Kim Possible Birthday Cake

I made this birthday cake for Raven's seventh birthday and her favorite cartoon character is Kim Possible. You should see the delight in her face when the cake was presented and i am glad she recognized the character despite of my non-professional skill in icing the cake. I had to homemake piping gel and this buttercream recipe has not failed everytime i make it. I have to resolve using a boxed cake as all of you know that i have a handful or rather 2 laptops.





Ingredients:

Cake:

Follow the instructions of any boxed cake and bake in 13" x 9" cake pan.

Frosting:

2 cups Crisco Shortening(butter flavor)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter , slightly soft but not mushy
1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tsp. 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.

Homemade Piping gel:

1 envelopes (2 tablespoons) Knox unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoons cold water
2 cups light Karo syrup

1. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a small saucepan and let set for about 5 minutes. Heat on low until the gelatin has become clear/dissolved - DO NOT BOIL.
2. Add the syrup and heat thoroughly.
3. Cool and store, refrigerated, for up to 2 months.

To Color: Add coloring paste/gel or food coloring drops to get desired color.
To Use: Put in icing bag, plastic squeeze bottle and decorate.

Iced the cake with the buttercream and pipe in the outline design for cartoon character, Kim Possible and then fill in design with colored piping gel.

Note for buttercream:

For warm weather: As a general rule, buttercream does not hold-up well in warm, humid weather. Tami's Buttercream(from baking911.com) will hold up better if you use all shortening instead of butter. (Substitute the butter in the recipe with shortening and in addition, add in the shortening called for in the recipe). Also, substitute 1/4 cup powdered sugar with meringue powder.

Serves