Best Checkerboard Cake Recipes

CHECKERBOARD CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Slice the top of both cakes to create a flat surface.
• Cut both cakes in half widthwise to create four cakes.
• Place a small plate on top of the cake and cut around to create a smaller circle.
• Place a glass in the middle of the cake and cut around to create an even smaller circle.
• Assemble the first layer by placing the outside chocolate ring on a plate or cake stand. Insert the next yellow cake ring and then the inner chocolate cake ring.
• Frost the cake with a thin layer of frosting in between each layer.
• Continue forming layers alternating the colors on the outside.
• After the fourth layer frost the entire cake and cool in the refrigerator.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

CHECKERBOARD BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Grease three 9-in. round baking pans; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine 2-1/2 cups of cake flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk. , Divide batter into thirds. To one portion, fold in melted chocolate and vanilla. To second portion, fold in 1/4 cup flour, almond extract and 3-4 drops red food coloring. To third portion, fold in lemon extract, 3-4 drops yellow food coloring and remaining flour., Spoon a ring of chocolate batter around edge of one prepared pan; spoon a ring of pink batter inside chocolate ring and fill center with yellow batter. Spoon a ring of yellow batter around edge of second pan; add a chocolate middle ring and a pink center. Spoon a ring of pink batter around edge of third pan; add a yellow middle ring and chocolate center., Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and 2 cups confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate until smooth. Add milk and vanilla. Beat in enough of the remaining confectioners' sugar until frosting achieves spreading consistency. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

CHOCOLATE CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour bottoms and sides of three 9-inch round pans of checkerboard cake set. Place divider ring in one of the pans, following manufacturer's directions.
• In medium bowl, beat cake mix, milk, cream cheese, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Divide batter in half; stir cocoa into half of the batter.
• Spoon batter into each pan and using divider ring, following manufacturer's directions.
• Bake 18 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen side of each cake from pan with metal spatula; turn upside down onto cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using a thin layer of frosting between layers, stack cake layers so outside colors of cake alternate. Place cake on serving plate; frost side and top of cake with frosting. Store loosely covered.

LEMON-LIME CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans with shortening; lightly flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, 4 oz cream cheese, the water, 1/4 cup lemon juice and the eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour half the batter (2 cups) in another medium bowl.
• To one half of the batter, add lime zest and green gel food color. Mix until combined. Add lemon zest and yellow gel food color to remaining half of batter. Mix until combined. Pour green batter into one loaf pan and yellow batter into other loaf pan.
• Bake 22 to 27 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of each cake comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling rack 10 minutes; run metal spatula around edges of each loaf to loosen. Remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using serrated knife, cut rounded tops off each cake, so they're level. Trim 1/4 inch off all 4 sides (leave bottoms uncut). On serving platter, set one cake on top of the other, top sides up, and line them up as much as possible. Make one cut down middle of cakes, lengthwise, making 4 long strips. Switch position of two of the strips to alternate colors in two layers, making sure top sides remain up.
• Gently remove both strips from top layer. To help bottom strips stick together, spread 2 tablespoons lemon curd between the two bottom layer strips, and gently press together. Then spread 1/4 cup lemon curd on top of the bottom layer. Spread remaining 2 tablespoons lemon curd between the two strips of the top layer, and gently press them together. Place on top of bottom layer so the strips create a checkerboard pattern, if looking at them from either short end.
• In medium bowl, beat 4 oz cream cheese and the butter with electric mixer on medium speed 1 to 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice; mix on low speed 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; beat 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth and fluffy.
• Spread icing over cake, using spatula to completely coat top and sides. Garnish with grated lemon and lime zests. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Grease and flour three 9" round cake pans.
• Trace three 9-inch circles on parchment paper; cut out. Draw 6-inch circle, centered, on each cutout; draw 3-inch circle, centered, on each cutout.
• Line bottom of each pan with 1 paper circle, pencil side down.
• In large heatproof bowl set over hot (not boiling) water, melt chopped chocolate. Stir in cocoa powder. Let cool to room temperature.
• In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs,one at a time, beating well after each addition, add vanilla.
• Beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of buttermilk.
• Stir 3 1/2 cups of the batter into melted chocolate.
• Spoon white and chocolate batters into separate large piping bags(or spoon into 2 large resealable plastic bags and cut 1-inch hole in 1 corner of each).
• Pipe chocolate batter to fill outer ring of each of 2 of the pans.
• Pipe white batter over middle ring, then chocolate batter over inner ring.
• In third pan, pipe white batter over outer ring, chocolate over middle ring and white over inner ring.
• Bake in centre of 350°F oven until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.
• Let cool in pans on rack for 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack; let cool completely.
• For the filling, place chopped chocolate in bowl.
• In saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat just until steaming. Pour over chocolate, whisking just until melted.
• Refrigerate until thickened but still spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk just until color lightens.
• Using serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level, if necessary.
• Starting with 1 of the cake layers with chocolate outer ring, spread with 1/3 cup of the ganache.
• Top with cake layer with white outer ring; spread with another 1/3 cup of the ganache.
• Top with remaining cake layer.
• Cover top and side with remaining ganache.
• Refrigerate before serving.
• Some people may find it easier to use one of "Checkerboard Cake Pan Sets" available online or in local stores.
• http://www.amazon.com/s/102-7283235-2715300?ie=UTF8&keywords=Checkerboard%20Cake%20Pan&search-type=ss&index=kitchen.

PRETTY CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Line bottoms of 3 9-inch round pans of a checkerboard set with parchment paper, or grease bottoms. Place divider ring into one of the cake pans, following manufacturer's directions.
• In a medium bowl, beat cake mix, milk, cream cheese, vanilla, and eggs with electric mix on low for 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Beat for 2 minutes longer. Divide batter in half. Stir gelatin into half of batter.
• Spoon batter into pan with divider ring, following manufacturer's directions. Repeat for other 2 pans.
• Bake 25 to 28 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen cake from side of pans with metal spatula. Turn cake upside down on cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Tint icing with yellow food coloring until a deep yellow color. If using the same icing for decorating, make sure to reserve enough to decorate cake. Using a thin layer of yellow icing in between cake layers, layer cake so the outside colors are alternating. Place cake on serving plate, and frost top and sides with yellow icing. Decorate cake with white icing and garnish with candy flowers. I used royal icing to make my candy flowers and the drop flower technique.

CHECKERBOARD ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, sugar and butter; set aside 1 cup for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of an ungreased 10-in. springform pan. , Drop 1-3/4 cups vanilla ice cream by tablespoonfuls around edge of pan; flatten and smooth with a spatula into a 1-1/2-in.-wide ring. Drop 1 cup chocolate ice cream by tablespoonfuls next to the vanilla ring; flatten and smooth with a spatula into a 1-1/2-in.-wide ring. Fill in center with 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream. Freeze for 30 minutes. , Drop 1-3/4 cups chocolate ice cream by tablespoonfuls over vanilla ice cream around edge of pan; smooth with a spatula into a 1-1/2-in.-wide ring. Drop 1 cup vanilla ice cream by tablespoonfuls next to the chocolate ring; smooth with a spatula into a 1-1/2-in.-wide ring. Fill in center with 1/4 cup chocolate ice cream. Freeze for 30 minutes. , Repeat pattern of first layer of ice cream. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Cover and freeze until firm. May be frozen for up to 2 months. Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour bottoms and sides of three 9-inch round pans of checkerboard cake set. Place divider ring in one of the pans, following manufacturer's directions.
• In medium bowl, beat cake mix, milk, cream cheese, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Divide batter in half; stir cocoa into half of the batter.
• Spoon batter into each pan and using divider ring, following manufacturer's directions.
• Bake 18 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen side of each cake from pan with metal spatula; turn upside down onto cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using a thin layer of frosting between layers, stack cake layers so outside colors of cake alternate. Place cake on serving plate; frost side and top of cake with frosting. Store loosely covered.

CHECKERBOARD CAKE, GRANDMA CARR'S

Steps:

• 1. DO NOT USE 2 DIFFERENT FLAVORS OF CAKE MIXES DUE TO DIFFERENT DENSITIES OF THE FLAVORS. THE CHECKERED SECTIONS MAY BLEND TOGETHER AND YOU WILL NOT GET A NICE PATTERN. IF USING SPECIAL CHECKERBOARD PANS: Preheat oven as called for on cake box. In a large mixer bowl follow cake box directions and mix both cake mixes together in one bowl. Remove a little over 1/3 of this mixture and place in a smaller bowl. Add cocoa powder and mix well. (OR You may add different colors of food coloring and a small amount of flavoring extract to each of the different parts of the batter. See pictures of examples of a red and green cake and a pink and white cake in pictures.)
• 2. Use ring tool that comes with checkerboard cake pans. In first pan put white or yellow batter into inner most and outer most circles of the tool. Put cocoa batter into the middle circle of the tool. Try to get different colored batters even with each other in depth. Remove ring tool very carefully so as not to mix colors of batter and rinse it. Make the other two layers the opposite way. Cocoa in the inner most and outer most sections, and white or yellow into the center ring. Bake according to cake mix directions for 9 inch layers.
• 3. Remove cakes from pans carefully. Allow to cool completely before frosting. Stack layers with the different layer in the center. Frost between layers and over entire cake as desired.
• 4. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SPECIAL PANS: You can make this same effect without special pans. Simply spoon or pipe (with pastry bag) cake batter into 9 INCH ROUND cake pans in a ring pattern, alternating colors. It will not turn out to be as precise as the special pans but can still be very pretty.

CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pans with vegetable oil.
• In a large bowl cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and vanilla mix well.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, mix well after each addition. Continue beating 1 minute. Divide batter in half. Stir melted chocolate into half the batter. MIX WELL.
• Place Dividing Batter Ring into one prepared pan. Follow instructions for filling sections. ( For convenient filling, place batter in 2 disposable decorating bags )one for yellow and one for chocolate.
• Bake layers 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely
• Assemble cake following directions. Ice entire cake with chocolate icing. Serves 20
• NOTE: If you don't have a set of checkerboard cake pans. You can get them at ( www.wilton.com )

LEMON-LIME CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array
• Array Array

PARTY CHECKERBOARD CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour bottoms and sides of three 9-inch round pans of checkerboard cake set. Place divider ring in one of the pans, following manufacturer's directions.
• In medium bowl, beat cake mix, milk, cream cheese, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 2 minutes longer. Divide batter in half; stir gelatin into half of the batter.
• Spoon batter into each pan and using divider ring, following manufacturer's directions.
• Bake 23 to 29 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen side of each cake from pan with metal spatula; turn upside down onto cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Tint frosting with yellow food color until deep yellow color. Using a thin layer of frosting between layers, stack cake layers so outside colors of cake alternate. Place cake on serving plate; frost side and top of cake with frosting. Decorate with decorating icing; garnish with candy flowers. Store loosely covered.