Purple Ombre Layer Cake

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ombre cakes can turn out patchy or uneven if a few details are missed—here are the pitfalls to watch.
Not mixing colors enough. This can cause streaks and very dark layers. Start with very tiny drops and mix thoroughly.
Over mixing the batter after adding color. This deflates the air and toughens the crumb. Fold by hand if necessary.
Not dividing the batter evenly. This leads to uneven and unbalanced layers. Weigh the portions.
Not leveling layers. Tall layers will slide and they will look crooked. Use a serrated knife to level warm cakes.
Frosting warm layers. This melts the buttercream and will cause crumbs. Make sure layers are cool.
Not waiting long enough after adding the crumb coat. The final coat will pick up crumbs. Make sure the crumb coat has been chilling for 20 minutes.
Tips for making the cake a little healthier
Serve modest slices as this cake is very rich. A piece of this cake will be very satisfying. You can make the cake just a little healthier by adding a few changes to the recipe. Use white whole wheat flour to replace half of the all-purpose flour. To make the cake a little less sweet you can reduce the sugar by ¼ cup in the batter. Use light butter in the buttercream. You can add fresh blueberries to the layers and this will not change the recipe but it will add natural antioxidants.