Shades of Purple

When my friend Marcia sent me a link to a recipe to make a purple ombre cake, I said ... I can do that! Her birthday was coming up too so when I asked if she'd like a cake for her birthday - Yes please!!
I used my go to for layer cakes (minus the rainbow jimmies) and my normal buttercream frosting. The kids helped me do some of the mixing of the cakes and frostings. I had to have a special helper (up past her bed time) in the car hold the cake while I drove for the delivery because, well, I normally don't deliver cakes and I wasn't coming up with any ideas on how to not dump that pretty cake. It was fun to make a new kind of cake and bake a special treat for a special friend.

White Layer Cake
2/3 Cup Sour Cream
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
4 Egg Whites
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 White Cake Mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, buttermilk, vanilla, egg whites, and vegetable oil until thoroughly combined.
Sift in the white cake mix. Stir until just combined (don't overmix!), then divide between prepared cake pans.
Bake for 25-27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature (3 sticks)
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 - 4 Tbsp heavy cream
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, using the paddle or whisk attachment whip butter on medium-high speed (if using whisk attachment whip on high speed) until nearly white and very fluffy, about 7 - 8 minutes, frequently scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Add in powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until blended, then increase speed to medium and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 - 6 minutes, frequently scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Immediately spread over cooled cake or cupcakes.