices. I know they come in rainbow and in hues. Here’s a grey-scale set from Target: http://www.target.com/p/melamine-mixing-bowls-set-6-piece/-/A-11877931 for $20
Yep, baking at your house is as beautiful and easy-going as I’d imagined it to be! Lovely cake:)
Such a great video, thank you so much Rosie! You make it look so easy!
TOTALLY agree with everyone’s positive comments and LOVE “hearing” your love and passion for what you do shine through as you talk whilst decorating too! Also, thanks so much for your incredible effort and time in sharing all these and other tips with us as I recall being one of the ppl asking you about this technique a while back.
How lovely!! Just found you on Twitter through Mr Messy-Brian up there ;) Such a cute and informative video.
Love the pastel cakes, perfect for a relaxed tea-party :D
Hi! I can only say THANKS! this video is soo helpful :-) and looks soo pretty! :-) Can’t wait to try it! I’ll be waiting for the next videos ^_^
I need to do an oceany dolphin cake for someone next week and this technique looks perfect! Thanks!!!
I did this the other day and it came out wonderful! I had your tutorial on while I did it. So helpful and easy! Thanks :)
Thanks very much for the video!! Can’t wait for more!!
ohh Rosie,
Just one word : WOW
I want to look at it the whole day!
You’re my inpiration for some things on my blog.
Have a nice day <3
What a wonderful video! I love reading your blog, but seeing it “in person” is extra-fantastic. I can see making this for my sister-in-laws baby shower this summer in shades of pink, yellow, and pale green. Thank you for sharing!
Rosie! You are an inspiration. I can’t wait for more videos. Thank you! xoxox
Thank you so much for the instructions, very helpful actually being able to see the technique via video. Please keep the video tutorials coming!
What a fantastic idea! So pretty!
I love the new how-to videos! Great cake and thanks so much for sharing all your tips and tricks!
Your cake looks great! I will definitely try this for my sisters birthday. She will LOVE it.
More videos, please!
Rosie.. your video was so fun to watch.. and so helpful to learn this new technique! I’ve visited Design Seeds too and can’t wait to try making this cake for my friend’s birthday at the end of the month.. I’ve tried your ruffle cake and malted cakes.. this one will be so pretty, I can’t wait!
xo
Smidge
Love the technique and the video!!! Can’t wait for the next video. Thank you for sharing!!
This is such a great video tutorial! Thanks so much Rosie!
Oh my god, that cake is so beautiful. It totally reminds me of the sea. I think I’m going to try replicating this for my birthday cake!
So so pretty!! I wish that was in my kitchen now!! (I’d sneak some for breakfast!)
Rosie…so pretty!!!! I’m doing a Buzz Lightyear party for my son in a few weeks and I had visions of doing a darker blue on the bottom and then going to lime green on the top. Hmm…I think I just might do that! Your tutorial was fantastic. I look forward to more. :-)
Love it! Such a great tutorial!!
Very nice video. I attempted to copy your first cake like this in March for my daughter’s birthday. It didn’t turn out too bad. Now with real directions I’ll have to try it again! Love your turntable…. did you make it yourself? Some that you can buy seem to be so cheaply made and others are so expensive. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the video tutorial! ^_^
This is great! I’ve already got plans to try it out!
Great video!! I can’t wait to make this cake!! I love this technique!! Also, made your favorite birthday cake from you blog post last week and it was SOOOO good!! Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Beautiful cake and great video too!! Great to hear you!
Great video, Rosie! You make it looks so easy! It really is helpful to see you actually decorating the cake. There are just some things that can’t be explained in words and it makes it so much clearer to see the process.
Hi Rosie, thanks for the video. It’s a beautiful cake and I would like to do it myself. Do you mind posting the exact recipe/ingredients you used for this cake? Thanks.
Thank you Rosie!! you make it look so easy. I can’t wait to try this technique.
Rosie great tutorial! I’m stuck at home today recovering and this video cheered me up. The only thing I’m bummed out about is that we are not allowed to use silver dragees in California :O( So will find another way to make it sparkle legally ..lol.
Hope you keep the tutorials coming!
THANK YOU Rosie! Your video is perfect, really helpful! It seems easy for you, but I’m sure it is not so easy for us :-) I should have a try with a next layer cake…
wow amazing! Love this
I have been wanting to try that technique from the first moment I saw it on your blog! It’s so simple, but yet so much fun. I have to make a cake for my son’s birthday next week, but after that, I’m trying this just for fun!
Love the videos! Thank you so much for sharing.
So simple and sweet! Can’t wait to try this!
Thank you so much for this! I have learned so much from you over the past year, Rosie…your style is feminine and soft, your ideas are inspiring, and your willingness to share and teach is incredible. Your passion and creativity show in everything you do, and I’m grateful for your blog. And now that I’ve admitted to my girl crush…just want to let you know I love the video, and I just may see a swirly pastely cake in my near future. You rock!
Thank you so much for the cake tutorial! I absolutely love your blog and attribute all my cake baking skills to you!
Thanks so much! That looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to try it.
What a fantastic cake! Those colors are gorgeous, and it’s such a versatile design. I MUST try this immediately :-) Thanks for a great video!
Thanks for the video! Loved It!
Rosie,
Just wanted to say thanks you so very much for all you have shared it is totally awesome and truly appreciated.
This was amazing, I’m not a cake decorater by any stretch of the imagination but as always it’s a lovely thing to see someone else work their craft. I also noticed that you had a coordinating pinny! This is beautiful but I wondered too what you do with the excess icing. :)
Rosie,
So nice to see you in action……….would love to see you work with fondant which has been a big challenge for me. Such a pretty cake!!
Hi Rosie, You did a great job on your first video. Congratulations!!!! I’m looking forward to more tutorials. Thank you.
OMGosh Rosie… ADORABLE video! You did such a great job!!
I just wish I could do it as well as you… you make it look SO easy peasy!
hi Rosie , thanks for inspiring me everyday, i have done a number of your recopies and they are always amazing. have watched the video and love it will be trying it out for my daughters this weekend. thanks for sharing your knowledge
Thats an awesome tutorial! I have never even thought of that technique and I really love it! I am definitely going to be trying it soon! Great job on the video tutorial! :)
Love the video! I couldn’t wait to see how you got that cake off the wax paper without the big thumbprints in the sides like I leave. ;) Great job and looks perfect!
It’s so pretty!
Hi Rosie, Yes, your cake Is pretty!! Thank you for sharing! Always love your recipes and ideas!!
GREAT video and technique, Rosie!!!! I have been researching alternative frosting techniques for cakes. I can’t wait to try it! Thanks again for this post!!!!
This was such an awesome video. I feel like I can ice a cake now. I know that sounds really lame, but it’s true. I have no dace decorating skills, so this kind of taught me how, even if I don’t chose to do the tri-color frosting technique. Thanks :)
Wonderful video tutorial, look forward to more! I’m excited to try this on a cake soon. p.s. love that the bottom turquoise color layer kind of matched your apron :)
Rosie… I have waited for any videos and girl… you are great!!!!! Go with me and I am sure you will have tons of followers saying the same thing…. Give us more!!!!!
Thanks,
Sandy (Mossymas)
Gosh that message did not read correctly!
Message should have said:
Rosie… I have waited for any videos and girl… you are great! Go with it and I am sure you will have tons of followers saying the same thing… Give us more!!!!
Thanks,
Sandy (Mossymag)
Thanks so much, Sandy!
I really enjoyed watching this technique:) The frosting consistency was so perfect, I hope I can be successful at duplicating this! Thank you for the video, very helpful!
Congrats for the first tutorial video, great job Rosie. You r blessed to have talent in making cake n decoration… cake n cookies are art job…we love it..:)
thanks
Etty Barus
Thanks so much Rosie! I love it. I am going to try this technique with the vanilla frosting. I hope it works for me too! I am so excited that you are doing videos now! yay!!!!
Your cakes are always SO beautiful!
Thank you! Great tutorial! I will definitely be trying this!
Yippee – you did it! It is so good to see the passion shining through. You are an inspiration for “Love what you live…live what you love”. Thanks for the great tutorial!
You are as lovely as your cakes.
Such a sweet thing to say, Angie. Thank you. xo
The cake is lovely; you make everything look so easy. We definitely need more tutorial videos from you.
Thanks so much, Ken!
Loved this video! It really demystifies the process when we can watch you do it. Thanks so much for the great new feature!
what a beautiful cake! amazing job on your video tutorial. you make it look so easy :). can’t wait to watch more videos in the future!!
This is such a gorgeous cake! And you are adorable! Thank you for sharing this technique! I LOVE your work, very inspiring!
Gorgeous Rosie, absolutely stunning, as always! Loved the video!
Thank you for posting this video. A friend and I always wondered…”how?” ;) For this busy dental student with frequent cake requests to celebrate our monthly clinic birthdays, this festive & beautiful, yet quick and easy technique will come in handy! Love it! Thanks again.
p.s. If you appear on Food Network sometime soon, I’m going to have re-install cable television…just saying.. :)
Ups, sorry ROSIE, I’m still half asleep. Beautiful cake!
Love it and look forward to more videos!
how fun! You are way braver than I, I would be frozen if I tried to tape myself!
WOW -that was SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL! Thanks SOOO much!!!!
I would like to try this one weekend if it’s ok? Thanks for this wonderful video :)
It’s so beautiful that I can’t believe that I could actually eat it :)
What kind of turntable is do you use?
this is gorgeous!! i watched the video and you make it look so easy!!
Rosie, it’s lovely! I can’t wait for more video tutorials – you make cake decorating seem so approachable!
Rosie, love your site! As a Canadian living in the UK I miss the ability to get some of the ingredients I grew up with as a child, but its getting better! Love this cake, as does my daughter who turns 9 next month….so now I have to try and recreate it for her birthday! Wish me luck but your tutorial is great!
Hey Rosie :D:D Thank you so much, I’ve really enjoyed your video. I’ve learnt so much :D:D I have a dear friend who’s birthday it is very soon she would love a pretty cake like this I will give a try, thank you so much for sharing you are super kind :D:D
LOVE this tutorial!! That cake is a beautiful piece of art… what an inspiration. Makes me want to get up and bake right now! xoxo
I was captivated by your video. The cake is absolutely enchanting, and I feel that I could make it too! Looking forward to more of your videos!
This cake looks gorgeous! I normally bake cupcakes, but I might just have to try this now!
Rosie! Great video – its inspiring the way you take your time to talk through the process – thank you! Hopefully there will be a video tutorial on the asparagus cake – got as far as the stems before giving up in exasperation…. great work!
xxx
such a fun and beautiful cake! I loved watching your techniques and look forward to many more video tutorials. Thanks for the inspiration as always :) xo
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU !
Love the video !
I can’t wait to see some more !
I love your recipes, I’m actually going to do this cake in shades of pink for my daughter’s first birthday !
Rebecca
This was wonderful! Takes the fear (some!) out of it. I think I am ready to bake & frost my first layer cake now. Thank you!
It’s the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen, I mean chocolate cake, watercolor frosting, and a bit of sparkle, I love it!
Thank you so much for sharing, and adding a great video tutorial. Have a great day!
Thank you so much for this video, Rosie! I about died when I saw your blogaversary cake, and of course tried to make one like it. Mine had turned out fine, pretty, but it didn’t look like yours! I’m going to try again now. Thank you!
Thank you for the video! I am looking forward to your videos!!! I love your work!
Great tutorial! The cake is beautiful.
So last night, I was watching this video and was completely entranced. My husband was trying to get my attention so that we could put our kids to bed, and I just kept saying: In a minute!
Then he came to see what I was watching, and he couldn’t believe I was putting off bedtime for a video about how to frost a cake.
Then I told him: But it’s so purdy!!
He just rolled his eyes at me.
I now need a cake-turn table. Pretty sure my parents’ old record player won’t work…lol
I can’t wait to try this! Perfect for the beachy area I live in. And for more videos! Where do you purchase your sprinkles by the way?
Rosie, I believe this could be my first time commenting. Guilty, as I have been always a silent reader mesmerized by your baked goods. This is just so pretty and I wish I could have this cake as my Birthday cake, Might make this for myself this year. The video really helps me a lot, since I am pretty much self taught when comes to baking. Sure would love to improve.. Have a good weekend!! Cheers, Jo
Hi Rosie,
You just taught me the most imp thing, I always crumb coated my cake with the tinted icing that I was going to frost the cake. So when i try to frost it the 2nd time the cool icing already on is of a darker colour and I could never understand why but I now know. Thank you.
You are so good at what you do, LOVE YR WORK.
I finally had time to watch this video. Loved it and I’m looking forward to seeing many more video tutorials from you. One day I just might try this frosting technique but first I have to get my frosting as beautiful and as smooth as yours. By the way, your cake turntable looks like it was custom made. Did your husband make it for you?
I fell in love this technique on your Instagram feed, and now I have the tutorial (much needed!)….you make it look easy Rosie! Will try this next time I am making a cake, thanks so much for sharing!! Would love to see some videos on working with fondant…..no clue and there are none out there that I am aware of… Imen x
Hey there are tones of videos on fondant on youtube. I know your comment was from a long time ago but still just thought id help in case you didn’t check there.
LOVE that you’ve starting doing videos! So great to see the techniques you use to create your lovely cakes. Well done!
This great think I will try it for my niece’s birthday on the 23rd June. Where did you buy your scraper
the video was awesome! thank you so much! now, i must make a cake so i can try this technique!
I LOVE this video!! What a great idea, thanks so much for doing this for us! I can’t wait to try it out myself : )
oh my gosh AMAZING!!!! so gorgeous!
Love this cake and your video is wonderful!
Love this video! Thanks!!!!
Hi Rosie
I’m not sure why but I can’t see the video – it seems to be missing. I did a search via youtube and had the same problem. It’s just blank – looking forward to watching this!
Thanks
Erin
Hi Rosie,
I found my baby shower cake! thank you so much! the colors are perfect since I am having (another) boy!! :) sorry for the exclamation points, I am so excited, it looks easy and soooo pretty… :) I have a question though, How far ahead can I make this cake..? can I make it a day in advance and let it sit in the counter or does it need to be refrigerated..?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lotsa love,
Beryl
Thank you for a great video. I am going to definitely try this technique. Cake decorating is so intimidating but I like your video because it shows the steps. I think I can do it!
This looks AWESOME! I’m a little embarrassed about how excited I was to watch a cake video! XD
Loved it! Thanks for taking the time to make the video. Now I have something yummy to watch while I knit. Sweetapolita TV! I’m looking forward to many more, please keep them coming. But don’t kill yourself, we (your fans) understand you need some “me” time too. Your video was just the right amount of me time I’m allow with a 3yr old. ;)
I am a TOTAL junkie for your blog – I think I’ve read every recipe twice :)
I’m delighted that you’ve added videos and I can’t wait to see more!
This cake looks super fab, and you really do make it look super easy (lots of practice I’m sure). You converted me to SMBC… but I’m going to try this cake with your whipped vanilla frosting. Looks like it just melts in your mouth! Thanks so much for being a wonderful inspiration and being so willing to share.
Pink-Puffy-Hearts! Dominique at Scents Love Rock N Roll
As always,lovely creations from you! Imagine what it would like with other colors,of pinks and peaches,I’m sure its going to be stunning as well. I’d love to see how you bake your cakes,please do more videos on that,your cake is so addicting to look at. I read your blog almost everyday to get inspirations and just drool over,really. :)
I am in love with the pastel ombre frosting, and also the rest of your blog! xx
Would love a video on how you manage to get the sides and top of your cake so smooth and even!
Love your blog, have been following since always! You should really do chocolatines! I’m certain they would be delightful. By the way, love the videos, they made me love you even more!
It’s beautiful! I am going to do this for our 4th of July celebration here in the good ol’ USA. Yeah red, white and blue. I will soften the colors and not make them a true primary red and blue.Thank you for your wonderful inspiration. Your blog is by far my favorite. I’m so happy to see and hear you now.I also enjoy your photography. I wish I had your talent!
When I saw this, I thought it would be the perfect cake to make for my parents’ 35th anniversary party. Their colors were yellow and spring green and this would be a great way to blend them into two tiers. I just did a test run of the cake today and it came out beautifully. I used some other summer colors and I want to thank you for the video tutorial. This was the smoothest I’ve ever been able to get my buttercream on a cake. Thanks for a wonderful cake!
Rosie,
I’m relatively new to your blog, but let me say that I’m lovin’ it girl! I’ve scoured the site to see if you have a recommendation for a decorating turntable, but couldn’t find any posts. Any thoughts? What is the one you are using in the video? Also, as a side note, I made chocolate cupcakes w/ your whipped vanilla bean frosting the other day. My husband’s face pretty much said it all! It is hands down the BEST homemade frosting I’ve ever made (thanks to you)!
Ok, I’m not sure how this happened but I’ve finally found your blog. I feel like you’re my long lost twin that I’ve never met! haha I LOVE everything about your blog/style/baking/everything!!
Amazing work.
:)
-Christa from minibaker.com
Lovely cake you have there…i cant wait to try it. Possible to switch the frosting using swiss meringue buttercream instead of whipped cream?
Thanks, Abby! Yes, you can most definitely use Swiss Meringue Buttercream. You can actually use any frosting you like, as long as you can achieve the colours you want for the finished look of the cake. The frosting I used was a whipped vanilla frosting, but again any type will work!
That is sooo amazing!!! I love it! Great job!
I loved the video and the results are stunning! I was wondering, have you tried this with cream cheese icing? I wanted to try it the other day, but just didn’t have time to experiment. I’ve never actually colored cream cheese icing to know how it takes to color, but mostly I can’t smooth my cream cheese at all. Wasn’t sure if you had tried it before or not (this technique with cream cheese icing)
Did you end up trying the cake with cream cheese icing? If your cream cheese is room temperature, it should be smooth enough and should take the dye very well. I highly recommend gel food coloring!
Hi Rosie,
I love your tutorials!
Where did you get your cake decorating turntable? I like it much better than the newer ones out there. If you don’t mind,please share where you got your or if you recommend any other ones out there.
Thanks!
Hi Rosie,
I made this cake for my husband on his bay and he LOVED it! In fact it tasted even better the next day!
I do have a question though: when I sliced my cake it was soon crumbly and messy. How do you slice your cakes soo smooth and clean? Any particular knife or technique?
Thanks!
Thanks for this fantastic tutorial! I watched the video and got so inspired, I made one for a client. Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=394214333970450&set=a.160616957330190.43672.146456585412894&type=1&theater. The inside is blue ombre as well.
i’m one of the unfortunates who cant see the video, :(
Dear lovely Rosie,
Thank u so much for sharing your amazing technique . I have tried it out using cream cheese frosting for a rainbow cake . all my friends compliment me with your pastel swirl style. XOXO
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/241904_4329475598929_2115079407_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/169355_4329481879086_156391383_o.jpg
Dear Rosie,
Thank you for your instructions, and your wonderful video. In a departure from your often-requested devil’s food cake, my daughter and I made a cake using this technique for her birthday. We frosted a lighter peach cake with cream cheese frosting, and she used a yellow/red/orange palette to frost it. Her guests called it Katniss Everdeen’s wedding cake (from “The Hunger Games”) because of the flame-like design. Here it is:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13035333/Peach%20Mango%20Birthday%20Cake.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13035333/Izzie%20and%20Cake%20%282%29.jpg
Your Denver Fans,
Barbara and Izzie
As an addendum, I did a different smoothing technique than you did. Because your colors were lighter and dreamier the separate bands are more suited to them, but since I wanted something a little more fiery, I made small circles with the spatula to blend the lower two layers and then swept up a little so that the top of the cake was a blend rather than a solid color. We definitely could not have done any of this without your video. Super thanks!
yay! I have been wanting to know how to do this since your 1st blogiversary post with that unbelievably pretty cake I have since called the mermaid cake!
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Hi Rosie! The cake looks amazing! Thank you for sharing the tutorial with us, I really appreciate it.
I immediately fell in love with your pastel cake the first time I saw it and I decided to make one last weekend:
http://stephanie-sweetbites.blogspot.com/2012/07/vanilla-bean-cake-with-teal-and-peach.html
It’s a vanilla bean cake (your recipe too!) with buttercream icing.
What an incredibly beautiful cake! The colors go so well together. I’ve got to get someone to make this for me.
This is by far my fav cake of yours! I am ur Huge fan! you make it look so easy!!
I’m going to go to bed dreaming about this cake tonight.
Just lovely! Any tips on making this work on a square cake?
Fantastico… Felicidades!. Saludos desde España
Absolutely fabulous. Made my first cake in pink, pale pink and light orange. The best cake I’ve ever done. My mother is going to think I bought it. Love your blog. Greetings from Sweden.
Here is a picture of it.
http://instagr.am/p/Nn28p7KVwG/
Hi Sweetapolita! This my first comment on your website and I just wanted to say I think it is fntastic. Having seen your pastel swirl tutorial I tried it on two cakes I took to my Mum and Dads for a BBQ this weekend. They looked great, thank you so much for the idea. I also tried your Orange, Giner Carrot cake with white chocolate buttercream and it was delicious :-)
I have mentioned you in a post on my website and linked to your blog. I hope that is okay. I just wanted to share your fabulous work!
Take care
Ella
I made a blue gradient cake, using your basic technique with buttercream frosting, it’s not as pretty, but it tasted good!
Check it out on my blog:
A Blog About Nothing
Gorgeous cake and thanks for the video, Rosie. Definitely taught me a lot of new technique to try in the kitchen :)
Beautiful cake! You should have your own baking show on Food Network — I’d totally watch it!
Hi Rosie,
I made this frosting and like you said, it sits beautifully and is a joy to work with. I simply loved it. My cake turned out so beautiful i wanted to weep. The only problem with the recipe is that there was so much excess frosting. So in future if i need to lessen it by 1/3, how should i go about doing it?
Now that you are making videos please please please could you do one for meringue. I have tried a few times but when i put the piped meringue into the oven it becomes flat and crunchy and hard. I baked it at 100c for 1 hr, however i live in Nepal, which falls in the 4600ft altitude. Is that the problem? Should i be increasing the oven temp and baking for shorter time? Please help me i really want to conquer meringue making. Its been an ongoing saga for months.
I look forward to more of your videos and your future book. I love you more now that you are doing videos as i learn more quickly with visual aid. So from the bottom of my heart thank you so much for this blog and all the effort and love you put into it.
Hi Rosie, absolutely love the cake! I love that you don’t have to mess w/ the icing bags! How do you get the technique in the picture where it isn’t so smooth, but there’s that nice texture around the edge? It’s a little different from the video.
could you post a regualar non-tutorial for me? this looks awesome and i love this kind of pastel color on a cake :) thanks
Thanks for this video! I’m going to attempt an ocean themed cake for my daughter’s birthday party this week, and I’m going to try this technique. It’s just beautiful!
I’m keen to make this but the video just says “This video is currently unavailable” – any ideas why? x
Love Love Love this cake! I wanted to know if the Whipped Vanilla Recipe you used is enough to crumb coat the cake AND do the ombre effect? Or should I make two batches of frosting?
I’m new to your blog, but I love it already! I’m also relatively new to caking, but it’s also something I have become passionate about rather quickly. It all started when a friend asked me to make her wedding cake. ;)
Anyway, my silly question, is how do you cut such a lovely slice of cake? Is there a special trick?
This is a really great technique, thanks for sharing! Now I need an excuse to make it ;)
I desided to make this cake for my brother’s birthday, here’s a picture of it:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/284904_10151135820503415_518301575_n.jpg
The bottom color is made of whipped vanilla frosting mixed with chocolate dust :)
Do you think it’s possible to frost a cake with the same technique, using swiss meringue buttercream instead? thank you, Kati
Hi Rosie!
Thank you SO much for fantastic tutorials! I’m really learning a lot from them, it’s really inspiring!
I read a bit of what you wrote about yourself and that a macro lens was high up on your list but just thought I’d recommend a Macro filter, they’re great and inexpensive.
Have a great weekend!
Rosie,
This was so fantastic, I had to try it out for a baby gender reveal cake I made for a friend (along with an 3-layer ombre cake inside based on your strawberry layer cake):
http://www.sweet-athena.com/gender-reveal-cake/
Mom-and-Dad-to be loved it, and it was delicious too!
Your recipes and tutorials are so lovely, I know I can never go wrong when I try them out myself.
Now I know how you do those pretty cakes!!!! Thanks for the tips!The cake looks so pretty, so pleasing to the eyes! and mouth! :D And oh, I can’t help but notice your turntable! Is it DIY turntable? It seems to work really well. I’m thinking of making my own DIY turntable. :)
Hi Aunty Rosie i have to say this is one of thee prettiest cakes i have ever seen and its so divine! I tried it and have never been so happy with a recipe until this one..struggling to choose what next to try , they all just so amazing:)Thank you for sharing, totally lovin’it…
Hello Rosie,
I’m french and I find your blog on lettregourmande.fr
Thank you so much for your tutorial!
Since I was young, I was in love with wedding cakes and all those marvellous cakes with beautiful colors!
I hope I can do one day one of these beautiful cakes…
I’ll try with my daughter in these next days!!
Thanks so much to give us pleasure and beauty…
Best wishes
Gabrielle from France
This is such a great, yet so simple an idea. Thanks for sharing <3
Thanks from New Zealand :)
I’m going to create a pink toned version of this for my mothers high tea on Sunday. Thanks for sharing. I want to make it today but thats like 6 days in advance and i’m concerned it will dry out!
HI Rosie,
i have to let you know. You are my inspiration!!!
Thank you so much, Fanny! xo
I just made this for my sister’s birthday, and it was wonderful! It was the most beautiful cake I have ever made. Instead of the chocolate, I used the “Classic Vanilla Butter Birthday Cake” recipe.
Hi Rosie,
Your cakes are always so beautiful! And they are always on gorgeous cake stands!
I am also from Toronto, and just wondered where you find them. I have only been able to find clear glass ones, but I love the pastel and white ones you use. Please help!
Thanks, and keep up the fantastic work you do! I always enjoy checking out your work!
Carly
I just want to say thank you very much for your wonderful tutorial and video. I’ve never made a cake that I’ve had to ice before – I always just leave them as plain cakes and maybe smear a little cream cheese frosting on top – but for some reason I volunteered to do my friends 30th birthday cake. How quickly did the panic set in you ask? Oh about 1 millisecond. But thanks to your tutorial and recipes, I was able to pull off a half decent cake. I made two separate cakes and frosted them both in this pastel frosting. They both had your whipped strawberry frosting on the inside and was just delicious. Thank you again, I couldn’t have done it without you. Now I’m sifting through, trying to decide what to make next :)
If you’re interested in seeing how they turned out, I put a couple of photos up on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bamzarina/8400473721/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bamzarina/8400474271/in/photostream
Dear Rosie,
I have just made this cake (as a try out) for my daughters second birthday. The cake itsself came out really really yummy but I disliked the frosting so much, it tasted very plain and almost like I was eating plain butter yuck, I did put the pure vanilla in it and used all the measurements you suggested but I thought that was a massive let down. Do you have any frosting that will fit with this cake as well?
Thank yo so much in advance,
Kind regards,
Helen.
how do you use 1.5 times a recipe? for example 2 eggs becomes 2.5 eggs? how??? please help!
Kim, just a note that 1.5 times 2 eggs is 3 eggs, but when in a situation when you need a half egg, I simply gently mix an egg in a small bowl with a fork and then use half of it for the recipe. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for an awesome video tutorial! I can’t wait to try this technique for my daughter’s birthday cake this year. I also wanted to say that your blog is one of my favorites and I aspire to one day make cakes and cupcakes as pretty as yours! Thanks again :)
I really appreciated this video , so instructive and simple, beautiful too!Thanks so much,
Hi Rosie,
I just made this with your vanilla funfetti cake batter, it was a great success and I am so proud of myself! :-) I love the unfinished look, it was best for me since I struggle with getting fondant perfect!
Just wondering if you can keep the frosting and what is the best way to store it? I just have a bit left over and was going to use it for some cheeky cupcakes!
Australian baking smiles :)
Rachel
What a gorgeous cake! And you’re video is just so fun! Great job!
beautiful cake! I love the tutorial, my daughters bday is coming and now I think I can tackle this myself!!
Love the videos – very helpful.
That cake is lovely.
What a beautiful cake! I will try to make one fur sure! Thank you for the tutorial!
That is such an amazing cake!
I was wondering, could this still work with a whipped cream frosting?
Thanks, An! I can’t see why not — it just might not be as “creamy” looking. Do you know what I mean? I think it would work, though, and would taste wonderful!
Thanks! I’m making this for my sister’s surprise birthday party, and she prefers a not-as-sweet frosting as buttercream. :)
If you make that dark chocolate cake in 8″ pans instead of 6″, for how long do you bake the 8″?
Can I ask Rosie, about colouring your whipped frosting. I always have trouble getting a blue colour when using your recipe? I always end up with a green look.
Do you use a particularly pale butter? or is Americolour colours better? I have been using Wilton colours.
Thanks so much !
Hi Rosie,
I just love this cake!! Here in holland the people are not that fond of icing, but i am certainly going to make this cake… if i have to eat it myself!
Love it!
Regards;
Norma
Hi Rosie… Love your blog. You list sky blue twice for the color (even for the sea foam)… Is this correct? Please confirm… Thanks!
Judy
You make art at kitche. I love the combination of colors that you choose. Lovely pattisserie! I’m following you at Pinterest.
Looks amazing!
Just wondering how this cake would go decoraded and then frozen. I have a party to organise and cater and no time prior to make the cake. The ingredients appear to be fine but just thought I would check to see if you knew for sure. If not, can you suggest an alturnative cake and frosting recipe
Thanks!
Hi Rosie, Your dark chocolate cake is really delicious and I have tried using Swiss meringue buttercream instead of buttercream frosting for above frosting method. As I find that the buttercream frosting is very sweet to my taste. However, I have some problem when adding the sky blue color to my SMB as the color is not turquoise, I’ve added from little to many drops of sky blue but the color still looks like dull blue color. Is this due to the different frosting method used as it used icing sugar? Pls advise. Thank you so much!
I was watching your video and fell in love with your turn table. Could you tell me where to get it?
Thanks in advance
I just discovered you have a youtube channel and got so excited!!
Hi Rosie,
Fab video tutorial I’m planning on using this technique to frost my birthday cake later this week :-) Thanks so much!
Cant wait to try this! I’m planning on making it for my birthday this week as well!
i would love to try this out! all your recipes look amazingly delicious!
Hi, love this recipe! I’m going to bake it this week for a retirement cake for my office. Just wondering if I can make it the day before and how it is best to store it overnight??? As I’m on a tight time schedule a speedy reply would be soooo great!!! Thanks!! :-)
I baked the cake and froze it for several weeks. Took out of freezer on Sunday, made the frosting on Sunday and took it to work on Monday. It was great! Yes you can make it the day before. I stored it in one of those tupperware type cake caddies and put in fridge. Brought it to work and let come to room temp for about 90 minutes or so. Then left it out rest of the day. It was great.
Gorgeous cake! Would this work to if I wanted to torte the 2 cake layers to make them 4? If so, how much frosting would I need?
Also, is this frosting very sweet? Can I use SMB be instead?
Love this! Where did you get that beautiful cake stand?
Hi there!!
I made this cake for my family and turned out really well. Although the cake itself turned into pancakes when I took them out of the oven. It wasn’t what I was expecting but it gave us quite a laugh, and we rechristened it the pancake-cake.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Where is the pin button for your posts?????
Hi Barb! The pin button is actually at the bottom of each post (above the comments). I hope that helps!
I made this the other day and it turned out fabulous! The chocolate cake was awesome and the taste of the frosting was absolutely delicious. Like vanilla whipped cream but sweeter. I’ve made 75% of the cakes on this website and this one was at the top, if not top………. as was the blue-berry lemon, and some of the others. I loved the colors. I eased up on using too much food coloring– as it did not take much to make the pastel swirls. This was great!!!!! I’m eating it as we speak!
Thaaaank you so much, the video was so inspiring!
So happy to hear it, Lavinia! xo
WOW. This looks like something out of a fairy tale! Too pretty to eat. I always dream of being a baker!
So glad I found this video and your website! I’m going to give this technique a try with a candy corn cake I’m making for Halloween. Wish me luck!
Hi, Do you have a youtube channel?? If not you should definitely start one. I love this and am going to try it. Thanks!
Hi rosie,
Your website is so inviting and you make baking seem like sheer pleasure ;)…..my dream is to one day open a bakery!
What lovely inspiration!
Hi this cake is so lovely! I am going to use your idea for a friend’s birthday cake, but I’m going to add some pastel colored balloons as well. This idea is perfect for her surprise ice cream party! Thank You!
Kim :D
Thank you so much! I’ve never been good at decorating cakes but I used your tutorial to make a cake for my daughter’s mermaid party and it turned out beautifully! I added candy shells and edible sand to the bottom, then added shimmer to the whole thing and edible pearls to the top. I was asked by the other moms where I got the cake. I’d send you a pic if I could figure out how. It was definitely the prettiest cake I’ve ever made. Thanks again!
I’m so thrilled to hear that, truly! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. xo
Love it!
Hihi! Your cake is so beautiful! Love thr color tones! I have a question, how much frosting did u allocate for each color?
I don’t want to make the mistake of having too little of eg. Light blue and too much of the purple.
Thank you!
Cheers,
Lynn
I can’t believe how many times I have used this fantastic technique now to add some sprinkles ……
Hi Rosie 😊
Such a beautiful cake!!
I’m planning to do this with four layers (they won’t be too high but will obviously be filled in between), will one batch of the whipped vanilla frosting be sufficient? Or should I make 1.5 or 2x the recipe just in case?
Hi Rosie,
I would like to make this cake for my bub’ first birthday! Do you know how far in advance I could make it?
thanks :)