Description
This Nightmare Before Christmas Cake is a vibrant and whimsical dessert inspired by the beloved film. Featuring layers of French vanilla cake bathed in bright pink, yellow, and teal colors, it is layered and frosted with a rich and creamy buttercream that is tinted with matching gel colors plus black for dramatic decoration. This colorful, multi-layered cake is perfect for themed parties and celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 2 boxes French Vanilla Cake mix
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- Pink gel food coloring
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Teal gel food coloring
Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
- 3 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 5-7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- Pink gel food coloring
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Teal gel food coloring
- Black gel food coloring
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly spray your cake pans with PAM baking spray to ensure easy cake removal.
- Mix Cake Batter: Follow the cake mix directions on the boxes by combining the cake mix with eggs, milk, and softened butter. Once prepared, divide the batter evenly into three separate bowls.
- Add Color to Batter: Add a few drops of pink gel food coloring to one bowl, yellow to the second bowl, and teal to the third. Mix each bowl gently until the color is evenly distributed.
- Layer the Batter in the Pans: In each cake pan, place 1/4 cup of yellow batter first. Next to it, add 1/4 cup of teal batter. Top the teal with 1/4 cup of pink batter. Repeat this layering one more time per pan. Do this for all three cake pans.
- Bake the Cakes: Place the pans in the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely before removing from pans.
- Level the Cakes: Place one cake layer onto a cutting board and use a cake leveler to trim off the dome, creating a flat surface. Repeat for the remaining two layers.
- Prepare Buttercream: In a large mixing bowl, beat 3 cups softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 6 cups powdered sugar, alternating with 5 to 7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, until smooth and spreadable. Mix in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Divide the frosting into portions and tint portions with pink, yellow, teal, and black gel food coloring as desired.
- Assemble and Decorate: Place the first cake layer on your cake board and spread a layer of colored buttercream. Repeat layering with remaining cake layers and frosting, using colored frosting to create the desired look of the Nightmare Before Christmas theme, incorporating the black gel frosting to add contrast and detail. Smooth or pipe the frosting as desired to finish your cake.
Notes
- Ensure cake layers are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Adjust the amount of gel food coloring to achieve desired color intensity.
- Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl when making buttercream for even texture.
- A cake leveler or serrated knife can be used to trim cake domes.
- Use heavy whipping cream cautiously to achieve the perfect spreadable buttercream consistency.