Orange Ombre Cake

Ingredients:

• Parchment paper
• 2 packages white cake mix
• Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix boxes
• ¼ cup thawed, frozen orange juice
• 1 tbsp. orange zest
• Orange food coloring paste
• Sweet Orange Frosting

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 4 (8 inch) round cake pans; line with parchment paper. Prepare double batch of cake mix according to package directions, using water, oil and egg whites and adding ¼ cup orange juice concentrate and 1 tbsp. orange zest. Divide batter evenly between 4 bowls (about 2 ½ cups per bowl).

Set 1 bowl aside. Add dash orange food coloring to second bowl, stirring until blended. Color batters in remaining 2 bowls gradually darker shades of orange. Spoon batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 22 to 24 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 1 hour).

Sweet Orange Frosting: Beat 2 ¼ cups softened, salted butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 8 cups powdered sugar, beating until blended. Beat in ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed), ½ tsp. vanilla extract and 1 tbsp. orange zest. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Set aside 1 cup Sweet Orange Frosting in a small bowl. Divide remaining 6 cups frosting evenly among 3 bowls. Add dash of orange food coloring paste to one bowl, stirring until blended. Color remaining 2 bowls of frosting gradually darker shades of orange.

Place darkest orange cake layer on a cake stand. Spread 1 cup darkest orange frosting evenly over cake. Repeat process with cake layers and frosting, layering from darkest to lightest. Spread remaining darkest tinted orange frosting on bottom third of cake sides. Spread remaining medium tinted frosting on middle third of cake sides. Spread remaining lightest tinted frosting on top third of cake sides. Spread plain frosting on top of cake.

Tested in the THASC kitchen. Photo by THASC.

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.

www.thasc.com