Zodiac Cake
Minutes Prep time: 45
Minutes Total time: 90
Servings: 12
Difficulty: Advanced
Minutes Prep time: 45
Minutes Total time: 90
Servings: 12
Difficulty: Advanced
PAM® Baking Spray
1 pkg (15.25 oz each) Duncan Hines® Classic White Cake Mix
1 cup water
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
assorted food dye gel colorings (purple, royal blue, and black)
1 container (16 oz each) Duncan Hines® Classic Creamy Vanilla Frosting, divided
3/4 cup Duncan Hines® Creamy Chocolate Frosting
1/4 teaspoon white food coloring dye
2 squares (2 oz each) white chocolate bark coating
Nutrition information
Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
---|---|---|
Calcium | 78 mg | 8% |
Carbohydrate | 69 g | 23% |
Cholesterol | 47 mg | 16% |
Total Fat | 27 g | 41% |
Iron | 1 mg | 4% |
Calories | 524 kcal | 26% |
Sodium | 413 mg | 17% |
Protein | 3 g | 7% |
Saturated Fat | 7 g | 36% |
Sugars | 57 g | 6% |
Vitamin C | 0 |
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch round pans with baking spray.
Blend cake mix, water, eggs and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.
Divide batter evenly between three small bowls (about 1 1/3 cup each). Use food coloring to dye each bowl of batter a separate color. Do not fully mix color into batter, to retain a marbled effect. Layer batter into pans starting with about one third of one color, top with about one third of the second color, then third color. Repeat layers to use up all of your batter.
Tap pans on counter a few times to blend colors slightly. Bake 24 to 28 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack in pans 15 minutes, remove from pans and cool completely.
Measure 1/2 cup of vanilla frosting from container and evenly divide between two small bowls. Dye each bowl of frosting with royal blue and purple food coloring gel to create two separate colors. In a medium bowl place chocolate frosting then stir in black food coloring gel. Set frostings aside.
Place one cooled cake layer on serving plate, flat side up. Frost with about 1/2-cup remaining white frosting. Place second cake layer on top and frost entire cake with remaining white frosting. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
Remove cake from refrigerator and use an offset spatula to dab purple and royal blue frosting colors all over the top and sides of cake, making sure to clean your spatula when switching colors. Each dab should be about 1 to 1 1/2-inches wide. Using a cake turntable, smooth dabs using a straight edged bench scraper or metal spatula. Repeat process with black frosting, making sure to fill in any gaps between colored dabs. Try your best not to blend the colors too much. Place white food coloring in small bowl. Using a fine bristled brush or gloved fingertips, flick very small amounts of coloring onto zodiac cake, creating a star effect.
In a microwaveable bowl or measuring cup, heat white chocolate coating in microwave on high heat for 20 to 30 second increments until melted. Carefully pour coating into a small plastic or reusable piping bag fitted with a #2 round pastry tip, and allow to cool slightly. Pipe zodiac symbols, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches tall, onto parchment paper; allow to cool completely until solid (this can be done ahead of time and stored in an airtight container until decorating). Carefully remove symbols from parchment paper and place along top edge of cake. Slice astrology-themed zodiac cake and serve!
Zodiac Cake