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Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Bean Butter cream Frosting
Pregnant Belly Cake
The placement of the little foot pushing on her mothers belly is shown to the right and below. All I did was cut the shape of a babies foot in fondant and place it on the frosted belly then drape a large sheet of fondant over it. Gently press around the edges of the foot to make it prominent.
White cake with vanilla bean buttercream frosting. For the pans I used two oven prof bowls (1 small & 1 large) and two round cake pans (6 inch & 9 inch) to make two layered cakes. I bought Wiltons 5 lb. box of white fondant and mixed the colored fondant myself, using mint green, regal purple and lemon yellow AmeriColor food coloring.
The happy family!
Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Bean Butter cream Frosting
Ingredients;
Cake; yield is two 2-layer cakes using
8" pans. We will be using two round oven proof bowls (one large and one small
to fit over the round pans), 9" round pan, 6" round pan.
Vanilla Cake
10
large egg whites at room temperature
2
whole eggs
2
cups whole milk, at room temperature
4-1/2
teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6
cups cake flour, sifted
4
cups sugar
2
tablespoons + 2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2
teaspoons salt
24
tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into 24 even pieces
Vanilla Bean Frosting:
6
sticks + 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
6
cups sifted confectioners' sugar
6
tablespoons cream
2
vanilla beans, scraped
2
teaspoons pure vanilla extract
pinch
of salt
Instructions:
Vanilla Cake
Preheat
oven to 350°F Grease, flour the pans
and bowls.
In
a large bowl, combine and stir the egg whites, whole eggs, 1/2 cup of milk, and
the vanilla. Set aside.
In
the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine
the dry ingredients together on low speed for 30 seconds.
Add
the butter one piece at a time, about every 10 seconds, ensuring it's cold (you
can keep some in refrigerator while you're adding pieces). Continue to mix on
low until the mixture is a fine crumbly texture. Add milk, and mix on low speed
for 5 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl and begin to add the egg mixture in
3 separate batches, mixing until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. (You want
to ensure that the batter is homogenous.) Fold once or twice to ensure the
batter at bottom of bowl is incorporated.
Dividing
the batter is done by sight between the pans and bowls. you will bake 6 cakes
total. One 9" round, two 6" rounds, one large bowl shape, and two
small bowl shapes.
Bake
until a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs when inserted into the center,
about 30 minutes. The large bowl will need about 5 or 10 minutes extra and the
small rounds and bowls will bake 5 or ten minutes under. Be so careful to not
over-bake. Check cake at 20 minutes, but not before, and then set the timer for
5 minute intervals. Let cool on racks for 5 minutes before loosening the sides
with a small metal spatula, and invert onto greased wire racks. Gently turn "round
pan" cakes back up, leave bowl cakes upside down. Cool completely. If your cakes need to be evened out so they
can be stacked now is the time to do it. Cut a circle out of the middle of the
bottom layer if you are filling your cake with colored candy. Judge the size of
cake removed by how much candy you bought.
Wrap
tightly and store at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerator for up to
5 days, or frozen for up to 2 months. Best eaten the same day as baked.
Vanilla Bean Frosting
In
the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip
butter for 8 minutes on medium speed butter will become very pale & creamy.
Add
remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute, then on medium speed
for 6 minutes. Frosting will be very light, creamy and fluffy.
Best
used right away.
You
can eliminate the vanilla bean and use a total of 3 teaspoons of pure vanilla
extract.
Assembly
Place
three bottom cake layers (one 9" & two 6") on thin round cake
boards.
Cut
the center out of the 9" bottom layer if you are filling your cake with
colored candy. Judge the size of cake removed by how much candy you bought.
Fill the center with candy. Spread frosting on top of each cake with a small
offset spatula.
Gently
place 2nd bowl shaped cake layers on top. Place a generous scoop of frosting on
top each cake, spreading evenly with a small offset spatula and working your
way down the sides until you have a thin layer of frosting over the three cakes.
Chill until set, about 30 minutes.
Remove
the three cakes from refrigerator and apply a final "coat" of
frosting to each cake and then carefully smooth out the frosting so when the
fondant is placed it will look perfectly smooth. Take your time with this very
important step, if not done well your cake will look lumpy. Keep cooling your
cakes in the refrigerator as many times as needed to create a smooth surface
Strategically
place the large belly cake on your cake board first. Cut a babies foot out of
rolled fondant and place on belly. Roll out the fondant to completely cover the
belly portion and also over hang to create the bottom of the dress. Gently
smooth fondant over belly and use a pencil to form the folds in the bottom of
the dress. When you happy with it, place
it in the fridge for 15 minutes then cut off the excess fondant. Now place the
two smaller round cakes to make the breasts area of the cake. Roll out fondant
to cover both breasts and to slightly overlap onto the belly. Place fondant
over cakes and smooth over breasts and let the fondant ride up the belly
portion. Place in fridge for 15 minutes then cut off excess fondant.
Now
roll out and cut the colored fondant to create the ribbon. Place the ribbon to
your liking. Use very little water to glue the fondant ribbon to the cake. Next
roll out the fondant to make the polka dots. Use a round cutter in the size you
want. Glue the polka dots to the dress using very little water.
Store
in a cake keeper in refrigerator for up to 4 days. Best eaten day 1.
