Mini Cakes

05/01/2010

Mini Cakes

"Go play outside" was a pretty frequent "suggestion" to me from my mom when I was growing up.

And looking back, I couldn't be happier about it.

I spent a lot of time outside with my siblings and the neighbourhood kids just running around the yards and the creek until it got dark. I pretty much played outside all year round, and now I wish I could still do that.

I have a friend coming to visit and we have a bunch of outdoor stuff planned like hiking and kayaking so I thought I'd make a cake with my favorite childhood command on it for her arrival.

For the cake, I used this recipe but I added lemon zest and a bit of lemon juice to the batter. The cake was baked in two mini pans because I didn't want to be stuck with a massive cake for the next three weeks. Then I iced the cake with the intent of putting fondant on it, but once the caked was covered I decided to keep it fondant free.

I tried a new Swiss meringue buttercream recipe and I grated some lemon zest into it. It worked 100 times better than the one that I used for this cake and I think it tastes better too. The recipe is at the bottom of this post.

I made a variety of pretty sugar flowers to stick to the side of the cake. These flowers were made pretty quickly...

... because I was carefully supervised throughout the entire flower-making process.

Spring time !

For the letters I used my new alphabet fondant cutters with some marshmallow fondant and then decorated them with some food colouring pens.

Yum!

I had a bit of batter left over so I made an even smaller mini cake. I tinted the frosting green and used some corn syrup on the letters to get the sprinkles to stick. I left this cake in my parent's fridge as a surprise thank you for always making me get out in the fresh air.

I think this would make a cute Mother's Day cake for all those mom's who believe that kids should be running around outside, not stuck indoors with tv or the internet... although I can't deny that the internet is pretty entertaining.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream - From Martha Stewart

5 large egg whites

1 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons

pinch of salt

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter cut into tablespoons

1.5 tsp vanilla extract

lemon zest from one lemon (optional)

In a bowl over a pot of simmering water whisk together the egg whites, sugar, and salt. Whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar has completely dissolved. The egg whites should feel smooth when you rub them between your fingers
In a stand mixer with a wisk attachment on whisk the mixture at high speed until stiff peaks form. When the bowl feels completely cool to the touch switch to the paddle attachment
With the paddle attachment on medium low speed add the butter a tbsp at a time.
The mixture might separate but don't worry, it will come back together, just keep beating it until the icing is smooth
Now you can add the vanilla and lemon zest or any other flavor or colour you want the icing to be.

Posted at 02:25 PM in Cakes, Decorating | Permalink

Tags: go play outside, lemon cake, mini cake, mother's day cake, no tv, swiss meringue buttercream icing

Comments

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yum...you make me extremely hungry!

Posted by: Hope | 05/01/2010 at 02:48 PM

Too adorable! I love this!

Posted by: Melody | 05/01/2010 at 03:24 PM

This is too cute. I've been looking for a good recipe for buttercream. This one looks really good.

http://raspberryquill.blogspot.com

Posted by: Alex Erynn | 05/01/2010 at 03:27 PM

oh, gorgeous cake! quality control cat is taking his job very seriously :)

Posted by: rp | 05/01/2010 at 03:43 PM

What a delightful cake! I don't think I'd have the heart to slice into it; definitely a feast for the eyes.
I just adore your blog! Thank goodness you left me a comment on mine so I could discover yours (thanks, btw, for the tomato sauce link).

Posted by: Lilie | 05/01/2010 at 03:57 PM

I love it!!! I was always told to "go play outside" as well and now I find myself saying the same thing to my kids!!.....hhmmmmm?!! Your cake is adorable and love the pics!!! (esp kitty:) )

Have fun playing outside!!!!

Posted by: Michelle | 05/02/2010 at 10:48 AM

There's one for me in the mail, right? ^_^

Posted by: Chelsey | 05/02/2010 at 01:15 PM

I am glad that you enjoyed playing outside when you were younger! Great surprise to see the cake in our fridge! Molly is such a good supervisor! Yum Yum

Posted by: Lori Anne | 05/02/2010 at 03:53 PM

How sweet ! ....and as the mom of four you took the words out of my mouth !!! :)

Posted by: My Life Under the Bus | 05/02/2010 at 07:21 PM

Wow, you are so creative with food! So yummy and pretty.

Posted by: Gina | 05/02/2010 at 08:58 PM

I find myself say "go play outside" to my little one, and yes, she loves it...
This cake, wow, I'm speechless.... I couldn't make something like that never ever.... It looks super gorgeous!

~Galit

Posted by: Slow Lane | 05/02/2010 at 10:11 PM

Thanks so much for that HGTV website LOVE IT ! We don't get that show here : ( at least I can check it out online. Have you gone to designsponge ? http://www.designspongeonline.com/
I think it's right up your alley ! : )

Posted by: My Life Under the Bus | 05/04/2010 at 12:13 PM

oh it's so pretty... i couldn't bring myself to cut it!
yummy! ;)

Posted by: cabin + cub | 05/04/2010 at 02:53 PM

wow... great for mother's day celebration!
i'd like to try that one!
flory

Posted by: Flory Mariñas-Simbulan | 05/04/2010 at 08:10 PM