Everyone deserves cake on their birthday. That is a fundamental belief of mine. Ranking high with fundamental beliefs like the "Golden Rule" and LOTR. Sadly, birthdays become less and less exciting as you age. This year, my 27th (on the 5th), was probably my least anticipated. That's not to say I didn't enjoy my day and that my husband didn't get me an awesome huge monitor with which to edit photos on without straining my eyes...because I did, and he did. I also had a cake for my birthday. First I had cupcakes that my friend, Chrissy, baked for me (because she's awesome like that) and then at dinner I shared a Tartufo with the hubs (because he's awesome like that). And then we shared a couple Limoncellos with the large Tuscan owner of the restaurant. mmmmm
Since the first birthday I spent with Steven, I baked him his favorite cake. Even though it kind of goes against my morals (because it uses a box cake), what baby wants, baby gets. At least concerning cakes.
This cake is a Beer Cake (really a spice cake made with beer) with brown sugar frosting (terrible to work with). I could never figure out how to stack this cake because the frosting always sloughed off. However, this year, I had a moment of clarity. What if I made a perimeter of a harder, denser, stickier frosting that would contain the brown sugar frosting. A lot of frosting recipes would work for this but I chose royal frosting. Because it hardens and it's easy and you can pipe it.
And that's what I did and this is how it came out.
I even made a perimeter line for the middle layer of frosting.That brown sugar frostingly goodness wasn't going anywhere!
As usual my planning wasn't the best and I scrambled to bake this cake last night before we went to dinner (he had to have his cake with dinner, I would have it no other way). This is my kitchen afterwards.
Actually doesn't look too bad from the photo but let me tell you, brown sugar and confectioners sugar was EVERYWHERE.
If you would like the recipe to this awesomeness, please feel free to comment on this blog and I might just edit the post to include the recipe. If not, no biggie, I'll keep it to myself *insert evil laugh*.
Liz DiNatale
P.S. Happy Birthday to all the September birthdays out there!!!
