Description
This Valentine’s Terrazzo Cake is a stunning layered vanilla cake adorned with terrazzo-style colored chocolate shards and swathed in luscious pink buttercream. Featuring moist vanilla layers, a creamy whipped cream cheese filling, and playful multi-colored chocolate decorations, this cake combines visually striking artistry with delightful flavors—perfect for a romantic celebration or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Vanilla Cake
- 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
For the Cream Cheese Whipped Filling
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
For the Terrazzo Chocolate Shards
- 1 cup white chocolate, melted
- Gel food coloring in red, pink, burgundy, and ivory
- Parchment paper
For the Pink Buttercream
- 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
- 2–4 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring in light pink
Instructions
- Make the Cake Layers: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, then mix in vanilla bean paste. Alternately add the dry ingredients in three parts along with milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix gently until just combined. Divide batter evenly among pans and bake for 25–28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then move to wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Whipped Filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. Slowly add cold heavy cream while beating on high speed until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until needed.
- Make the Terrazzo Chocolate Shards: Divide melted white chocolate into separate bowls and tint each with a different gel food coloring (red, pink, burgundy, ivory). On parchment paper, spoon small, irregular blobs of each color. Let set at room temperature or refrigerate until hardened. Once set, gently peel shards from parchment and set aside.
- Make the Pink Buttercream: Beat softened butter in a large bowl until smooth and pale. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of cream or milk; beat for 2–3 minutes until fluffy. Adjust consistency with more cream if needed. Tint with light pink gel food coloring and mix thoroughly.
- Assemble the Cake: Level cooled cake layers if needed. Place the first layer on a cake board or serving plate. Spread or pipe an even layer of cream cheese whipped filling on top. Optionally press some terrazzo chocolate shards into the filling to add texture and color inside the cake. Repeat with remaining layers. Coat entire cake with a thin crumb coat of pink buttercream and chill for 15 minutes. Apply a smooth final layer of pink buttercream on the chilled cake.
- Decorate Terrazzo Style: Press colored chocolate shards gently into the sides and top of the cake in a random pattern, imitating terrazzo tile design. Alternate colors and shapes for balance. Chill the decorated cake briefly to set the decorations before serving.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients for the cake and filling are at room temperature for best results.
- Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the chocolate and buttercream consistency.
- Chilling the cake between crumb coat and final coat helps achieve a smooth finish.
- The chocolate shards can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container.
- For clean layers, use a serrated knife or cake leveler to trim domed tops off cake layers before assembling.
- If you prefer, substitute vanilla bean paste with high-quality vanilla extract.
