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Home › Recipes › Hydrangea Cake

Hydrangea Cake

Cakes & Cupcakes Desserts Recipes
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By Janine Waite · Published on May 28, 2024
Affiliate Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links.

I love hydrangea flowers, so combining them into a beautiful cake would be nice. This hydrangea cake is simple to create but looks like it came from a fancy pastry shop. There is no need to pipe buttercream, as this recipe uses fondant and a hydrangea cutout for the blossoms. This stunning flower cake is perfect for birthdays, showers, weddings, and more!

A beautifully decorated cake on a white cake stand. The cake is adorned with purple and lavender fondant flowers, creating an elegant and intricate floral design. The background is light and blurred, making the cake the focal point of the image.

Again, there is no need to have piping skills since these flowers are created by rolling out fondant and cutting out the petals. Also, it’s fun to dye the fondant with a few colors to get a subtle marbled effect. I molded the petals to make them look as realistic as I could.

As some of you might know, our backyard is full of hydrangeas! We love the shades of pink, blue, purple, and white flowers. Naturally, I’m drawn to cakes decorated with hydrangeas.

I’ve had my mini-hydrangea cutout for years and finally found the time to use it to make this cake.

The hydrangea set I bought includes instructions, a petal cutout, and a mold. However, I decided to skip the instructions and do my own thing.

I’m thrilled with how this cake turned out and so glad I finally made it!

A beautifully decorated cake covered in pastel purple and white sugar flowers. The flowers are intricately arranged, creating a textured and elegant appearance. The cake sits on a white plate, and a folded purple napkin is partially visible in the foreground.

Why You’ll Love This Flower Cake

  • Elegant Appearance: The cake’s decoration with purple, lavender, and white hydrangeas creates a sophisticated and elegant look.
  • Fondant Flowers: Fondant flowers allow for intricate and detailed designs that look incredibly lifelike. Plus, there’s no need for piping skills, which makes it more doable.
  • Versatile Design: The color palette and flower design make this cake suitable for various occasions, from weddings to birthdays.
  • Realistic Details: The fondant hydrangeas are meticulously crafted to look realistic, adding a touch of artistry to the cake.
  • Compact Size: The small, 6-inch size of the cakes makes them perfect for intimate gatherings or as a beautiful centerpiece.
  • Unique Decoration: The use of fondant cutouts for the flowers is a unique approach that sets this cake apart from typical buttercream designs.
  • Ombre Effect: The gradual color transition from light to dark purple adds visual interest and showcases a stunning ombre effect.

A beautifully decorated cake is covered in pastel purple and white flower-shaped icing. The cake is displayed on a white pedestal stand. The flowers create a gradient effect, starting with darker purple at the bottom and fading to lighter shades at the top.

Hydrangea Cake Short Cuts

  • Buy a pre-made cake
  • Make a box cake
  • Use premade frosting
  • Use colored fondant
  • Make a smaller cake, which means less to decorate
  • Make the hydrangeas ahead of time

Hydrangea Cake Ingredients

  • Cake Flour: Provides a light and tender crumb for your cake.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with the structure of the cake.
  • Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent to help the cake rise.
  • Salt: Enhances the flavors in the cake and balances sweetness.
  • Shortening: Adds moisture and tenderness to the cake.
  • Milk: Provides liquid to blend the ingredients smoothly.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds a delicious flavor to both the cake and frosting.
  • Butter: Gives richness and a smooth texture to the frosting.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and helps achieve the desired consistency.
  • Cream: Adds creaminess and helps to smooth out the frosting.
  • White Fondant: Used for decorating the cake with hydrangea flowers.

Shop the Supplies

Hydrangea Cookie Cutters and Mold

White Fondant

Candy Pearls

Food Dye

Rolling Pin

F

How to Make a Hydrangea Cake

Step 1 – Make the Cake

I made three 6-inch cakes. I love small cakes because they are compact and have a nice height!

Step 2 – Frost the Cake

You can make the frosting smooth or leave it textured since the cake will be covered with flowers.

A floral-shaped cookie cutter is surrounded by cut-out flowers made from light purple fondant or clay. The cutter rests on a sheet of rolled-out purple material with several flower shapes cut out. Some completed flower pieces are set around the cutter. Text reads "HAPPY HAPPY NESTER.
A crafting scene featuring a rolled-out piece of light purple clay with flower-shaped cutters, a bowl of small white beads, a cloth with a purple flower, and a bouquet of white and pink flowers on a table. Text at the bottom reads "HAPPY HAPPY NESTER.
A hand holding a delicate, light purple flower-shaped fondant piece. In the background, there are various crafting supplies including a small plate with a fork and another fondant flower, a dish with small white beads, and pieces of purple and white fabric.
A small, square white dish holds several round pearls, neatly arranged. Two pearls rest outside the dish on the light-colored surface. The background has a soft, marbled texture, complementing the elegance of the pearls.
A close-up of lilac fondant flower decorations on a white surface, accented with small white candy beads in the center of each flower. A edible fondant flower-shaped stencil is placed among the decorations. The words "HAPPY HAPPY NESTER" are faintly visible at the bottom right.

Step 3 – Make Hydrangeas

Choose your blossom colors—I made my flowers purple, lavender, and light lavender. Depending on which colors you want your flowers, dye your fondant and mix each batch thoroughly. The fondant may be stiff out of the box, but work it with your hands to make it more pliable.

Roll out each batch to a medium-thin thickness and cut out the flowers. Shape the petals to make them look realistic. You can press the petals a bit to thin the fondant so you can shape them.

Make all your flowers and place them on parchment paper. Add a little candy pearl in the center of each flower.

Step 4 – Decorate the Cake with Flowers

Once your cake is frosted and ready to decorate, place the light-colored flowers on top. Gradually introduce the next darkest color, creating an ombre effect. The bottom of the cake should be mostly dark purple hydrangea blossoms.

A beautifully decorated cake sits on a white pedestal. The cake is adorned with numerous light purple and lavender floral decorations, giving it a charming and elegant appearance. A purple flower lies next to the pedestal on a white surface.
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Hydrangea Cake

I love hydrangea flowers, so combining them into a beautiful cake would be nice. This hydrangea cake is simple to create but looks like it came from a fancy pastry shop. There is no need to pipe buttercream, as this recipe uses fondant and a hydrangea cutout for the blossoms. This stunning flower cake is perfect for birthdays, showers, weddings, and more!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Course: Dessert, Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cake, Cake Recipe, Cakes, hydrangea cake
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 632kcal
Author: Janine Waite

Ingredients

Cake Batter

  • 2¼ cups cake flour
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • 3½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup shortening
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting

  • 1½ cups butter room temperature
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅓ tsp salt
  • 1½ tbsp vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup cream

Hydrangea Flowers

  • 1 lb white fondant
  • food coloring
  • edible pearl balls

Instructions

Cake

  • Heat oven to 350°
  • Grease and flour three (6-inch) pans.
  • Blend flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add shortening, ⅔ cup of milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.
  • Add milk and egg whites. Beat 2 more minutes, scraping the bowl frequently.
  • Pour into prepared pans.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and then remove from pan and set on drying racks.

Frosting

  • Beat soften butter with paddle in a kitchen aid mixer.
  • Pause mixing and add the powdered sugar. On slow speed, mix the frosting slowly.
  • Once the ingredients are incorporated, increase speed and mix thoroughly. Add vanilla extract and salt, and add half the milk.
  • If the frosting is runny, add more powdered sugar. If it's too stiff, slowly add cream.
  • Place one layer on a cake stand or plate. Top with frosting and spread evenly. Next, add the second cake layer and spread frosting on it. Place the final cake layer and frost the whole cake.

Hydrangea Flowers

  • Divide up fondant into bowls. Dye each group of fondants with food coloring.
  • Roll out fondant. You want it thin but not too thin that the flower falls apart when you cut it out.
  • Cut out flowers. Gently bend petals inward so they look natural and aren't flat.
  • Add pearl ball candy to the middle of each flower.
  • Place your hydrangea flowers on parchment paper and allow them to dry and harden a bit.

Decorating Cake

  • Once your cake is frosted and ready to decorate, start by placing the light-colored flowers on top. Gradually introduce the next darkest color, creating a bit of an ombre effect. The bottom of the cake should be primarily dark purple hydrangea blossoms.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 632kcal | Carbohydrates: 154g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Sodium: 392mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 126g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @happyhappynester or tag #happyhappynester!
A beautifully decorated cake with purple and lavender flower-shaped icing sits on a white plate. In the background, a blurred vase with pink and white flowers and a white pitcher are visible. The cake is the focal point, conveying a delicate and elegant presentation.

Tips for Working with Fondant

  • Keep Fondant Covered: Fondant dries out quickly, so keep it covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container when not in use to maintain its pliability.
  • Use Cornstarch or Powdered Sugar: Dust your work surface and rolling pin with cornstarch or powdered sugar to prevent the fondant from sticking and tearing.
  • Knead Thoroughly: Knead the fondant until it’s soft and pliable before rolling it out. This helps prevent cracks and ensures a smooth finish.

Here are More Cake Ideas

  • Shag Cake
  • Classic Pavlova Recipe
  • Bee Hive Cake

I’m thrilled with how this beautiful hydrangea cake turned out, and I hope you can make one yourself!

Cheers,

Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com

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A beautifully decorated cake with purple hydrangea flowers sits on a white cake stand. The cake has detailed flower petals and a soft gradient of purple hues. The text above reads, "how to make a HYDRANGEA CAKE." Several purple flower petals and decor surround the base.
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Janine Waite
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Janine Waite
I named my blog Happy Happy Nester because I love everything related to the home. I’ve always enjoyed decorating my surroundings. Get cozy and stay for a bit, thanks for visiting!
Janine Waite
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