Name: Green Velvet Shamrock Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups all purpose flour*; 3½ Tablespoons natural process cocoa powder (sifted); 1 teaspoon baking powder; ⅜ teaspoon baking soda; ⅓ tsp salt; 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature); 1 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature); ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons distilled vinegar; ¾ teaspoon green food coloring; 16 ounces cream cheese (room temperature); 4 Tablespoons salted butter (room temperature); 1½ cups powdered sugar (sifted); ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract; ⅛-½ teaspoon green food coloring (if desired, depending on desired shade of green)

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If you could only to bake one treat this St. Patrick’s Day, make it this Green Velvet Cake! Three moist, tender layers of velvet cake dyed green, and generously frosted with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Even a leprechaun would be jealous!

cake with ornate piping reading "happy st. patrick's day" on top of cake on upside down white plate.

From the classic red velvet cake, to black velvet cake, pink velvet cake, and now green velvet cake! We have been having so much fun taking the classic cake and turning it on it’s head to give it fun, new holiday-inspired takes.

This time, we wanted to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a deep green cake…and what better way to enjoy a green cake than by making it the crowd-pleaser velvet cake!

What Does (Red) Velvet Cake Taste Like?

I get it. One bite of a any colored velvet cake and you’re hit with two thoughts…the first, “it’s delicious!” that’s quickly followed by “what the heck is that flavor?”. Is it a vanilla cake? Chocolate cake? Just a plain cake colored red? Let me tell you, we have all been there. So, for those who want to know, here’s what that secret flavor really is:

Buttermilk makes it deliciously tangy.
Just a hint of cocoa and vanilla for a light chocolate flavor.
Real butter makes it oh-so moist and buttery.

overhead image of cake with "happy st patrick's day" written in dark green frosting and shamrocks piped around.

cut green velvet cake on upside down white plate with slice of cake on it's side on stack of plates behind.

How Do I Make A Green Velvet Cake?

First, we need to gather all of the ingredients. There are very specific ingredients and amounts that this cake needs. We have tested this cake many different ways and times and found that the ingredients below are crucial to the perfect cake. So, be sure to follow the recipe and don’t make substitutions! Here’s what you will need:

All Purpose Flour – Provides the structure and bulk of the cake.
Natural Process Cocoa Powder – Adds a subtle chocolate flavor and complements the green color. Natural process cocoa is slightly more acidic, reacting with the baking soda for a good rise.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda – Leavening agents that cause the cake to rise in the oven, giving it a light and fluffy texture. Baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients (like buttermilk and vinegar) while baking powder works on its own.
Salt – Balances sweetness and enhances the flavors of other ingredients.
Unsalted Butter – Adds richness, tenderness, and flavor to the cake. Using unsalted butter allows for better control of the salt level.
Granulated Sugar – Provides sweetness and also helps tenderize the cake.
Eggs – Contribute to structure, help with leavening, and add richness.
Buttermilk – The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking soda for a tender crumb. It also adds a slight tanginess.
Vanilla Extract – Adds a subtle undertone that enhances the overall flavor profile.
Distilled Vinegar – Reacts with the baking soda for extra leavening and helps keep the cake fluffy.
Green Food Dye – Gives the cake its vibrant and festive green color.

ingredients for green velvet cake on marble surface with text overlay.

⊹ Tip For Success! ⊹

Make sure your butter, eggs, and buttermilk are room temperature before mixing!

Now, it’s time to get mixing! The first thing we like to do is mix the dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder).

Then, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This usually takes 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Now, add the flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix in vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring.

Divide the batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cakes test done.

three pans of cake batter on marble surface.

Our Favorite Cream Cheese Frosting

No velvet cake is complete without a cream cheese frosting and while we usually use our no-fail frosting, we wanted to keep things classic with this cake! For the frosting, you will need cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and some green food coloring. From there, it’s pretty simple to mix up! Cream the butter and cream cheese, add the powdered sugar, then mix in vanilla. It’s that easy!

cream cheese frosting in glass bowl on marble surface.

Decoration & Assembly Tips

I am by no means an expert cake decorator, but I do love decorating them! I try to keep things simple, but I really wanted to try going all out for this cake. The first thing I did was spoon half of my frosting into two separate bowls and colored them two different shades of green with food coloring. Then, I got to work!

When it comes to assembling layer cakes, I almost always start out by leveling my cake layers with a serrated knife or a cake leveler. This way, when I start building, I have a better foundation and I’m more likely to avoid having a lopsided cake!

Now, it’s time to build. If you have a turntable (like the kitchen tool, not the record player 😂), I recommend using it! That alongside a small offset spatula (I found the smaller spatula gave me more control over the frosting) are the perfect tools to build this cake.

green cake layer with white frosting on top.

I started by spreading about ¼ cup of frosting per layer. Then, I placed the rest of the frosting into a piping bag, sniped the end off, and piped the frosting around the cake. Then, using my offset spatula, I smoothed the lines to create a clean finish (as seen above).

When it comes to decoration, I used a few different piping tips to give me different shapes and textures. You can decorate this cake however you want! Just have fun 😊

✳ Recipe FAQ’s

While it’s not necessary to add the green food dye, it does add a fun pop of color! If you prefer not to use it, you can skip adding it to the batter. Just keep in mind that the cake will look more like a chocolate cake once baked.

If you want to make this cake ahead of time, you can store the baked and cooled cake layers covered tightly at room temperature overnight (or in the freezer for 3 months!). The frosting can be prepared, then covered and refrigerated overnight. If your cake is frosted, then you can store it, covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.

More Recipes For St. Patrick’s Day

Frosted Lucky Charms Sugar Cookies

St. Patrick’s Day Pot of Gold Cupcakes

Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Frosting

No Bake Irish Cream Cheesecake

Lucky Charms Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting

Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats

angled image of st. patricks day cake on upside down white plate with writing on top of the cake and ornate piping in green frosting on the side.

Let’s Be Friends ♡

When you make this Green Velvet Shamrock Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

Happy baking!
x, Caylie

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Green Velvet Shamrock Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting