What better way to test drive my brand new Artisan Kitchen Aid mixer, than to bake a cake! I got the Kitchen Aid from my husband as a birthday present a few weeks ago, and no better start than to make his own birthday cake with the maiden voyage.
I'm new to cake baking, but with the Kitchen Aid, I have found it very easy. I've also found this recipe to be very adaptable......I made a Strawberry Buttercream Sponge Cake for my mother's birthday a few months ago, using the same recipe just substituting the strawberries for blueberries and using whipped cream and strawberry jam as the filling instead of the buttercream icing, as I have here.
Basic Sponge Recipe
Ingredients
- 175g of caster sugar
- 175g of butter
- 175g of flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and butter 2 round cake tins (20cms diameter)
- In a food mixer, add the butter.
- Soften the butter by turning on the mixer to the lowest setting. Add the sugar gradually whilst the mixer is going, until all the sugar and butter are fully incorporated.
- Whilst the mixer is still going add the eggs one by one, allowing to each egg to be mixed in, add the vanilla extract also
- Sieve the baking powder and the flour into the mixer and just mix until incorporated.
- Divide the mixture equally between the two cake tins.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes before allowing to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Blueberry Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 150g of butter, softened
- 300g icing sugar
- 50g of blueberries, blitzed
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 2 tsp of blue food colouring
Method
- In a food mixer, completely blend the butter and while the mixer is on its very lowest setting, add the icing sugar a little at a time allowing each scoop to be incorporated into the butter before adding the next scoop.
- Add the blueberry puree and vanilla extract and mix into the buttercream.
- Finally add the food colouring and give a final mix to blend everything together.
Assembling the Cake
- 20-30 blueberries to decorate required
Method
- Place one sponge on a cake stand or plate
- Using a spatula, smooth on a layer of buttercream, and spread evenly.
- Top with the other sponge, and spread the top with another layer of buttercream.
- Using a warm spatula, spread the buttercream around the sides and even and smooth it out.
- To decorate the cake, place a line of blueberries around the edge of the cake. You may wish to repeat this with many smaller circles into the centre of the cake, however I just used a simple love heart design as the cake was for my husband.(and I ran out of blueberries)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!
No comments:
Post a Comment