Pisces Sheet Cake Ocean (Print Version)

Moist vanilla sponge topped with layered blue buttercream waves and sea foam details.

# Components:

→ Cake

01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
12 - ¼ cup whole milk, room temperature
13 - Blue gel food coloring in various shades
14 - White gel food coloring

→ Decoration

15 - Edible pearls or sugar pearls (optional)
16 - White chocolate or fondant for Pisces symbol (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch sheet cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
08 - Beat butter on medium speed for 2 minutes until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add vanilla and milk, then beat until fluffy and smooth.
09 - Divide buttercream into 3-4 bowls. Tint each portion with varying shades of blue gel food coloring, from deep ocean blue to pale aqua, leaving one portion white.
10 - Spread a thin layer of white buttercream over the entire cooled cake as a crumb coat. Chill for 20 minutes to set.
11 - Using an offset spatula, layer blue buttercreams in wave-like shapes across the cake, starting with the darkest shade at the base and progressing to the lightest shade at the top. Use swooping motions to mimic ocean waves.
12 - Pipe or swirl white buttercream on top to create sea foam texture and visual interest.
13 - Optionally decorate with edible pearls and add a Pisces symbol made from white chocolate or fondant.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ombré effect makes it look fancy enough for Instagram, but the technique is actually forgiving once you get the hang of it.
  • It tastes as good as it looks—moist vanilla sponge with smooth buttercream that doesn't taste overly sweet.
  • Guests always ask if you hired a baker, and you get to smile mysteriously while sipping your Moscato.
02 -
  • Chilling between decorating steps is not optional if you want crisp wave lines—soft frosting will blur into a muddy mess.
  • Blue gel coloring requires less product than you think, so add it gradually or you'll end up with frosting so dark you can't lighten it again.
03 -
  • Use a turntable if you have one—it makes spreading frosting around the sides infinitely easier and gives you control over the wave shapes.
  • If you absolutely love this cake, make the sponge a day ahead and wrap it tightly, which actually makes it slightly more moist and easier to frost.
Return