Birthday Cake Ideas

[Buechner]

It is my mom's 60th Birthday in a few weeks and I am planning to make her a layer cake since she always comments on how much she loves them. She is a big almond fan and I was thinking of making this cake:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/05/almond-raspberry-layer-cake/
but with a blackberry filling and either a lemon buttercream or almond buttercream frosting. I really want a cake that is not too dense and dries out easily, which is a bit of a concern. I usually use the buttercream from Cooks Illustrated that uses whole eggs. Has anyone made this cake from Sky High cakes? Or are there any tried and true suggestions?
Thanks,
Jenny

[Salt]

Last weekend I made a Hummingbird Cake. It was so so good. It's now my new favorite cake. It's a three layer cake with cream cheese frosting. It is also very moist. I wish I would have taken a picture of it.

Hummingbird Cake

3 cups all purpose flour sifted
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oil
3 eggs beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
8 oz crushed pineapple with juice
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups chopped bananas

Combine flour, soda, sugar, salt, & cinnamon in bowl; mix well. Add oil & eggs, stirring until flour mixture is moistened. (don't use an electric mixer)
Stir in vanilla, undrained pineapple, walnuts and bananas.

Spoon into 3 greased & floured 9 inch cake pans. Bake at 350for 25-30 minutes or until cakes test done. Cool in pans for 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

FROSTING
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 stick of butter, softened
1-2 tsp vanilla (I used 1 1/2)
1-2 lbs confectioners sugar
15 halved walnuts

Combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and confectioners sugar in a bowl. Beat with electric mixer until well blended and of spreading consistency. Spread between layers and over top and side of cake. Decorate top of cake with halved walnuts.

I decorated the top of my cake with the left over chopped walnuts and caramel sauce. I also had a thread last week about this cake. You can do a banana dulche filling or a strawberry filling for this cake. Since it was my DH's birthday cake he choose the cream cheese frosting for his filling.

[Barrie]

If she likes almonds, then have I got the cake for you! :)

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Almond-Praline-Cake-with-Mascarpone-Frosting-and-Chocolate-Bark-237313

I made this a few months ago for my DS' bday and it was a huge hit; everyone was swooning over it. It is a bit labor-intensive, although the steps are each very easy. I split the prep work up over a few days. Mine turned out exactly like the picture and it was absolutely delicious and beautiful.

[Buechner]

Barrie,
Thanks, that looks great! Wow, 21 oz. of almond paste...yum:)
Jenny

[Barrie]

Barrie,
Thanks, that looks great! Wow, 21 oz. of almond paste...yum:)
Jenny

Yeah, it's definitely not a cheap cake to make! Please let me know what you think of it, if you end up making it. It really is yummy and absolutely worth the time and expense.