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Capricorn Cake Recipe

Celebrate the ambitious and grounded spirit of Capricorn with this unique cake infused with earthy tea leaves and layered in celestial gray buttercream. A perfect balance of flavor and elegance, it’s an ideal treat for winter birthdays or zodiac-themed gatherings that’s both striking and soul-soothing.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 610 kcal

Equipment

  • Two 8-inch round cake pans
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Cooling rack
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Offset spatula or cake scraper

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • Tea leaves from 1 bag Earl Grey tea
  • 1 box Betty Crocker
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup water
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup of strong brewed Earl Grey tea

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • 9 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ¾ cups heavy cream
  • Gray food gel
  • 4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350ºF and grease the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans.
  • In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat together the cake mix, brewed tea, tea leaves, vegetable oil, and eggs until well combined.
  • Evenly divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 26 to 31 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile, in another large bowl, beat the butter, powdered sugar, and salt on low speed until smooth using an electric mixer.
  • Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream and beat until just combined, then increase the speed to medium and continue beating until fluffy.
  • Set aside 4 cups of the prepared buttercream.
  • Tint 2 cups dark gray by adding food gel a few drops at a time, stirring between additions until the desired color is achieved.
  • Leave 2 cups white.
  • Tint the remaining buttercream light gray in the same way.
  • Frost the completely cooled cake layers as desired, using the various shades of buttercream to create a celestial Capricorn-inspired design.

Notes

  • For a deeper tea flavor, use a strong black tea like Earl Grey or Assam.
  • Sift the cake mix before combining to avoid clumps and ensure a smoother batter.
  • Let the butter soften to room temperature before whipping to ensure a fluffy, lump-free frosting.
  • To level the cakes, trim the domed tops with a serrated knife for an even, professional look.