Birthday Cake Help!!

[nori]

I know, I posted the similar thread last year for Noah's first birthday....and of course his birthday is coming up again!! This year, I just gave a birth to our daughter (who's 3 weeks old) and Noah's birthday is Aug. 29th so I haven't planned much. It's Sunday, so I'm thinking to invite very close friends for casual dinner (maybe spaghetti, since Noah likes it:rolleyes: ) and make a cake. He's soooo much into trucks, so I've decided to do fire truck cake this year.

I've searched for a while and I think what I want to do is just bake 13x9-inch sheet cake and cut it to look like a fire truck. (I'm hoping) it won't be so hard to do.

Anyway, now I have to pick the recipe for the cake...last year's Noah's Ark Cake thread, Anna posted the following recipe for yellow cake. What would be the conversion to bake in the 13x9-inch pan?
Either this cake, or maybe Cake Doctor Yellow cake which was a hit last year. But I'm inclined to try something new...but it has to be tried-and-true, because I don't think I have enough time to do test baking this time.

Here's the recipe...

Yellow Cake (posted by Jeanne)

Martha Stewart

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter one 10-inch tube pan. Dust the bottom and sides of pan with flour, and tap out any excess. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until well incorporated, occasionally scraping down the sides of bowl.

3. Mix together buttermilk and vanilla. Slowly add the sifted flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not overbeat.

4. Pour batter into prepared tube pan, and until cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely on wire rack. Cake can be stored in freezer, double wrapped with aluminum foil, for up to 1 month.

Notes: Very easy to put together and extremely heavy..almost like a pound cake. Made with chocolate cream cheese frosting.

*****

Oh, and I'd probably use (any) white frosting and tint it with red, and yellow for decoration.

If you have any good recipe for this type of birthday cake, please share!!

Thanks!!

[claire797]

Hi Nori!

Good luck with the firetruck. Are you making this one from Family Fun?

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/cake/cake_fireengine/

I had bad luck with the Martha Stewart cake. It was heavy and dense and just kind of fell apart. I probably did something wrong, but I just thought I'd let you know my experience. Others had better luck, I believe.

Val has some really good yellow cake recipes, so maybe she'll check in.

[valchemist]

this is a good one...

* Exported from MasterCook *

Bonnie Butter Cake

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Cakes Desserts


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2/3 cup soft butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs (1/3-1/2 cup)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups Cake flour or 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups milk

Heat oven to 350º. Grease and flour two layer pans. 9" or 13x 9". Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Beat 5 minutes.,high speed on mixer or by hand. Blend flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in alternately with milk. use low speed on mixer. Bake layers 30-40 minutes, oblong 45-50 min. Cool 10 miutes turn out on rack and let cool completely before icing.

Source:
"Betty Crocker Cookbook"

[KimKelly]

I don't know if this would work for the fire truck, but my girlfriend just emailed this to me today. She said it was one of the best cakes she has ever eaten and that it was easy to prepare. Here's a copy of the email she sent....

Kim

Fastest Fudge Cake

Makes one 8" square or 9" round cake.  Serves 8-10
1c flour
1/4c plus 2Tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder (not dutch-processed)
1/2tsp baking soda
1/4tsp salt
1/2c (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and warm
1 1/4c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2c hot water

 
Fast Fudge Frosting

Makes 1 1/2c, enough for 1 cake (I cut my cake into 9 squares & frosted individually, all sides)
5 Tbsp unsalted butter
3/4c granulated sugar
2/3c unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
3/4c heavy cream
1tsp vanilla

Position rack in lower third of oven.  Preheat to 350.  Butter bottom of pan or line with parchment/wax (I used baking spray on wax & it came out smooth on bottom.) 

In med bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Whisk to blend.  Sift if the cocoa remains lumpy.  Set aside.

In large bowl, combine warm melted butter and brown sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat untill well blended.  Add all of the flour mixture at once.  Using wood spoon, stir just until all of the flour mixture is moistened.  Pour the hot water over the batter all at once.  Stir just until the water is incorporated and the batter is smooth.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 25-30 mins, or until cake tester comes out clean.  Transfer pan to wire rack and let cake cool for 10 mins.  To unmold, slide slim knife around edges of pan, invert cake, and peel off paper liner.  Turn the cake right side up onto a wire rack and let cool completely. 

To make frosting:  In a med saucepan, melt the butter.  Stir in the granulated sugar, cocoa, and salt.  Gradually stir in the cream.  Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and hot but not boiling.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.  Let cool until thickened to spreading consistency, or use warm for a glaze or a sauce. (I cooled my frosting in the pan for 2hrs, checking it & stirring occasionally.  I then transferred it to a small metal bowl & let it sit for another hour or so until it was really thick & smooth.) 

(Note:  she says to use natural cocoa (rather than dutch-processed) b/c it reacts with the baking soda to make the cake rise properly and delivers a brighter, truer chocolate flavor...SHE AIN'T KIDDIN'...this cake ROCKS!!!)  enjoy!

[claire797]

Emma and I just made a batch of the Bonnie Butter Cake and it is excellent! We made it as cupcakes and baked them for about 23 minutes. The texture is as moist as a pudding-added cake mix cake and has a great flavor. Thanks for posting the recipe, Val. Now I have to keep it in a special place separate from all my unsatisfactory yellow cake recipes :rolleyes:.

Kim, that fudge cake recipe is very similar to one I have and it is great!

[Karen M]

Happy Birthday to Noah! and Congratulations Nori on the birth of your daughter.

I found this link with ideas for a fireman themed birthday party. There is a firetruck cake in there too (with pictures). Have fun.

http://www.reasontoparty.com/firefighter_party.htm

[nori]

Anna, I bookmarked the familyfun page for that fire truck cake, but I'm not sure if I want to do 3D cake this time. I'm inclined to make a sheet cake and cut it like a shape of the truck this time.

Val, thanks for the yellow cake recipe. Looks easier than other recipes. I might try that one.

Anna and Val, when you made that cake, did you use Cake flour, or all-purpose flour? Do they make any difference?

KimKelly, that recipe looks yum, too! Thanks!

Karen, thank you! :) Now we have 2 birthdays in August. Thanks for the link. Seems like most of fire truck cakes were made 3D....wonder if I should give it a try.

I just realized now that since my frosting will be white (not chocolate), do you think it goes well with yellow cake? I always see yellow cake with chocolate frosting, so I'm not sure if it's good with vanilla frosting.....hmmmm, another thing to think about.

[claire797]

Nori, I used all-purpose flour because I was out of cake flour and my cake was fine. It had a fine to medium crumb and was moist, but not overly moist. It wasn't as dense as a pound cake.

I think yellow cake, at least this one, will go with just about any icing you choose :).

Good luck with the firetruck :)-- especially getting the icing nice and red. It usually takes lots of red paste.

[valchemist]

I love the texture of cakes made with cake flour. noticeably more tender. but in this case, it just so happens I used the all-purpose flour and it turned out great anyway.

I agree with anna that you don't need a chocolate frosting with a yellow cake.

[nori]

I'll use all-purpose flour too since I don't have enough Cake flour at this point.

Thanks for advice on frosting. I'll go with white frosting...Off to search for good recipes.:)

[DanaSD]

If you're interested in cake decorating you might enjoy ladycakes.com. There are a bunch of fire truck cakes posted there (just do a search for firetrucks or go through the children's birthday cakes or 3D scultped threads). You need to register with the site to get into the area that has the cakes posted - there's a 30 day free trial and then its $10/year after that. There are people of all levels of skill and lots of people who will offer advice for those of learning or working on their first cake. I have learned so much from this website. I'm finding my self spending my time decorating more than cooking (and ready about it) but I'm trying to transition back to a balance.

Its a very addicting hobby. I've been at it for about 2 years taking classes - here's a link to my cakes if you're interested: http://photos.yahoo.com/danavbrown

Good luck!

[TLee4]

Wow, Dana! Those cakes look beautiful!! Thanks for posting.

Terri

[lacia]

I second the WOW Dana!!! Those look fabulous. Did you take classes or just learn on your own?

[claire797]

Dana, your cakes are terrific!

Thanks for posting the link to www.ladycakes.com, too. I'll definitely be spending a lot of time there. I'm learning to use rolled fondant these days, so the link should be helpful.

[Linda in MO]

OMG, Dana, your cakes are amazing! I think this is my favorite one. Isn't this the cutest cake?!
http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/40c35fad_1d49/10ab/__sr_/91f4.jpg?phw_3KBBZMY8uQF5
editing to say...I tried to post a picture but it just gave the link. Anyway, click on the link to see the cutest baby cake ever!

[rinsav]

Dana, Your cakes are amazing!!!! I'm so impressed!!! They're really beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[DanaSD]

thanks for the compliments. I've been taking classes for about a year and a half. Most of the cakes are from class projects. Check out that website if you're trying decorating - there a lots of message boards out there but I find most aren't very busy or helpful (besides cookinglight its the only other board I follow) - there are some very talented people on that site and they're very helpful to beginners. There's a very useful step by step section where they post photos at each step for a technique.

Claire797 - I'm just starting to work with rolled fondant, too. Its hard but you can do so much with it. There's a recipe on the site referred to as Daisey's fondant that I want to try - store bought gets expensive and they say this version tastes better.

[crazycook]

Nori: Good luck with your firetruck cake and have fun creating! :) --be sure and post pictures!

Dana--Amazing work!!! Inspiring! Thanks for sharing. I've bookmarked your site and the one you suggested for future reference. I love the hobby as well. I just recently got back into it. You are so right--it is truly addictive.

Anna: Let us know how your fondant work is coming along. It's one area I'm very intrigued by, yet, very intimidated by as well.

Anna :)

[claire797]

The fondant recipe I used was from allrecipes. It was called "rolled fondant" and called for glycerin and liquid glucose, which (shockingly!) I don't have lying around the house. After tracking down those two things (found them at Garden Ridge Pottery), I followed the directions precisely and the end result looks like the rolled kind made by Wilton.

I have to admit, I'm a little scared of using it. It's not the cutting out shapes that I fear, but the draping it over the cake. In pictures, it looks so perfectly smooth and crease-free. My goal is to practice draping it over some packaged Ding Dongs or something and eventually graduate to a full-size cake. I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow when I play with it. :)

[yomomma]

Dana - your cakes are absolutely beautiful! I've been hanging out on another cake board, but will check out the one you've mentioned.

[Dawn G]

Dana,

Your cakes are beautiful. I have been very into cake decorating for a couple of years too, your cakes are great! I will have to check out the board you posted, I usually go to the wilton discussion board for help.

[nori]

double post

[nori]

Noah's birthday was yesterday. Here's the photo, although this is nothing compare to the Dana's great cakes:o

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p044b4bac389fbf3fcd956f0238dcc5fb/f7381a82.jpg

I used Bonnie Butter Cake and Fluffy White Frosting. Cake was great! Very light, and easy to bake. I lined the pan with the parchment paper so it's easy to take the cake out.

For emergency light, I was going to use a big gumdrop but I couldn't find one, so I used small piece of cake.

Anna, I used the whole bottle of red paste PLUS some coloring I had on hand, and it still looks kind of light-red. I'm so glad you told me about red being difficult to dye...it took a lot of coloring to make red.

Noah loved it. He recognized it as a fire truck so it made my all effort worth it. Here's the birthday boy.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p563f79eff2b9adbfa7e4a3c9ab9972fa/f7381a97.jpg

Thank you everyone, for your help.:)

[claire797]

That is too cute! I love cakes that are cut, shaped and iced. Too cute! :).

I knew red was tricky, but didn't realize it would take a whole container of paste. Wow! Maybe somebody out there has a trick to making reds deeper without using so much paste.

[RebeccaT]

Nori, your cake looks great! I love the pretzel-ladder! Great idea!

As far as red frosting is concerned, I had some luck with the Wilton red gel coloring when I made a cowboy boot cake for a friend's son last year. It still took quite a bit, but I just kept mixing in a drop or two until it got to the right color.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc28b3127cce83fa9844d6d50000001610

[rinsav]

Nori, your fire truck cake looks so adorable! Your son is absolutely adorable too!:)

Rebecca - I'm so impressed! That's a very cool looking cake! Your friend's son must have loved it!

[DanaSD]

It looks great - awesome job on getting your icing to look so smooth. I like the idea of using the pretzels for the ladder.

Red is a challenge. Americolors are much better than Wilton but hard to find - you need a cake decorating store instead of a craft store (or buy online). They have 2 reds - red red and super red. I usually mix the 2 and you have to be careful not to put too much since the color will darken after the icing sits. I've heard the candy colors work even better but these can be hard to find. Also certain icings take on bright colors better - for example if you use a high ratio shortening (Sweetex) to replace Crisco in the traditional American Buttercream recipe it will take color better (I haven't tried this yet but have read about it). I have the Sweetex sitting in my kitchen but haven't gotten to it. Again, this is a speciality product that you need to get at a cake store.

Where is AZ do you live? There's a cake decorating store called ABC in Phoenix - I'm planning on checking it out next time I'm in Phoenix.

[claire797]

Dana, thanks for all the info on the red icing coloring. I'll have to order some Americolors before the holidays.

[nori]

Dana, thanks for the information about red coloring. I live in Tucson, about 2 hour south of Phoenix. I'll definitely check that store out if I'd be doing more baking like this, or if I got to visit that area. It was fun to decorate cake....I feel like I want to do more. ;)

rinsav, thank you!!:) He didn't care for the cake last year so I'm glad this year he likes eating it.

Rebecca..wow what a great cake! So your friend's son had a cowboy theme, right? How cute!

At Michaels', they had a lot of Wilton stuff but didn't recognize other type of coloring besides bottles of paste...how the jel look like?

Anna, I felt like I'm using waay too much coloring when I emptied the bottle.:o I wanted to make it a bit more red, though. At least it wasn't pink fire truck, which was a good thing.:)

[Karen M]

Wow! Noah has really grown up!!!! What a big boy. The cake looks super cute too. :)

[DanaSD]

Originally posted by nori


At Michaels', they had a lot of Wilton stuff but didn't recognize other type of coloring besides bottles of paste...how the jel look like?

Anna, I felt like I'm using waay too much coloring when I emptied the bottle.:o I wanted to make it a bit more red, though. At least it wasn't pink fire truck, which was a good thing.:)

Gel and paste are pretty much the same thing - Wilton's is considered a paste and Americolors a gel but to me the seem like the same kind of stuff. Using a whole jar seems like a lot - I've heard that with the Wilton pastes if you use a lot it can change the color (and I really don't know how to say this) of things that come out after you eat the cake... I had a friend who used the blue to color the cake and icing and parents called the next day very upset wondering what she had feed them.

[nori]

I too expected the next day's BM would be probably bright-red color....but actually, it wasn't THAT red..well I"m not going to too much detail, but it changed a bit maybe but not horribly bad.

LOL about your friend's story. Blue would be probably scary.:)

[RebeccaT]

Originally posted by nori
Rebecca..wow what a great cake! So your friend's son had a cowboy theme, right? How cute!

At Michaels', they had a lot of Wilton stuff but didn't recognize other type of coloring besides bottles of paste...how the jel look like?



Yes, she had a rodeo theme for her son's 1st birthday party. It was very cute - she dressed him up in jeans and teeny tiny cowboy boots!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc28b3127cce83fa9bc996c10000001610

I got the Wilton gel color at my local kitchen store. The little jars look like this:

http://www.wilton.com/images/cake/icing_howtocolor_1.jpg

Hope that helps!

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by valchemist
this is a good one...

* Exported from MasterCook *

Bonnie Butter Cake

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Cakes Desserts


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2/3 cup soft butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs (1/3-1/2 cup)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups Cake flour or 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups milk

Heat oven to 350º. Grease and flour two layer pans. 9" or 13x 9". Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Beat 5 minutes.,high speed on mixer or by hand. Blend flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in alternately with milk. use low speed on mixer. Bake layers 30-40 minutes, oblong 45-50 min. Cool 10 miutes turn out on rack and let cool completely before icing.

Source:
"Betty Crocker Cookbook"

I made these last week into cupcakes for my 4 yr. old son's birthday party at preschool. I got 24 cupcakes. Really good! I loved the butttery flavor! I will definitely use this recipe again when I need a basic yellow cake. I used whole milk, unsalted butter, and the cake flour. And I let all of my ingredients come to room temp. first and I creamed the butter and sugar first before adding the other liquid ingredients. I iced them with Chocolate Marshmallow Frosting from the Cake Mix Dr. This really turned out to be more of a glaze though, so I had to add about 3/4 cup more powdered sugar so it wouldn't be so runny. I should have used the Fluffy Chocolate Frosting recipe but I wanted to try something different. It did taste good and I would use it again as a glaze for a bundt cake.