30.3.08

party time, daring bakers style!

when morven from food art and random thoughts announced that this month's daring baker's challenge was going to be classic party layer cake from dorie greenspan, i was super excited. my previous experience with layer cakes has been (a) betty crocker box mix or (b) just buy a cake, have you seen how many gorgeous bakeries are here in the city? why would i ever bake my own??

but truth be told, the reason why i ever had an inkling of interest in baking was because back when i was bored in undergrad, i had the grand idea that deep down inside i was born to be a cake baker. it wasn't even the cake ... but all those flowers, squigglies, vines, and basket weaves!! i was so impressed with it all and so desperately wanted to try perfect it myself.

well, that lasted about 5 days.

but now, older and wiser, i feel free to indulge my inner cake obsession. this was my first ever layer cake. my first ever buttercream. this is what being a daring baker was all about, and i was totally excited to get to it!!


i made the cakes last week and planned on finishing this weekend (yes, i procastinate, that's the beauty of my life). since this was my first i decided to go by the book and bake exactly as described in dorie's recipe. well, since this was my first cake i have nothing to base my experience on, but they didn't seem to rise too well. i mean, it was like maybe an inch high? which was just about where the batter was to begin with. sigh. was i doomed to just a two layer cake?

when mr. mimi saw it, being the professional naysayer, he immediately pronounced it non-cuttable into additional layers!

well, i'll show him! nobody puts baby in the corner!



so here it is, with the original raspberry jam and lemon buttercream recipe. i used up all the buttercream, so whipped up some quick royal icing for the rest of the decorations, which some how came out all peeps looking, even though i didn't mean the yellow and pink to be so flourescent. but i look forward to many more piping adventures in my near future! :)



check out all the daring bakers for more fantastically beautifully delish party cakes!


34 comments:

  1. Wonderful job! I love the colors - and it looks so professional!

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  2. Your cake turned out super festive and CUTE! Nice job :)

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  3. great job! those are some perfect layers!

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  4. Your very first cake? It's beautiful. Good on you for for showing mr. naysayer!

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  5. What a beautiful cake! And I don't believe that it's your first ;-) You should have your own bakery!

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  6. Very pretty! Nice finishing work!
    Ann at Redacted Recipes

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  7. looks just amazing -- the layers are just perfect!

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  8. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    I love how perfectly you've styled your cake. Can't believe it's your first. It looks scrumptious!

    Julius from Occasional Baker

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  9. that is just gorgeous. for your first layer cake and first butter cream, you did absolutely brilliantly.
    well done!

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  10. Wow! Your cake looks so professional, I can't believe it's your first! You should most definitely consider cake decorating as a professional hobby! Outstanding, really!
    www.shellyfish.wordpress.com

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  11. Your cake is beautiful but I like how you showed Mr Mimi!

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  12. Wow, your cake looks amazing and ever so pretty! I love the decoration...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. You have some excellent icing and piping skills, your cake looks perfect!

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  14. Your cake looks like it's dressed up for dancing in all it's fluoro glory. Well done.

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  15. Haha! Don't you just love being able to give those professional naysayers a smerk!
    Beautiful cake! That's sure a DB cake girl!

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  16. Perfect cake. What a great decoration!

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  17. your cake is definitely beautiful!! i love the yellow and pink colors all over it!! great job!!

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  18. What a perfect party cake! You did such an excellent job of everything! The icing colours you chose reminded me of the party cakes my Mom used to buy (she is not a baker) on my birthday when I was a little girl. Thanks for the memory!

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  19. Absolutely PERFECT Mimi...what a great job. It's NEAT, it's PRETTY...it's the perfect party cake. Love the frosting & the pink & yellow. Beauuuuuuuuuuutiful!

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  20. I love the piping opn your cake. It gives it a very Sprinlike feel:D

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  21. Your cake looks lovely! Beautiful decoration! And thanks for visiting my blog!

    Greetings,
    Tiina

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  22. Great looking cake! It is never too late to pursue your dreams (as they weave in and out of your life)! Great job!

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  23. Wow, your cake held together very well! I'm a bit strange, but I actually prefer my cakes a little dense, and yours looks PERFECT.

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  24. Your cake slices are just perfection. Your decorating is terrific too.

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  25. great job!! the cake is beautiful..and your layers are perfectly even!! wow!! i also love the colors for the frosting. -kk

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  26. Your first? And it's so beautiful! Great job :)

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  27. Your cake looks wonderful!! Congratulations on such a wonderful job! and you did an excellent job on those layers GOOD FOR YOU!

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  28. The layers are so perfect on yours, and the frosting so nicely spread. I swear every time I look at one of these cakes, I want another bite!

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  29. What a gorgeous cake! I think there's a cake decorator in there just waiting to burst out!

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  30. Oh me, oh my. Such perfect layers and beautiful colors! Great job!

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  31. Love the colors! Looks beautiful!

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  32. Simply Beautiful!

    Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go

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