This was not my first adventure in cake baking, and SIMPLE decorating..like "Happy Birthday" written on the top, but this was my first adventure into something a bit more elaborate. I'm sure many of you know to buy a cake from a professional can cost you ENORMOUS amounts of money and since the economy is the way it is we certainly didn't want to spend a good portion of our budget on a cake, I decided to 'make' the girlchilds wedding cake.
I already had a fantastic cake recipe, (one that withstands freezing, is firm but moist and is just the best recipe) so now all I had to do was 'learn to decorate', at least the little tips and tricks. I searched the 'net', studied up on it a bit and yep, sure did learn a few things.
I already had a fantastic cake recipe, (one that withstands freezing, is firm but moist and is just the best recipe) so now all I had to do was 'learn to decorate', at least the little tips and tricks. I searched the 'net', studied up on it a bit and yep, sure did learn a few things.
So with recipe in hand, let the adventure begin!
PREP WORK:
Let all ingredients get to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 325 °
Butter and flour your pans. (Use a one tube pan or 4 loaf pans)
Mix all dry ingredients.
*I also used waxed paper on the bottom of the tube pan. (allow small cut sections to come up on the sides. This prevents any batter from escaping out of the cracks in the pan!)
*I'm doing this recipe twice here, once in a tube pan for the cake bottom, and one in a small souffle dish for the small cake at the top. The loaf pan is for the extra batter on cake #2.
Now, for the recipe:
Now, for the recipe:
Wanda's Butter Pound Cake
1 C. butter, softened
2 1/2 C. Sugar
6 eggs (separated)
3. C. plain flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking soda
8 oz. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon (optional)
1/2 C. Sugar
Cream butter and sugar
Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing between additions.
I put the eggs in a separate bowl, pick up the yolk carefully, the transfer the white to my 'mixing' bowl, putting the yolk in my batter then mix. Repeat for all 6 eggs.
Combine all dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add dry ingredients one cup at a time, alternating with sour cream, mixing after each addition. Add vanilla and lemon (if using). Mix well.
Beat the egg whites till stiff, but not dry. Adding in the 1/2 C of sugar, one T. at a time. Fold egg whites into batter.
Fill tube pan and bake for 90 mins in center of oven.
** hints and tips:
This cake is a bit twitchy to opening the door of the oven, so you know what?? DON'T! Stomping around the kitchen is not recommended either, this cake WILL fall! (ask me how I know this!)
So..if you don't beat and bang about the kitchen, this is what you should have when you're done.
Ok..there ya go. Cool in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
This cake does NOT need icing, trust me! HOWEVER, since I used this for a wedding cake, next comes the icing of course!
Classic Butter Cream Icing
Here's what I do to make a 'semi stiff stable' pipable frosting.
1 C. Butter to 1 bag of powdered sugar.
1tsp. vanilla to each bag of sugar. I do add a touch of lemon flavoring to 'tone down' the sweetness.
Mix well!
Let butter come to room temperature (very soft). Blend butter, add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing as you go till the icing is smooth. Add vanilla, mix again. This recipe does NOT need any liquid. It keeps it more stable in 'warm summer' temperatures and makes for good 'decorator' icing on speciality cakes. :) HOWEVER..if you find it is too stiff, add cream or milk, 1 Tsp at a time until it's the consistency you desire.
ENJOY!!
NEXT post: Icing and decorating tips and tricks I used!
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