Ombre Buttercream Frosting Recipes

Steps:

• This recipe assumes you already have an 8- or 9-inch 4-layer cake, frosted between layers with favorite white buttercream frosting, then frosted thinly on outside and top to seal crumbs.
• To make Ombre Buttercream Frosting, in large bowl, beat butter and shortening with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add powdered sugar; beat on low speed until crumbly. Gradually add milk, then vanilla, beating until light and fluffy.
• Measure 1 cup frosting into each of 3 small bowls. Measure 2 cups frosting into fourth bowl; mix 1/8 teaspoon blue food color into the 2 cups frosting with whisk or fork.
• Add a little more food color to the next bowl of frosting to get a shade darker; mix well with whisk or fork. Repeat with next 2 bowls frosting, making each another shade darker. You will end up with 4 bowls of frosting, all different shades of the same color.
• Spread darkest blue frosting around bottom third of cake. Spread next darkest shade blue frosting above first one around middle third of cake. Spread next shade of blue frosting around upper third of cake. Spread lightest blue frosting on top of cake.

Steps:

• Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).
• Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.
• With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, whisk in vanilla. Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day. If not, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.
• To tint buttercream, reserve some for toning down the color, if necessary. Add gel-paste food color, a drop at a time (or use the toothpick or skewer to add food color a dab at a time) to the remaining buttercream. You can use a single shade of food color or experiment by mixing two or more. Blend after each addition with the mixer (use a paddle attachment) or a flexible spatula, until desired shade is achieved. Avoid adding too much food color too soon, as the hue will intensify with continued stirring; if necessary, you can tone down the shade by mixing in some reserved untinted buttercream.

Steps:

• Leave meringue in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, on low speed, mixing after each addition. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.