Vanilla Birthday cake with Buttercream Icing

222

PREP TIME

90 min

TOTAL TIME

2 hrs 30 min

Makes

1 Two-Tiered Cake

Vanilla Birthday cake with Buttercream Icing

Roberto Caruso

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter , at room temperature
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 6-inch cake board
  • 4 drinking straws
  • coloured chocolate disk

For vanilla buttercream icing

  • 7 large egg whites
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp vanilla
  • 4 cups unsalted butter , at room temperature, cut into cubes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray 2 8-in. round and 2 6-in. round cake pans with oil, line with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Combine flour with baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, and stir with a fork to blend. Reserve.
  • Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. Add vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beat until combined after each.
  • Scoop about 3½ cups of batter into each 8-in. pan, and divide remaining batter between 6-in. pans. Bake in centre of oven for 50 to 60 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 15 min, then run a knife along inside edges of pan and turn cakes out on a rack to cool completely. Use a serrated knife to cut domes off of cake to make flat tops (this makes it possible to stack layers).
  • To make buttercream icing:
    Combine egg whites with sugar and salt in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over simmering water and cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 min or until sugar has just dissolved. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on high for 4 to 5 min or until icing forms stiff peaks when beaters are raised.
  • Reduce speed to medium. Add vanilla. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, and continue to beat for 4 to 5 min or until icing looks satiny and has cooled to room temperature (icing may turn runny, but will thicken as you continue to whisk).
  • To assemble cake:
    Spread a bit of icing on a cake stand or platter. Place an 8-in. cake layer on stand. Spread 1½ cups icing on cake to edges. Top with second 8-in. cake. Spread a layer of icing on top and sides of cake, smoothing surface with a palette knife or spatula.
  • Cut 4 straws to the height of the 8-in. cake. Poke straws into the centre of cake, about 3 in. apart. They should just reach the top of the cake and will help hold up the second tier. Place the 6-in. cake board on the centre of larger cake.
  • Spread a bit of icing on cake board. Place a 6-in. cake layer on board. Spread ¾ cup icing on cake to edges. Top with second 6-in. cake. Spread remaining icing on tops and sides of cake, smoothing surface.
  • Decorate cake with assorted colours of chocolate disks.
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