Checkerboard cake is often made with yellow cake and chocolate cake, which makes for a striking contrast. From the moment that I saw my friend Sue’s Green Velvet Checkerboard Cake, I knew I wanted to make one. With Easter right around the corner, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make a pastel checkerboard cake!
I actually adapted Dorie Greenspan’s recipe for Perfect Party Cake to make this colorful treat. I also used (gasp) a white frosting that uses shortening instead of butter. It’s actually a delicious frosting, but if you can’t get past the shortening, you can alway use your favorite white icing or buttercream frosting. I used paste food coloring to tint the batters and frosting, and a checkerboard baking set
Amanda’s Notes:
1) I made one batch of cake batter and came up a little short. So I made another batch and poured the leftover batter into a 9″ square pan and made a square cake. I even swirled the different colors to make a marble cake! You could make cupcakes out of the rest if you like. The instructions below WILL leave you with leftover batter.
2) You can use any white cake recipe that you want, particularly if you have a favorite.
3) Important – Because this is a double batch, you might want to split the cake recipe in half and do it in two batches, as it might be too much for the mixer. Because of that, I am including the ingredient list for ONE batch at the end so you do not have to do the calculations.
4) I used measuring cups to distribute the colored batter because the pour spouts made it a bit easier. I have also seen people use decorator bags.
5) Save the egg yolks for making ice cream!
Checkerboard Cake for Easter
adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Perfect Party Cake
4 1/2 cups cake flour
2 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
8 large egg whites
3 cups sugar
4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure lemon extract
White Frosting
1 cup vegetable shortening (not butter flavored)
4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons clear vanilla
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 9 inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a round of buttered parchment or wax paper. Place the checkerboard cake insert into one of the pans and set aside.
For the Cake:
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Whisk together the buttermilk and egg whites in a medium bowl.
Put the sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl or another large bowl and rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Add the butter, and working with the paddle or whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light. Beat in the extract, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed. Beat in half of the milk-egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and eggs, beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients. Finally, give the batter a good 2-minute beating to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed and will aerated.
Separate the batter evenly into three separate bowls. To add paste food coloring, take a small amount (smaller than a pea, it doesn’t take much!) and whisk it into the white batter. Repeat for the other two batches. I used pink, purple, and green.
Starting with the pan that has the checkerboard insert, fill the center hole halfway with pink batter. Fill the center ring halfway with green and the outer ring halfway with purple. Carefully loosen the insert’s “legs” from the side of the pan and lift the insert straight up into the air. Rinse and dry the insert and place it into the next pan.
In keeping with your pattern flow (pink, green, purple, etc) fill the center hole halfway with green, the second ring with purple, and the outer ring with pink. For the last pan, continuing the pattern, purple in the center, then pink, then green.
Bake for 25-35 minutes, checking after 25, or until the cakes are springy to the touch- a thin knife inserted into the centers should come out clean. Transfer the cakes to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up. (The cooled cake layers can be wrapped airtight and stored at room temperature overnight or frozen for up to 2 months.)
To Make the Frosting:
Beat shortening and extracts until creamy, about 1-2 minutes on medium speed. Slowly add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, then 2 tablespoons of milk, 2 more cups of powdered sugar, then the remaining milk and any additional powdered sugar that may be needed.
Put 1/3 of the frosting into a separate bowl and tint it with a small amount of yellow paste food coloring. Frost in between the layers yellow and the sides and top of cake white. Decorate with green tinted coconut and jelly beans on top.
INGREDIENTS FOR ONE BATCH OF CAKE
(if you would like to make it in two separate batches)
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk or buttermilk (I prefer buttermilk with the lemon)
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract
check out Tidy Mom for more great ideas!
That is freaking awesome. What a lovely cake for Easter. Love it!
Unbelievable! This cake is really awesome!
Cutest cake ever!! I actually have a checkerboard cake pan and would love to use it to make this cake!
Hey, is that offer to join your discussion group still available? I can't find the email you sent me?
Amanda, I am seriously impressed!!! That looks so very pretty. I have always wanted to make a checkerboard cake, but have never gotten around to it. Perhaps after I have moved and settled in. YOu have inspired me!
LOVE IT! It's sooooo cute. My nieces would go nuts over this cake. Maybe it's time I finally buy one of those separator dealies. :) Beautiful job, Amanda!
This is very clever.
wow, gorgeous! I bet it tasted wonderful too :)
That looks really cool, Amanda! Love it. Kids would certainly love it. It looks so springy and Easter-y
So cute, I love the colors! Good Job
so jealous! I want a piece of that right now :)
Wow! I didn't know you could get checkerboard pans! the cake looks really good- the colours are so nice!
That is so pretty and so perfect for Easter!
Bee-U-tiful!!! Amanda, I LOVE it. I saw a green velvet checkered cake and I thought how smart but an Easter one is brilliant. I bet it was delicious. It makes me want to make another one! I'll put a link up on my post too. Thank you!
Que maravilla, me has dejado impresionado. Excelente te ha quedado. Un saludo
Boy, you just hopped right to it:) AWESOME job and I love the colors!
Thanks, for the link, Amanda!
So cute. I just saw a cake like this where they used the handle from an Easter basket and stuck it in the top of the cake with a bow around it and placed some dyed eggs on the top, it looked like an Easter basket.
Your cake is so beautiful and spring-like!
Cheers,
Rosa
So fun! If a cake like this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what would.
Amanda,
How adorable is this cake??! I love it!!
LOVE this!
This cake looks fabulous!! So adorable too! I've been meaning to make this recipe since forever!
That is the cutest cake!! I had to laugh about your shortening. My buttercream has both butter and shortening. We've cut nearly all other trans fats out of our diet, so I'll keep my buttercream the way it is. It's the best frosting for decorating, and is delicious, too :)
Wow, you're cake is beautiful!!
This looks great for Easter! I didn't even know there was a pan to make this easier. Great to know!
Amanda:
I love to see what you are baking, but this is the best. I want to make this cake and watch the reactions. Thanks.
That is just so cool! I swear, you are so talented. What a gorgeous cake.
That's so pretty, I was wondering how you got the neat circles but I see you have a contraption to do it. Reminds me a bit of battenberg but way more interesting.
So COOL! Love it. Never seen a checkerboard tin before but seriously want one now.
Oh Amanda, you've outdone yourself with this one. Absolutely adorable Easter cake! (Great photo too!)
So cute and SOOOO SPring! My butter cream I use actually uses 1/2 butter and half shortening and everyone raves about it. I dont dare tell them what is in it!!!
I am kind of new to the blogosphere, and I really like how people are so friendly and nice. I love this cake idea! Thank you so much for sharing it. I will make it for Easter!!! Thanks, Ale http://www.howicook.com
Very impressive and delicious looking too!
Oh I LOVE this! I am definitely making this for Easter!
Your checkerboard cake looks soooo pretty! Love the color combination!
How colorful and festive. Lovely colors for spring.
Really cute cake! I love the simple decoration on top as well.
What a beautiful cake for Easter! It has all the colors of Spring. Thank you for the instructions on using the checkerboard gadget – I have a checkerboard pan and haven't used it yet. This will be very helpful.
I can't remember the last time I saw a more gorgeous looking cake! Absolutely stunning.
Whoa, this is amazing! I am filing this away.
Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy, with Life in the Pitts.
That is a really cool cake! What fun! : )
Awesome cake! Such pretty colors, I love it!
magnificent! i've never been tempted to buy one of those contraptions until just this minute! :)
This looks so yummy! I love the colors. My daughter's 13th b-day is coming soon, so I might have to try this. I'm bookmarking this.
Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party. Don’t forget to stop by and enter my giveaway. I’ll announce the winner at next weeks party!
Prettiest Cake I ever saw! Very Nice, Amanda!
how did you make your circles so perfect after taking out the dividers? Everytime i do it the circles are pretty messy =(
I totally have the checkerboard pans and I LOVE them. The bright colors in your photos look amazing.
First of al, thank you to everyone who left a comment, you are too kind! I was really happy with how this came out considering I've never made a checkerboard cake before. So fun!
Susan – I've sent you an email about the group :)
Megan – Thanks for the link my friend!
Cathy – Oh the handle idea sounds so cute! My cake decorating abilities are limited LOL
Tiffiny & Leslie – I actually thought about subbing half butter in the frosting, I will try it next time :)
Amanda – I love how my blog thinks you're me and puts your comments in pink. LMAO
Anonymous – The divider is all one piece and fits quite snugly in the pan, therefore when you lift it out (go straight up) all the circles stay nice and neat. Is your mold too loose for your Pan perhaps?
Thanks again for all your wonderful comments! :)
What a beautiful cake Amanada! I'd love this on my Easter table!
Okay, that's actually easier than I thought it was going to be. I guess I didn't know how the pan worked. :)
Happy Friday!
~ingrid
Thanks Deb!
Ingrid, yes, it actually is pretty easy! :)
that cake is so cool! saw it at the weekend wrap up party :)
Thanks Krissy! And thanks for stopping by :)
What a very pretty cake, and I love the colors you chose too. It has Spring, love, and happiness written all over it and would bring smiles to all who see it. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
This is such a beautiful and fun cake! I was surprised at how easy it was! Great job :)
This is so beautiful. I've seen these pans for years, but never have used one.
What a super cake to make for Easter! I almost bought the checkboard gadget thingy a few years ago too!
That is so pretty and festive! Perfect for Easter!
Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day at My Backyard Eden!
Yum! This is so cool, never knew they had things like this.
This cake is so pretty! I love it.
This cake reminds me of something my aunt would make for easter. She would LOVE this idea.
Thanks for the great McLinky list! I love checking out all the cool projects and this is a great list of places to check out!
Such a beautiful cake…perfect for Easter. Great job!!
absolutely adorable. I can see you smilin' when you made it!!
I made this for our Easter get-together today– sheer amazement from all the family when it was cut! Quite a hit!!! Had to explain the process in detail since no one had never seen a checkerboard cake before– weird! Thanks for sharing something SO fun…
Thanks everyone!
Anonymous – That's so FUN! So glad everyone enjoyed it! :)
How fun is this!?
Amanda, this Easter cake is so pretty. The colors are beautiful. Great work with the patchwork too :)
Absolutely Mind blowing!!! Colors are gorgeous and it is so tempting.
Just gorgeous. Took my breath away. MUST MAKE!!
This is gorgeous Amanda!! I'm so glad I spotted this over at Be Different Act Normal – it's beautiful!
hahah oops!! NOT at Be Different Act Normal – Craft Gossip!!! I'm a dork. ;)
darling cake. my kids wlove this.
darling cake. my kids would love this!
This is adorable!!!
Very cute! What a great easter idea!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I would love if you linked up to my Make it for less Mondays!
http://www.Simplycadence.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there!
Jaclyn
Super cute! We would ♥ for you to link this up :)
:)Lolly Jane
lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com
TOTALLY LOVE YOUR EASTER checkerboard cake, WOW! its darling. xo-winks-jen
Oh my goodness! that is awesome! I would love for you to come link up to my Sew Crafty Party !
One of these days… I need to get that checkboard cake pan! It looks like it would be so fun!
Myself and 2 other great bloggers are hosting THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS and the theme this week is "EASTER COOKIES & TREATS" and I think this is a great recipe for that! We would love for you to stop on by and link up your recipe if you wish! Hope to see you there!!! :-)
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-weeks-cravings-linky-party-25.html
Love it and I'd love for you to share on the Glitter Blog link Party!
http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/04/running-with-glitter-5-link-party.html
This is so pretty! I bet it tastes as good as it looks!
amber @ barbwired
This looks almost too good to eat and would sooo be perfect for my Foodie Friday linky party – stop by this week and link up!
If you have a sec, feel free to pop over now to enter my GIVEAWAY!
Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for linking to the sunday showcase – I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this today. Hope you have a fabulous holiday! Thanks again ~ Stephanie Lynn
This is adorable!! I love it! Now I gotta go find one of those checker board thing-a-mah-bobs! :)
So Cute & Yummy!!
I would love it if you would link this up at our What I Made Wednesday Linky Party!!
Alisa
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees
sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com
Hi Amanda,
This is a beautiful Easter Cake. You presented it very nicely with a great tutorial. You made it look easy. It really looks delicious. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week! Have a wonderful week end!
What a great idea! So cute.
I would be honored if you shared this on my Sweet Tooth Friday linky. I hope to see you there. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/04/21/quick-no-rise-chocolate-cinnamon-rolls/
That is the prettiest checkerboard cake I have ever seen. I love the Easter color scheme. I'd like to invite you to stop by and link it up to this weekend's Sweets for a Saturday. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com
Very pretty … It must be taking some amount of patience though!
Looks awesome! I'd love for you to come link up at Fun For Kids Friday.
http://smilemonsters.blogspot.com/2011/04/fun-for-kids-friday_21.html
Jo @ SmileMonsters
OHHHH! That is just A-DOR-ABLE!! All of those colors just made me smile:) Great job:)
Congratulations Amanda,
You have been featured on Full Plate Thursday and The Menu this week, enjoy!
Miz Helen
[...] http://www.amandascookin.com/2010/03/checkerboard-cake-for-easter.html I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Thanks you for visiting from Megan’s Cookin’ // [...]
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Can you use just regular food coloring or does it have to be the food color paste?
Thanks
Hi Colleen :) There are two problems with using regular food coloring instead of the paste/gel. 1) it’s liquid so it will thin the batter, changing the consistency and the batter, hence the chemistry when your cake is baking, and 2) you would have to use quite a bit of the liquid to achieve the same vibrant color results.
The gel/paste food colorings are available at WalMart near the Wilton stuff, which is usually by the crafts and party items. They are a little over a dollar a piece and you will find yourself using them all the time. :)