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a big cake for little old me

2 April 2011 by Dominic Franks

I thought i’d celebrate my 1st year as a blogger in style by baking myself a big fat cake.  I’m not really very good at creating those multi-layered, perfectly iced cakes that you drool over lustfully on blogs such as Chocolate Teapot or The Art of Being Perfect.  I’m more of a banana loaf kinda guy, but I wanted to at least give it a go, to make something a little special just for me…

… and that meant following a recipe to the letter, which if you know anything about me, I simply cannot do, however good my intentions are.  I even prepare both mentally and physically for the baking; setting out ingredients, making sure I have the correct utensils and equipment… but it just never comes off perfectly… i think it’s all about patience… which I have very little time for!

for instance, this is supposed to be a 4 layered red velvet cake…and have used a whole bottle of red food colouring but it still came out brown… (probably too much cocoa) and I only had one 9 inch cake tin, so I baked it all as one and then sliced it into 3 layers… but I managed to go for the full effect (details below) and am quite impresses by my own icing… and this is THE most delicious cream cheese frosting… I emplore you to try it!

brown velvet layered cake with strawberries and bananas

for the cake
250g sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
113g butter at room temp
300g granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
240ml buttermilk
2 tablespoons red food colouring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon bicarb of soda
1 banana – sliced
6 strawberries – sliced

for the cream cheese frosting
227g cream cheese at room temp
227g mascarpone
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
115g icing sugar
360ml whipping cream or double cream

– pre-heat the oven to 175c and butter and line 2 – 9inch cake tins

– in a mixing bowl sift together the flour, salt and cocoa powder then set aside

– in another bowl beat the butter until soft and then add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (you can use a hand mixer or a KitchenAid or Kenwood mixer if you have one… which I don’t… something I have to live with ok…)

– beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and beat until combined

– in a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food colouring, now with the mixer on a low speed alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the fluffed up butter and sugar.

– in a small cup combine the vinegar and bicarb, allow it to fizz and add it directly to the cake batter and quickly fold it in.

– divide the batter evenly between the two cake tins and bake for approx 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.  It should be firm to the touch.

– cool the cakes in their pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack and cool completely.  then transfer them to the fridge overnight.  This process will make them easier to cut and decorate.

– the next day, make the frosting by mixing the cream cheeses together until smooth, add the vanilla and sugar, gently mix again and then add the whipping cream and whip the whole lot together until thick

– now, slice the two cakes into two layers each so that you have 4 layers and sandwich the layers together with a small amount of the frosting.

– use the rest of the frosting to ice the outside of the cake.

stage 1: slice the cake into layers

stage 2: add the frosting and then the sliced bananas

stage 3: another layer and some sliced strawberries

stage 4: top layer

stage 5: a ‘crumb’ coating, then into the fridge for an hour

stage 6: the final layer of frosting and edged with coconut

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Previous Post: « Belleau Kitchen – 1 Year Old Today
Next Post: Random Recipe 3… my first ever book… and it's prize time! »

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Comments

  1. At Anna's kitchen table says

    2 April 2011 at 3:55 pm

    That looks fantastic, what a great birthday cake!

  2. spontaneous-euphoria says

    2 April 2011 at 3:56 pm

    that looks great!! especially the strawberry layer. and I LOVE your cake stand!

  3. Nic says

    2 April 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Happy 1st blog birthday! Your cake looks amazing, I love the bananas and strawberries hidden in there – delicious.

  4. Magic Cochin says

    2 April 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Very posh indeed'

    Celia

    (can I have a slice of just the bottom layer please? cos I don't like strawberries with chocolate)

  5. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    2 April 2011 at 4:04 pm

    thanks all… already eaten 2 slices and feel a bit icky

    @ spontaneous-euphoria thanks, it was a gift so i dont know where it's from… I love it

    @ Celia… I tried to purchase raspberries this morning but couldn't find any locally so strawbs had to do… as it happens the cake doesn't have that much chocolate in it, so it works really well x

  6. From Beyond My Kitchen Window says

    2 April 2011 at 4:40 pm

    The cake is a stunner!! I will definitely try the mascarpone cheese along with the cream cheese. I could sit down with a bowl and spoon and eat the frosting all day.Yum!!

  7. o cozinheiro este algarve says

    2 April 2011 at 5:14 pm

    Happy first blog day
    Don´t forget to bell-oh the candle out

  8. manu says

    2 April 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Buon Compleanno!!! This cake looks divine! Well done!! LOL

  9. How To Be Perfect says

    2 April 2011 at 5:49 pm

    Happy Birthday!!!! Your cake looks glorious! Such a perfect bloggie birthday cake.

    I use food colouring paste for red velvet cake, I use about a teaspoon and then add the appropriate amount of water, it is much easier to get a bold red colour.

    Thanks so much for the mention sweetie, you know just how to make a girl feel special. X

  10. MissCakeBaker says

    2 April 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Looks v v good! I like the sound of the mascarpone in the frosting. You have to eat too much b'day cake on your blog birthday!

  11. My Kitchen in the Rockies says

    2 April 2011 at 6:50 pm

    Congratulations, Dom. What a great cake to celebrate with.
    Keep on going. I enjoy your blog a lot.
    Kirsten

  12. Hanna says

    2 April 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Looks utterly delicious! Happy blog-birthday!

  13. Jaana says

    2 April 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Oh Dom,this cake looks soooooo beautiful & delicious!Happy 1.st birthday for you & your blog:))

  14. Susan says

    2 April 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Wahoo! A year ? Already ?!? That is one stellar cake! Love the fruit layers … some semblance of healthy eating in with all that sugar and cocoa and yummy icing! Many good wishes for your second year in blogland! Keep up the awesome work! We love you and your in'dom'itable spirit!

  15. Gloria says

    2 April 2011 at 10:52 pm

    Look absolutely nice, happy blog birthday! gloria

  16. Nicoletta says

    3 April 2011 at 1:59 am

    Happy 1st blog birthday!!!!!!! and this cake is just fantastic!!!!!! I will def try this frosting!!!!

  17. Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes says

    3 April 2011 at 3:54 am

    Stunning! You should pat yourself on the back! Happy Blogversary and Cheers to you!

  18. Rhyleysgranny says

    3 April 2011 at 8:52 am

    happy BlogaBirthday Dom. Wow that is one impressive cake. Did you eat it all at one sitting? x

  19. Jacqueline says

    3 April 2011 at 10:13 am

    Thyat looks amazing Dom. Oh how I would love a slice!

    Let me know when you next challenge is up so I can put it in the diary.

  20. Pistachio and Rose says

    3 April 2011 at 10:28 am

    I am exactly the same with baking, it is not my strong point but you have fabulous photo eveidence of good your bakin skills are!! Happy Blog Birthday.xxxxx

  21. Choclette says

    3 April 2011 at 7:32 pm

    One hugely impressive cake, most worthy of a blogiversary. Icing sounds amazing and I want your cakestand.

  22. Marmaduke Scarlet says

    4 April 2011 at 12:07 pm

    I shall raise a glass to celebrate in your honour 🙂 (any excuse, eh!) BTW I laughed so much – your approach to baking is similar to mine, despite the best laid plans!

  23. Kate says

    4 April 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I love that you prepared both'mentally and physically'- like a boxer about to face up to his nemesis! Brilliant!

    http://katescakesandbakes.blogspot.com/

  24. elcuadernodeideas says

    4 April 2011 at 4:49 pm

    !Qué rico! Me encanta! Deliciosooooo!!!!

  25. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    5 April 2011 at 10:21 am

    oh thank you all so much for the kind wishes… it was a hurdle to make it but not so much of a hurdle to eat!

  26. Michael Toa says

    5 April 2011 at 12:32 pm

    The cake I think looks perfect Dom. Simply beautiful and I have no doubt it's delicious. 'Happy Birthday' again 🙂

  27. Mr. Capoeira Sydney says

    7 April 2011 at 5:47 am

    What a neat post! Looking forward for more post from you. Thank you for sharing!

  28. Les rêves d'une boulangère (Brittany) says

    12 April 2011 at 5:08 am

    Happy Birthday! This looks like a delicious cake which is perfect for celebrating. Sorry I missed this post.

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About Dom In The Kitchen

My name is Dominic, I am a cook, food writer and creative event producer. I write the food blog Dom In The Kitchen and also write a monthly recipe column for Lincolnshire Life Magazine and Good Taste Magazine. I also run creative event production company The Persuaders, producing global events for brands since 1997. I am based both in the small village of Belleau in Lincolnshire and the smaller village of London! Read More…

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