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Tie Dye Cake {Recipe}

Do you know what today is? It’s September 28th — McCormick’s 125th birthday!

I don’t know about you, but McCormick pure vanilla extract has been used by my family for generations. I recall both my grandmother and mom using it in all of their baked goods when I was a child. The iconic red, white and blue packaging sticks out in my mind to this day because I still use McCormick extracts in my kitchen. There’s just something special about McCormick vanilla extract that makes every cupcake, cake or batch of cookies that much better.

This year, in honor of its own 125th birthday in September, McCormick has released a brand new version to experience Vanilla Extract. Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract is a new product that is 25% stronger than the classic vanilla & is a perfect balance between sweet caramel and bourbon-rummy flavors.

To celebrate McCormick’s 125th birthday, I thought I would test my —completely novice— baking skills by making a special tie-dye cake (also known as a zebra cake) in the colors of the brand’s logo with homemade buttercream frosting using McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract. I should also mention that this was my first attempt at a two-layer cake, so please be gentle with my results.

mccormickbirthday

Tie Dye Layer Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white cake mix with required ingredients OR
  • 1-1/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 stick butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon McCormick® Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Also needed:

  • 2 8″ cake pans
  • red & blue food coloring gel

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Prepare boxed cake mix according to instructions and divide into 2 equal portions (skip to step 4) OR
  3. Beat all ingredients in a large bowl with mixer on low speed to moisten. Increase to medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide cake batter into 2 equal portions.
  4. Use food coloring gel to color 1/2 of cake batter red, and the other half blue. This will take a minimum of 15 drops of each coloring (Note: Use extra red coloring – my final cake came out more pink than red).
  5. Prepare cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Starting with red cake batter, scoop 1/4 cup into the center of each cake pan, alternating with 1/4 cup of blue cake batter. The cake batter with spread on its own.
  6. Bake according to box directions OR for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs.
  7. Let cakes cool completely on wire rack.
  8. Trim tops of each cake to make flat surfaces.

tie dye batter

Homemade Buttercream Frosting Recipe

mcCormick pure vanilla

Ingredients:

Directions:

homemade butter cream recipe

  1. Beat butter and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk until light and fluffy.
  2. Evenly frost the first layer of cake with buttercream. Place the second layer of cake on top and continue to frost with remaining buttercream. Enjoy!

zebra cake recipe

Not bad for a first attempt, right!? The great thing about this cake, besides it being moist & delicious, is that you can use it for birthday’s, anniversaries, or any special occasion and mix up the colors depending on the theme. You could easily make a rainbow cake by alternating 3 or more colors of food dye. It’s a fun and unique way to celebrate!

homemade zebra cake recipe

Speaking of celebrations: McCormick is igniting a conversation around birthdays this month and asking people around the globe to share their favorite birthday flavor story with the hashtag #flavorstory. {Learn more on FlavorofTogether.com}.

I had to think long and hard about my favorite birthday celebration. Besides the obvious, my daughter’s first birthday, or any thereafter, I had to go way back to my 10th birthday, which included a party at my childhood home with all my school friends. What made this birthday stand out was the fact that I was finally 10 years old, and I was excited with the idea that I had one birthday for each of my fingers. I also remember wishing for a pony when I blew out the birthday candles on my cake. Let’s just say that wish never came true!

This post is brought to you by McCormick. All opinions are my own.

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