How to make a bright and bold tie dyed cake, frosted with creamy buttercream frosting. From the outside it looks like a regular vanilla cake, but inside it’s anything but!
We called this cake a “surprise” cake because on the outside it looks like a plain white cake, but when you cut out a slice, you immediately see that the cake is brimming with bright, bold colors.
Tie Dyed Cake With Buttercream Frosting
Tips and Tricks
You can use any cake recipe you’d like. I like using boxed cake mixes and doctoring them up. Have you tried adding 1 c. of sour cream to your cake batter? It’s an easy way to create a super moist cake! Just mix it into your batter.
To get the vivid colors I recommend using concentrated gel food coloring. Divide the batter into 6 bowls and color each bowl any color you’d like.
How to get the tie dyed effect with your batter: Start by pouring 3/4 of a bowl into the bottom of a prepared cake pan. Then add less of the second color, even less of the third color, and so on until you only add a tiny bit of the 6th color. Then repeat for the second cake starting with the last color that you used for the first cake.
Example:
My first pan: a lot of red, less orange, less yellow, less green, less blue, then a small amount of purple.
My second pan: a lot of purple, less blue, less green, less yellow, less orange, then a small amount of red.
Tie Dyed Cake With Buttercream Frosting
Equipment
- 2 (9") cake pans
- small bowls to divide batter
- hand or electric mixer
- baking spray or shortening to grease pans
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 boxed cake mix plus eggs and oil needed to make it
- Food Coloring
- sprinkles
Frosting
- 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar approximately 1 lb.
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Make cake batter according to directions on the box.
- Divide batter into 6 bowls and tint each bowl a different color with food coloring.
- Grease 2 9-inch cake pans.
- Pour 3/4 of a bowl of colored cake batter into the bottom of one cake pan. Then pour a litle less of the second color, even less of the third color, and so on until you've added just a small amount of the 6th color.
- Pour batter directly into the center of the pan and it will spread out on its own. The reason for this is to create a larger solid base for the first batter color in each pan.
- Repeat process for the second pan, this time starting with the color that you ended with in the first pan. Pour the rest of that bowl as your base, then continue backwads until you finish witht the color that you started with in the first pan.
- Bake at according to the cake mix packaging. Let cool 5-10 minutes then remove from pans to a cooling rack.
Frosting
- In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add more milk until you reach desired consistency. Makes 3 cups.
- Frost cake and add sprinkles.
Notes
Nutrition
3 More Cake Recipes To Try!
Moist and Delicious Carrot Cake
Buckeye Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sheet Cake
This is a refresh of a post originally shared in 2014.
OMG I love Dollar Tree!! I am so glad that I saw your post, I did not even know about the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club!! My favorite products of theirs are the craft supplies, and the obscure items they carry that can become craft supplies, I could not pick just one product, sorry:)!
I have become very creative and frugal since cutting my hours at work due to Fibro. But, I LOVE decorating our house, and I am very proud to have made the decor myself, it is a very fulfilling feeling.
So, imagine my excitement when I started seeing lots and lots of Dollar Tree home decor items to DIY on Pinterest!! Oh yeah…the things that I could do with that $100…
Oh, the e-mail address I signed on with for the Club is akoch1974@hotmail.com
I buy foil pans a lot to make freezer meals!
thatssewfabulous@gmail.com
ohhhh that cake looks soooo yummy!!!! my fave thing to get at dollar tree is gift wrapping supplies!!
I love buying little vases and gift wrapping supplies at the dollar tree! It’s always fun to look for craft supplies there.
I love ALL of the fun craft supplies they always have and my faves have to be the “as seen on tv” stuff they always seem to have, why pay 19.99?!?, wait a week and its at DollarTree!! 🙂 And like Amy, I did not know about the value seekers club!! I am a member now!! (jennglatts@gmail.com) Thanks for all of your always creative posts! Love your blog! Oh what I could do with $100 gift card to DollarTree!!! Fingers crossed!!
This seems silly, but I always know I can pick up the individual tissue packs year-round.
I love to get tissue paper, balloons, and goodie bag type toys at the dollar tree.
Spices! Great choices and prices.
I love to buy kitchen items at the dollar tree like glasses & bowls for parties, foil, to go containers! Love their big selection and all for $1
Almost anything I need, I will look for first at Dollar Tree. I buy craft supplies, garden supplies gift bags, rugs, chips & dips, drinks, etc. I could go on and on.
Who knew there was a club?! I sure didn’t, but you can bet I will be joining! lol I love the $ store, and I love everything there, but if I had to pick…glassware and gift wrapping/bags supplies or an anything crafty! lol I know, I know, that was more than one, but how can you pick just one thing?!!! lol Keeping my fingers crossed!
This looks like so much fun. I am going there today to get craft supplies. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
I love the Dollar Tree! Aside from all the items I can use for crafting, I love the seasonal items they carry. I love just going through the store to see what’s available. I never know when I’ll see something I really need or when inspiration will hit! 🙂
I love the plain plates & cups to decorate with vinyl!
I love to buy crafts supplies at the Dollar Tree!
I like their paper products/wrapping supplies.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
I currently love their holiday pencils as they help my students be able to complete their work with pencils I buy that don’t break my bank!!
love dollar tree .. i mostly got kitchen accessories and gift bags/cards. my son also always get something whenever we are in the store, that makes shopping there so much easier and no complaint 🙂 thanks for the chance.
ghalim at yahoo dot com
I love their seasonal decorations, especially at Christmas. They have so much, I stocked up this year so I could start my Christmas crafts early.
You wouldn’t believe how many $1 flower pots I have from Dollar Tree! 🙂
myfoxypup(at)gmail(dot)com
I love my Dollar Tree we have two in our area and I go alot. My favorite item would have to be the little washcloths you can throw in water and watch them expand. There are tons of pictures to choose from we like to get the comic book characters the most and we have a bunch!!!
Balloons, party supplies, gift bags, wrapping paper, the list goes on and on!
I buy their cards quite a bit
thanks for the giveaway
I forgot to add my email address used to sign up for the club its aunteegem at yahoo.com
I like the Fabuloso Lavender Multipurpose Cleaner, 22 oz.
dlatany at gmail dot com
their pregnancy tests….
I buy many of the craft items, stickers and prizes for my speech students at this store.
I love to get my cleaning supplies from Dollar Tree!
I buy my grand daughter a box of crackers with tuna fish and a very small spoon for her school lunches. Signed up with kathyccd@hotmail.com
I like to buy craft supplies and foil containers at the Dollar Tree. I’m a member (silverhairmadam11965@verizon.net)
I buy paper towels and cleaning supplies.
lyndadawinda1074 {at} yahoo {dot} com
Dollar Tree is my first stop while shopping. I use coupons in there and save even more! I have 3 special needs kids and they love that I shop here. And when we go in I give them 1 item that that they must find off our shopping list. That keeps their minds off touching everything so much. 🙂 And if they are good they get to pick a treat/toy or what ever they want. Why??? Because I don’t go broke buying them a reward for their good behavior. We really LOVE the craft section. I love that household supplies and bath and body items are only $1. So many things that are SOOOOO expensive at other stores. Uhmmm NO THANKS!!! Did I say I love Dollar Tree??
Cleaning supplies are Wonderful to purchase there!!!!!
I always buy throwaway foil containers when I bring a dish somewhere so I don’t have to think about bringing it home with me. My favorite thing I found was a tinted moisturizer that I ended up loving!! I went back and bought the remaining ones and I’ll be very sad when they run out.
I signed up with k11haugo(at)hotmail(com)
At my house, the sugar free coffee flavor syrups are very popular. Why spend $5 or $6 on them when you can get them for $1??
The email addy I’m signed up on is debra(dot)womack(at)gmail(dot)com
i love the cleaning products you can buy there! cant beat a dollar! i signed up with daniellex at gmail dot com
I love their baskets….I think I have an addiction!
I love the presents/gift wrapping section. They have a lot of cards, gift wrap, and bags for a great price!!
Thank you for the giveaway. I used my email in this comment form box to sign up for the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club!
Thanks
I buy mu Mom those beaded glasses chains. vera khule at gmail dot com
Love craft and holiday supplies at Dollar Tree! My daughter loves their endless supplies of hairbows and headbands. Great supply of gift wrap and bags – balloons, too!
I love the Dollar Tree. I love the home decor and crafting sections. I am a me member krystaldunlap1228420@yahoo.com
We love the Dollar Tree! My favorite there are all the seasonal/holiday products… like the big fridge magnets! I am signed up using hiwendyhi at yahoo dot com.
Stickers are my favorite product, the kids love them! I signed up. Thanks for the chance to win
I save big with their trash bags and foil. I also buy their reading glasses – I tend to lose them, but at $1 a pair it’s not critical 😉
I love the dollar tree!! The have some cool kitchen stuff and crafts too!! I signed up too!!!
tracysalley29@aol.com
They have great deals on party supplies and kitchen stuff….and of course crafty items (which is mostly what I get!) jessicawyatt9@gmail.com
These look great and I love the baby shower ideas, such as the bottle drinks!
ashleysbookshelf@gmail.com
my boys love the camillo’s pizza crust. they are dairy and egg free, so my son with allergies can eat them too! love dollar tree!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
i signed up with “kai love 07 @ gmail , com”
i love the party supplies, esp the soccer them which my kid would love!
I love all the craft supplies they have! From the construction paper to pipe cleaners. Also love the sprinkles they have.
As a frugal homeschooling mom, I love the Dollar Tree’s educational items and art supplies. amywhitecotton@gmail.com
Mailing supplies, sounds dumb but saves me a ton of money since Im always mailing things out.
It doesn’t sound dumb, I get my bubble envelopes there too!
c_schiffer21@hotmail.com is my email I signed up with. What’s my favorite product at the Dollar Tree? The Pregnancy Tests 🙂
I go there just to pick up the clear glass marbles i use for magnets. My kids LOVE them and think that they are jewels.
Love the candles and frames:)
I go there for greeting cards and gift wrapping supplies.
I like their party and decoration supplies. I like the Round Glass
Floral Bowls. And I signed up for the club under kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom.
I love the gift wrapping supplies and the aluminum foil pans.
My favorite Dollar Tree product is decorations. Thanks for the great giveaway! DamianMom at yahoo dot com
I would buy toys for Operation Christmas Child! I love going there because everything comes in smaller sizes 🙂
My favorite product…oh man, too many to narrow it down! Hmm, I’m very happy with the plastic sandwich box I bought recently to take sandwiches to work. 🙂
I signed up with theshrubberyblog(at)gmail(dot)com.
Paper Fortune Cookies daniellepearce12@gmail.com
I love buying Holiday decorations and fun treats for the kids at the Dollar Tree!! Having 3 kids it can get expensive when each one wants to buy something, but if I take them to the Dollar Tree I can afford to buy them each a few things lol. And it’s great for Holiday items because the kids love to pick out their own decorations.. they each have different tastes 🙂 Thank you so much for this awesome giveaway and good luck to all!
babydjs_mom@yahoo.com
I like SO many things at the Dollar Tree! I guess I’d have to say their party supplies are my favorite, though!
I love that I can buy Men’s Speed Stick Fresh-Scent Antiperspirant and other name brand products there at great prices! I signed up for the Value Seekers Club. What great ideas and this cake looks awesome!
I signed up with plaidtoaster@gmail.com. Love the Platter Wall Hangings project!
Id love to do the magnetic clothespins. My email I signed up is ariannasma216@yahoo.com
We love the craft supplies! We go there every Thanksgiving for popsicle sticks and construction paper to make hand turkeys with the kids 🙂 I signed up for the club under jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Love their elastic plastic wrap to cover bowls!
lindseyjwinn at gmail dot com
I like the candy section!
I signed up for the Value Seekers Club! I like the chocolate overload brownies as a project.
My favorite items are the trinkets and candies that are unique to Dollar Tree and not sold in other stores that I can package together and make cute gifts or mail to friends, etc. I always hit the dollar tree for gifts, it’s my go to gift store!
Forgot email address michelle _ cuevas @ ymail . com (remove spaces)
Signed up – caradepancake@hotmail.com
Seasonal products are my favorite
crafting supplies!! (greeting cards & scrapbooking) (and got to love their $1 Mylar balloons…why pay $4 or more each elsewhere!) moonlight369 @ yahoo.com.
Dollar Tree is the only place that carries this lime coconut candy dipped in chocolate that I love! And any time my daughter needs craft supplies like posters and stickers,we head to Dollar Tree.
I like their party supplies. Signed up with hewella2 at gmail dot com
I love all the seasonal goodies like right now they have cute little cloth hearts ,Valentine plates and serving trays. LOVE IT! rachelcartucci(at)gmail(dot)com
I buy my cleaning supplies exclusively at dollar tree. Also, I always get a few boxes of Mrs Freshley ‘ssnack cakes, which are just as good as the more famous brands.
I am signed up with the email attached to this comment.
I love getting shipping supplies at the Dollar Tree! I’m a member firstrosegrrl@yahoo.com
The thing I buy the most from there is little tiny trash bags that I use for litter, exciting, I know! I a a member (littlesillysally AT gmail.com
I love the inexpensive glassware, which I’ll use to make that candy buffet look they’re showing on the site. I also only go there for little not so exciting things, like my tooth flossers – it’s a good habit for cheap!
I am signed up under Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I like the baskets, such as the Round Woven Bamboo Baskets and also the floral supplies and candles. They have good deals on food items quite often, too!
Dollar Tree is my favorite place for party and gift supplies
signed up njharmonyg at aol dot com
What a cool cake! My favorite item is their new washi craft tape!
Thanks for the chance to win! SIgned up with the email below:
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
I have bought the nicest glassware and plates..email used is gaynell2@icloud.com
Thanks