Baileys Frosted Green Velvet Cake

This Green Velvet Cake with a creamy tasty Baileys cream cheese frosting is the perfect cake to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! A delicious moist cake with the perfect amount of that Irish Cream Whisky to take it over the top!

I have always loved St Patrick’s day.

Having an Irish background on my father’s side doesn’t hurt. Everything is green,  I remember when I was a kid I would go to McDonald’s and get myself one of those green milk shakes, then I got a little older (ok quite a few years older) and would get myself a green beer!

Now I have a few choices besides this Green Velvet Cake with cake layers that are filled and frosted with a creamy cream cheese frosting! I also love to make an Easy Baileys Cheesecake, or some Baileys Chocolate Truffles or how about a tasty Irish Soda Bread?

We had friends over for dinner last weekend and for dessert I served my Frosted Green Velvet Cake and I heard “that’s so pretty, it’s green”.

Needless to say St Patrick’s has no significance here in Italy. But that never stopped me from pinning a clover pin on my daughters’ jackets on the 17th.

Recipe Ingredients

• Cake/Pastry Flour – you can make your own homemade pastry flour or you can use all purpose flour.
• Salt – if you use unsalted butter then add a bit more salt
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Butter – softened butter
• Sugar – granulated sugar
• Egg – room temperature large eggs
• Vanilla – vanilla extract
• Cocoa powder – Unsweetened Dutch Processed Cocoa powder
• Green food colour – I usually use the gel type
• Greek Yogurt – whole greek yogurt room temperature
• Milk – whole or 2% milk room temperature

For the Frosting

• Butter – softened
• Cream cheese – whole fat cream cheese
• Sugar – powdered, icing also known as confectioners’ sugar
• Vanilla – vanilla extract
• Cream – whole, heavy or whipping cream with at least 30% fat content
• Baileys – either store bought or homemade
• Sprinkles – green sparkling sprinkles if desired

I have discovered there is nothing like greek yogurt to bring out the moistness in a cake. I also prefer it to buttermilk or sour milk. Because of its thickness you sometimes have to add a tablespoon or two of milk.

How to Make Cake Flour

For every cup of all purpose flour, remove two tablespoons and replace with two tablespoons of corn starch. Be sure to sift the flour and cornstarch together a couple of times, this way it is sure to be properly combined and lump free. Cake flour in cakes will give you a very tender texture and fine crumb, it will also help the cake to rise.

Why use room temperature ingredients?

With cakes and other baking, it’s always better to use room temperature ingredients. So, take any cold ingredients out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time or sooner if it’s cool in your kitchen. Room temperature ingredients blend easier, creating a silky batter, which will help to create a light tender baked good.

How to make A Green Velvet Cake Recipe

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda, set aside.

In a large bowl or stand mixer using the paddle attachment cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the egg and beat until well combined, add the vanilla and combine well.

In a small bowl mix together the cocoa and green food coloring, add to the creamed mixture and beat well.

Add the dry ingredients alternately to the creamed mixture with the yogurt. Beat to combine, add the milk and combine well. Using a spatula divide the cake batter between the prepared cake pans, spread evenly and bake, test with a toothpick for doneness. Let cool in pan then move to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

How to make Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting

In a medium bowl beat together butter and cream cheese until creamy then and add the powdered sugar, beat well after each addition. Add vanilla, cream and or Baileys and beat until fluffy.

To frost the cake, place the first layer on a large plate or cake turntable top side down, spread with a layer of frosting, place the second cake top side up and frost the whole cake with remaining frosting. If you wish you can decorate the sides and top of the cake with green sprinkles if desired.

FAQs

Maybe the Italians didn’t know about St Patrick’s Day but they sure do know a super yummy cake when they taste one. Enjoy!

Updated from March 1, 2015.