Cakes By Zana: July 2017

Friday, July 21, 2017

Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes

Yields- 15-16 cupcakes

1 1/4 cups cake flour

3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup oil (vegetable, canola or extra light olive oil)

1/3 cup milk (whole or low fat, but avoid fat free)

1/3 cup sour cream (full fat or light, but avoid fat free)

Directions

* Preheat oven to 350*F.

* In a medium bowl, add cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir together with whisk, and set aside.

* In the bowl of an electric mixer, add eggs and beat 10-20 seconds. Add sugar and continue to beat on medium speed about 30 seconds. Add vanilla and oil, beat.

* Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly add about half of the flour mixture. Add the milk, then the rest of the flour and the sour cream. Beat until just combined. Scrap down the side of the bowl.

* The batter will be thin. Pour batter into a muffin pan prepared with paper liners. Fill liners about 2/3 full.

* Bake cupcakes in pre-heated oven for 12-14 minutes.

* Cool in pan 1-2 minutes, then remove cupcakes from pan (carefully) and finish cooling on a wire rack.

* Frost as desired when fully cool. I love to use my favorite Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.

* Feel free to use this recipe for a cake as well. The recipe above will work for a 6″ cake. Double the recipe for an 8″ or 9″ cake.

* A note about Cake Flour- Cake Flour has a lower protein content than traditional all-purpose flour, which results in a more tender, delicate crumb in the finished product. If you can not find or access cake flour, feel free to substitute as necessary, but your results will vary from the original recipe.

http://www.glorioustreats.com

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Elephant Baby Shower Cake

Friday, July 14, 2017

Leopard and Zebra Print Birthday Cake with High Heel Shoe

Saturday, July 8, 2017

My Little Pony Cake

Happy Birthday Kelcie !

Monday, July 3, 2017

COFFEE & BAILEYS CAKE

The perfect pairing of coffee and Baileys in this delicious layer cake. A vanilla buttermilk cake layered with chocolate ganache and a coffee Baileys swiss meringue buttercream.

INGREDIENT

Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup buttermilk room temperature

Ganache:

4 oz good quality dark chocolate finely chopped

4 oz heavy whipping cream

Coffee Baileys Buttercream:

1/2 cup egg whites

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter cubed, room temperature

1 Tbsp instant espresso powder not granules

2 Tbsp Baileys Irish Cream

INSTRUCTIONS

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour three 6" cake rounds, line with parchment.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

Beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat on med-high until pale and fluffy (2-3mins).

Reduce speed and add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition. Add vanilla.

Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour (3 additions of flour and 2 of milk). Fully incorporating after each addition. Mix until just combined

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake for 30mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.

Place cakes on wire rack to cool for 10mins then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

Ganache:

Place chopped chocolate and cream into a microwave safe bowl, stir. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir. Again, microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir until smooth. Cool completely until thickened, ideally overnight.

Coffee Baileys Buttercream:

Place egg whites and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk until combined.*

Place bowl over a hot water bath on the stove and whisk constantly until the mixture is no longer grainy to the touch (approx. 3mins).

Place bowl on your stand mixer and whisk on med-high until the meringue is stiff and cooled (the bowl is no longer warm to the touch (approx. 5-10mins)).

Switch to paddle attachment. Slowly add cubed butter and mix until smooth.

Add Baileys and espresso powder. Whip until smooth.**

Assembly:

Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread a layer of ganache and then top with buttercream. Repeat with remaining layers and crumb coat the cake. Chill for 20mins.

Frost the cake and do a decorative swirl with an offset spatula if desired. Add chocolate flakes to the bottom if desired.