Colorful ombré patterns are incredibly trendy right now, and they are everywhere – in clothing and accessories, furniture and wall prints, and even party supplies and favor ideas! Since today is National Pink Day, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share a pink baby shower recipe with you: pink ombré cake in a jar! Using pink food coloring, we dyed boxed white cake mix various shades of pink, then baked it layer by layer in individual glass jars. By adding coordinating ribbon and personalized sticker labels from BigDotofHappiness.com to the cooled jars, these tasty baby shower favors were perfected!
Supply List:
Boxed white cake mix
Food coloring in the color of your choice (I used a single container of pink)
Glass canning jars (I used 16-ounce jars)
Personalized sticker labels
Ribbon
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then thoroughly wash and dry the inside of each canning jar. Lightly grease each jar, then set aside.
2. Prepare your cake mix according to the box directions, then separate it evenly between small bowls. Reserve a smaller container of batter for use in the dying process (you’ll see why below). Each bowl will be used for a different color batter, so if you’d like to depict four shades of color, you’ll need four bowls (plus the reserved batter bowl).
3. Starting with as little food coloring as necessary (remember, you can always add more), dye the first bowl as dark as you’d like the bottom layer to be. Take time to make sure it’s the shade you want, since you’ll base the colors of the remaining layers on this shade. (If it’s too light, add a bit more food coloring. If it’s too dark, add a bit more batter from the reserved bowl.)
4. Once you’ve achieved the shade you’d like for the bottom layer, dye the remaining layers to be gradually lighter. When all of your bowls reflect the color you’d like, you’re ready to bake!
5. Spoon about three tablespoons of only the darkest color into each jar, and place the jars in a shallow baking dish. Add about ¼” water to the bottom of the baking dish, then bake your jars for 10 minutes.
6. After 10 minutes, spoon about three tablespoons of the next-darkest color into each jar – right on top of the first layer – and put the jars back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Repeat these steps for each layer.*
7. When you get to the last layer, use a toothpick to test whether your batter is fully cooked. (Depending on your oven, you may need to leave your jars in the oven for another 10 minutes or so. If this is the case, be sure to check your cans every few minutes to test for doneness – you don’t want to bottom layer to burn while the top layer is cooking!)
Once your ombré cakes have been removed from the oven and allowed to cool completely, you’re ready to decorate your jars! Scoop a small portion of cake from the top of each jar and replace it with a dollop of frosting and sprinkles. Add a pretty ribbon, and a personalized sticker label or tag from BigDotofHappiness.com, and you’ve created a yummy cake favor that’s as trendy as the soon-to-be mommy!
*I initially tried spooning a few tablespoons of each layer into the jars all at once and then baking them, but the result looked a little tie-dyed, and I wanted more distinct layers of color. After some experimentation, I discovered that baking each layer separately for a few minutes helped ensure that the colors stayed separate in the jars.
For even more pink baby shower favor and decoration ideas, check out Big Dot of Happiness on Pinterest!
