Vanilla Cake & Chocolate Buttercream
This was a special-order cake for a birthday. I love when I get to bake birthday cakes – I imagine the recipient making a wish and blowing out candles and taking the firs slice. There is something to be said about traditions/rituals…cake and birthdays just go together.
The order was for a triple-layer classic vanilla cake – but the cakes sunk in the middle. I really can’t stand slicing into a cake with a cratered middle and the extra buttercream. Even layers is what I’m working toward.
Taking the dome off the cake reduced the cake way too much. I decided to add another layer – this would take it to the right height, offer even/uniform layers, and [hopefully] satisfy the client.
I was happy with the design of the decorating – the ruffled base really works and the vanilla/chocolate swirls with the acorns are nice as well. I’m totally digging the two rows of pearls. I can’t remember if I’ve ever done two rows of pearls…I know I often use one row of vanilla on chocolate to offer contrast. I like this look so much – I want to expand it to an entire cake. It would be somewhere between a complete cover-up like this cake and a simple row or two.
I love the idea of a white/vanilla background and a rainbow of pearls, an ombre of pearls, chocolate pearls on vanilla, etc. Or, the chocolate cake with rows of vanilla dots.
The cake was in the cake fridge overnight – I didn’t bring it too room temperature before the final frosting – this resulted in a less-than-smooth finish. Why? The melted dark chocolate in the buttercream wanted to firm up when against the cold cake instead of maintaining spreadability. This is one of those things I need to stay on top of for next time. The flavor is all there, but I would prefer a smoother finish.
I baked a few cupcakes with the batter of the second vanilla cake I baked in order to get a fourth layer for the birthday cake. I shared these with some colleagues. No one threw the cake away.
When people ask me to bake for them … I love it. When my sponsor asks me to take an action I don’t want … I love that I matter. And, when my life partner asks me to go for a walk with him … I love that too.
