Description

This whimsical holiday layer cake features a vibrant green sponge and a delightful hidden red heart surprise in every slice. Finished with a silky green buttercream and hand-sculpted fondant decorations, it is the ultimate festive centerpiece for your Christmas table.

Ingredients

Cake flour
Unsalted butter (at room temperature)
Granulated sugar
Egg whites
Baking powder
Salt
Whole milk
Vanilla extract or bean paste
Red gel food coloring (Super Red)
Green gel food coloring (Leaf Green and Avocado)
Powdered sugar
Green, yellow, and red fondant

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Instructions

Sculpt the Grinch’s hand and a small ornament using colored fondant, inserting a skewer through the wrist for stability.
Cream butter and sugar, then mix in flour, baking powder, salt, milk, vanilla, egg whites, and red gel coloring to create the heart cake batter.
Bake the red cake in a small rectangular pan, let cool completely, and use a heart-shaped cutter to create the inserts.
Mix the green cake batter by creaming 12 ounces of butter with 21 ounces of sugar before alternating dry ingredients with milk, vanilla, egg whites, and green coloring.
Spread a thin layer of green batter in prepared pans, align the red hearts upright in a tight row through the center, and carefully cover with the remaining green batter.
Bake until the cake is set and springs back to the touch, then cool completely on a wire rack.
Whip softened butter with powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, and green coloring until smooth to create the buttercream frosting.
Stack the cooled layers with frosting, cover the exterior, and garnish the top with the prepared fondant hand.

Notes

For the cleanest internal surprise, ensure your red heart inserts are placed tightly against one another in the pan so there are no gaps when the cake is sliced. If you find the fondant hand is too heavy, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before placing it on the cake to ensure it holds its shape.

Prep Time: 45 mins
Cook Time: 50 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American