Frozen Inspired Cake for Two Sisters

I don't often get to make girl cakes since I have 3 boys, so I love it when I can get all girly.
This cake was going to be a simple blue cake with snowflakes, but my mind got the better of me.
I was thinking it would be fun to do a Elsa/Anna inspired theme since it was for two sisters.

Here is what happened once I started.

 First, I frosted the whole cake with light blue buttercream.

Then, piped a dark blue wavy line down the middle and frosted from there over with dark blue.

The snowflakes I piped some white chocolate onto parchment paper.

 
I placed the snowflakes over the middle wavy line to cover it and added some swirls.
I love some swirls!

 The Elsa side.

A Frozen cake is not complete without an Olaf!

The Anna side.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Baking from my heart to your kitchen,

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Graduation Sheet Cakes 2012

Just wanted to share the sheet cakes I made for Graduations this year.

This was for my church youth group.
I loved this idea in my head. The cake was pretty, I put the graduates names on the sunbeams. I wanted it to look more sparkly and sunny, but I guess I needed to put more disco dust. It sparkled alot more in person.

You can see the names a little better here.

You can see a little more of the sparkle here.
I would like to do this idea again, now that I know what I would do differently.

This was for a high school graduation. I wanted to do something a little different than just a typical cake. I was happy with it. I did have a friend come over and do the border for me. I am a bit challenged with buttercream borders. Practice makes me better.

A little better picture. 


The cakes were covered in buttercream and decorated with fondant decorations.


Thanks for looking.


Baking from my heart to your kitchen,

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Snow White Cake and Chocolate Buttercream

No matter how old a girl gets, she wants to be a princess.
I used to dream about being a Disneyland princess. Ok, I still do. I decided I could be Snow White. I already have the dark hair, so with enough makeup and a good bit of red lipstick, I could do it. Don't you snicker at me, you know you are thinking about which one you could be.



The point is, when I was asked to make a Snow White cake, I was thrilled. I didn't want to just make an ordinary one. I researched a bit and found an abstract version of the dress. I am all about the abstract and whimsical! 


Here it is:

Everything is edible except the cake topper. I love giving the kiddos have something they can play with after the cake is gone.


Let's talk about the inside of the cake.
The bottom is a Yellow Cake with Chocolate Fudge Buttercream.
The top is a Butter Cake with Oreo Buttercream
I want to spend some time talking about the Chocolate Fudge Buttercream. I love this stuff and it is fairly easy, because... .well... I cheat a little. You will thank me when you taste it.... trust me.

You will need:

1 cup butter
 1/2 cup shortening
 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
 4 cups confectioners' sugar
 4 tablespoons milk
 1 1/2 cup hot fudge topping
 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Cream together the butter or margarine with the shortening.

Sift the cocoa with the confectioners' sugar and add to the creamed mixture.

Mix together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of milk to keep mixture smooth. Don't add more than 1/4 cup of milk. 

Now the secret ingredient.....

This stuff is great. Makes the buttercream smooth and fudgey.
Add the hot fudge topping and the vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Yummy... this is great on a plain yellow cake. If you want my favorite yellow cake recipe it is found here. I have tried quite a few and always come back to that one.

This cake is fit for a princess!

I covered and decorated this cake with MMF. I was in love with these butterflies, I wish I would have taken more pictures.... maybe next time. 

Here are some more views of the cake. If you have any questions, please oh please, Ask! I love to talk cake.

Baking from my heart to your kitchen,

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Simply Saturday: Favorite Chocolate Buttercream

Chocolate Buttercream.... need I say more? I have two favorite go-to recipes I use. The first one is "fudgy" and is not good to use under fondant, but oh so good. The second one is basic and ever so yummy.

Chocolate Fudge Buttercream

allrecipes.com

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup hot fudge topping
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream together the butter or margarine with the shortening.
Sift the cocoa with the confectioners' sugar and add to the creamed mixture. Mix together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of milk to keep mixture smooth. Don't add more than 1/4 cup of milk.
Add the hot fudge topping and the vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.

 "Perfectly Chocolate Frosting"

adapted from Hershey's

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa 3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa.

Alternately add powdered sugar and cream, beating to spreading consistency.

Add small amount additional cream, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Yes, it does say to melt the butter, I was skeptical at first, but trust me, it needs to be melted.

The cake was for a dear friend turning "75". I hope she enjoys it!

Inside the cake was my favorite yellow cake recipe.

Yellow cake adapted from allrecipes, found here

.1 cup butter

2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch pan.

Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 45 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool.

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