Renee's Birthday Cakes

How time flies, it was like yesterday that i made Renee's baby shower cake and now she is four. The earlier cakes are made before my blogging days so the pictures are the best that i can get from her album.



One Year Old - The design is a cut out from the goodie bag.

Two Year Old - Hello Kitty is outlined with melted chocolate and filled with homemade piping jelly.

Three Year Old - My Little Pony figurines were borrowed from Renee's collection.

Four Year Old - Strawberry Shortcake



STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Ingredients:

3 cups : all purpose flour
4 1/2 tsp : baking powder
1 1/2 tsp : salt
10 - egg yolks
3/4 cup : oil
3/4 cup : chopped frozen strawberry
1 1/4 cups : sugar
1 cup water


10 - egg whites
1 cup : sugar
1/2 tsp : cream of tartar


Method:

Pre heat the oven to 160c/350 f(convection).

Sieve the cake flour, baking powder and salt.

In a bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, oil, strawberry and water. Whisk lightly, then add the flour to the egg yolk mixture. Mix until the batter is smooth. Set aside.

Whisk the egg whites lightly and add in the cream of tartar and sugar. Continue to whisk until the mixture is stiff. Do not overheat or allow the mixture to become dry. Set aside.

Gently fold half the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture and blend well. Fold in the remaining egg whites and work very lightly with a spatula. Make sure the mixture is well mixed.

Place the finished mixture in an ungreased 12" cake pan (i lined with aluminium foil so that the cake can be removed by lifting out the foil and then tear away). Level and bake in the oven until golden brown (about 45 minutes).

Remove the cake from the oven and invert the mould. Allow it to cool for 1 hour. Do not remove the pan while the cake is still hot.

Ice the cake with buttercream icing:

2 cups Crisco Shortening
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter , slightly soft but not mushy
1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. clear vanilla
2 pounds (8 cups) powdered sugar, sifted (measure, then sift)

Method:

In your mixer bowl, beat the shortening until it's smooth, add the butter and beat together until smooth and light and fluffy.

Add smaller amount of the heavy cream indicated in the recipe and the vanilla and mix well.

Add half the powdered sugar and mix for 5 minutes on low-med. speed.

Add remaining sugar and mix well.

Add more cream or powdered sugar if necessary to adjust the consistency.

Serves