Are you the fruit cake in your family? Before you raise your eyebrow, I would suggest you read on to know what I mean.

The fruit cake has tantalized the world for centuries. When you take a lip smacking bite, you will experience the taste of culture and valued traditions. The fruit cake which I would love to offer you will be an ideal one, with a high content of fruits and nuts in proportion to the batter. You will taste the rich content of French cherries, almonds, California nuts, pineapple, orange peel and lemon. To make it more mouthwatering how about a dash of brand and liquor added to it…hmmm, expensive and irresistible, isn’t it?

If you want to go for a stronger aroma and sharper flavor, then relish the darker version of the fruit cake. The dark fruit cake contains prunes, dates, cherries, walnuts, brown sugar and molasses.

If you love the subtle taste, then you can go for the light fruit cake. The delicate taste is attributed to the presence of granulated sugar, golden raisins, pineapple, apricots and light corn syrup.

When you go for your treks and campaigns, tuck in a pack of fruit cakes. Your friends will love you for this. The best thing about the fruit cake is that it has a tendency to last for months and still retain its intrinsic flavor. You will be pleased to know that the fruit cake has a tendency to freeze very well. However it is ideal to have a time gap of a month before freezing.

Enough of preaching about it. Now let me treat you with a fruit cake.

Whoever said ‘take your own sweet time’ must have said it with reference to the fruit cake. First I will prepare the nuts and fruits. Then I will pour the liquor to be used over them. Let me keep the mixture well covered for two or three days. Sorry to keep you waiting, but then if you want it sweet and nice; you will have to kill time. Okay then, I will prepare the batter and bake your cake. I need to remember that the fruit cake should be baked at a low temperature. I will coat the pan with waxed paper so that the sides of the cake do not get burned. You see the fruit cake involves long baking time. When I am done, you can take the cake tester and insert it in the center of the cake. If you see that it is moist and not doughy, then you are ready to pop a piece into your mouth.

You may think of the fruit cake as a typical Christmas dish. But as I told you before, the fruit cake has a centuries old tradition behind it. Did you know that during the 13th century, dried fruit began to arrive to England from Portugal and the east Mediterranean? During the later half of 1700s, England distributed fruit cake slices to women who sang Christmas carols. The fruit cakes were frequently used in celebrations from the turn of the 18th century. It remains a custom in England for unmarried wedding guests to put a slice of dark fruitcake under their pillow at night so they could dream of the person they will marry.

If you want to know the oldest fruit cake company in the United States, then I would suggest you visit the Collin Street Bakery, Corsicana, Texas. It was set up in the year 1896. So much has been the impact of the fruit cake through out the years, that the oldest family in the household is called the fruit cake.

So now you decide, who is the lovable and respected fruit cake in your home?

This recipe as with all my recipes give you the opportunity to enjoy fantastic food, while supplying much needed food for those around the globe just by buying the main ingredient.

Ingredients

Cake:

1 cup butter, unsalted

2 cups sugar

5 large eggs beaten

3 cups flour

1

]]> http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/blackberry-jam-cake-with-caramel-icing/feed/ http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/italian-rum-cake/ http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/italian-rum-cake/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:03:00 +0000 admin http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/italian-rum-cake/

Cake:

6 whole eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon rum concentrate

1 cup cake flour

In a 5 quart mixing bowl whip the eggs and rum concentrate adding the sugar 1/3 at a time allowing 3 to 4 minutes between additions until all the sugar is in, whip until real fluffy and fold in your cake flour, add mixture to 3-9×1inch cake pans, bake in preheated 350 degree oven until golden brown, cool.

Syrup For Cake:

1 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup rum concentrate

Combine corn syrup and rum concentrate

When cake is cool drizzle syrup on to all 3 layers of cake.

Filling:

6 egg yolks

3 tablespoons corn starch

1/3 cup sugar

2 cup milk

1/2 cup rum concentrate

In a stainless steel sauce pan whip together eggs, cornstarch, sugar, milk and rum concentrate. Place pan on stove over medium heat until thick mixing regularly, don’t burn. Cool to room temperature.

Assemble Cake:

Starting with cake on a cake board or whatever the place filling evenly and repeating until ending with cake on top.

Your cake is now ready to be frosted:

Frost with whip cream. Don’t forget to put your sliced almonds on the sides and shaved chocolate on top with the cherries.

Baking a cake is one of the best ways to make any occasion extra special. Here you will find some of the most popular trends in use now for both cakes and cupcakes.

Today, it is possible to creatively customize a cake to look almost like anything. The most popular methods in decorating trends includes the use of fondant because of its smooth surface, vivid colors, uniquely crafted shapes and chic finish. The next two favorite icings include butter cream and cream cheese. Cake and cupcake flavors in the top spot are carrot, chocolate, white, lemon, almond, red velvet, tuxedo, strawberry, orange and pistachio. Do you want a delectable filling for even more taste? Try one of these top picks of raspberry, bavarian cream, white chocolate mousse, chocolate mousse, strawberry, mint, lemon, fudge and cream cheese.
Bright, vivid colors are also a growing trend in the world of cakes and cupcakes. These colors add flair and fun to any occasion, whether it is for a wedding or a birthday party. Summer colors range from brilliant oranges, lemony yellows, sky blues, petal pinks, shamrock greens and other bold summer mixtures. Guests will love these delightful cakes and cupcakes when you serve them at outdoor events during the summer months.

The rising popularity of having cupcakes instead of cakes at large and small festivities is another trend that is sweeping the cake decorating world. Cupcakes are becoming the new fad for the main dessert at parties and many brides are using cupcakes instead of the more traditional wedding cake at their receptions. Cupcakes come in an assortment of tasty flavors and can be iced and decorated many ways. A cupcake wedding cake is made by using dozens of individual cupcakes. These can be all one flavor or you can have a variety of flavors to appeal to different guests. They are usually set on a cupcake tower or elaborate pedestal for a stunning presentation. When all of the cupcakes are placed on the pedestal, it resembles a traditional layer cake, but instead of layers you have delectable cupcakes. This is a grand way to present cupcakes, but setting them at individual place settings has also become popular at weddings.

The popular trend for brides is moving toward a simple, yet elegant cake, using smooth fondant finishes covered with royal icing dots or simulated pearls to create the look of porcelain. These cakes will have a somewhat higher price tag of up to $12 per slice. Butter cream icings decorated with fresh flowers or gum paste flowers are still very popular for weddings. Cake decorating is sometimes more artful with creations made to look like famous people such as Elvis, Princess Diana, or Mickey Mouse.

The fall season is right around the corner and top decorating trends this year are already becoming obvious. Cupcakes are a favorite with adults and children, so Monster cupcakes are a sure hit for your Halloween party. Decorate them using icing to make vampires, witches, ghosts and monster faces on the tops. For monster fangs, use candy corns and gummy worms for an even more added frightening presentation. If you are wanting to bake and decorate a fabulous cake or make cupcakes for a Thanksgiving event, start a new tradition and use a butter cream icing decorated with leaves in assorted fall colors on the tops and sides of the cake and tops of the cupcakes. The brighter the colors, the better, for an autumn celebration.

Tea parties are also at the top of the list for party planning, so add lovely, delicately decorated cupcakes to these events in beautiful pastel colors for the topping on the so called cake for your party.

The use of sugar-styled art or gum paste art on cakes and cupcakes for use in the decorating process is a major trend being used this year. These can be molded and crafted to look like gum paste animals, flowers, and sculptures as well as detailed and endearing sugared flowers, ribbons and leaves. Add more elegance by using luster dust, customized molds and forms which can be found at craft stores. Fondant plays an important part here as well, as it can be used in molding and forming any of the specialty shapes and creations of the decorator.

Many cupcake specialty stores are opening nationwide serving cakes and cupcakes with creative designs and flavors. These trendy gourmet cake shops are in demand due to their nostalgic presentation of a favorite dessert that everyone loves to eat.

So, get creative and start decorating using your favorite themes. Get your inspiration from movies or favorite TV shows. Use cookie cutters to help decorate your cake, as they come in many different shapes and designs. Or, use fresh fruit sprinkled with sparkle dust for a stunning presentation.

If you are a cake decorator, you know how important sturdy cake boards are. Even if you are new to the art of cake decoration, you need proper cake boards in order to create masterpieces. If you are looking for a high quality cake board, you should consider masonite cake boards. Made from sturdy fiberboard, these cake boards are perfect for cakes of all sizes.

One of the best features of masonite cake boards is their strength and long term resilience. These boards are extremely heavy duty. They are made from compressed fibers, so their density is unmatched. They will last for years and years. You might even find yourself handing them down through the generations, because they will almost assuredly not break. And their maintenance requirements are non-existent, so you don’t have to worry about caring for them at all.

Masonite cake boards are used by all the professionals. Wedding cakes are almost always constructed using these amazing boards because they will hold very heavy cakes and can be stacked and pillared. They are available in almost any size and shape, from circles, to sheets, to hearts. You can use them for a large birthday cake, a five-tier wedding cake, or anything in-between!

Masonite cake boards are easy to use. You simply select the shape and size of board you need and cover it with foil or another easy-to-use material. Some cake decorators choose to use the traditional cardboard under some of their cakes as well, especially circle cakes. Just use a little tape to keep the cardboard on the masonite board. Or you can place the cake directly on the covered board, it’s completely up to you.

Just as Jack o’ Lanterns can inspire laughter, the heebie-jeebies, or a round of “Trick or Treat!” so can your sculpted Jack o’ Lantern cakes!

If you’re new to cake decorating or cake sculpting, you’ll find the Jack O’ Lantern cake is fun and easy. And, if you’re already experienced, you will have all the more fun by adding intricate details. Either way, this Jack o’ Lantern Halloween cake is sure to light up faces at your next Halloween party.

Jack o’ Lantern Cake Instructions

Before you whip up a batch of buttercream, take out a piece of paper and sketch some Jack o’ Lantern faces. If you have kids at the house, enlist their help. Searching “Google Images” for Jack o’ Lantern will also deliver lots of ideas. Once you’ve narrowed down your favorites to a final selection, practice drawing it to make the piping easier.

Ready? Here we go!

1. Bake 2 Bundt cakes. Coincidentally, pumpkin works like a charm for a Halloween sculpture cake because of its firmness (see recipe below). Butter cake works well too.

2. After releasing and cooling the 2 cakes, level the bottoms.

3. Ice the bottoms with orange buttercream (non crusting is best for this project). Place one upsidedown, and the other on top, so the iced bottoms fit together.

4. Now, cover the cake with orange buttercream. As you smooth your icing, you can work with the natural indentions left by the Bundt pans that mimic the vertical lines on a real pumpkin.

5. Using the orange buttercream, pipe the outlines of the ****** features. If you make a mistake, just smooth it and start over. 5. Now for the fun part! Here are a few ideas for creating the details of your Jack o’ Lantern’s face.

a. Fit an icing bag with a small star tip and fill with chocolate buttercream. Fill in the eyes, nose and gaps between the teeth.

b. After completing the step above, add details such as pupils to the eyes with icing candies, like M&M’s and black licorice.

c. To make your Jack o’ Lantern glow, use yellow gel instead of chocolate buttercream (remember not to cover the teeth and other places that would be left intact in a real Jack o’ Lantern).

d. Instead of piping ****** features, bring Jack to life by modeling eyes, nose, teeth and any other features you want to add (eyebrows?) with rolled butterceam icing or marzipan.

Just like a real Jack O’ Lantern your Bundt o’ Lantern will have a hole in the top. Here are a few ways you can put the lid on Jack.

a. Cover an ice cream cone with green or chocolate buttercream and using icing, adhere this upside down over the hole in the top. Then using a large leaf tip, pipe a few green leaves around the top.

b. Model the stem and leaves with rolled buttercream.

c. Save just enough batter from the recipe below to make a cupcake. Trim it for the stem shape you want and adhere with icing to the top.

And here’s your pumpkin cake recipe!

Halloween Pumpkin Cake

Note: This pumpkin cake makes a great treat for grown-ups too, and it’s even more devilishly delicious with a buttercream and chopped nuts icing.

4 cups canned pumpkin

6 cups sugar

2 cup vegetable oil

6 eggs

6 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350

]]> http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/jack-o-lantern-halloween-cake-a-bundt-cake-treat/feed/ http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/baking-coffee-cake/ http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/baking-coffee-cake/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:40:10 +0000 admin http://www.cakesandberries.com/2010/04/baking-coffee-cake/

Coffee cakes aren’t really cakes at all, they’re a type of quick bread; a bread dough that doesn’t contain yeast. Coffee cakes are made by the simple method of mixing the dry ingredients together first, then cutting the cold fat (butter or shortening) into the dry ingredients, and lastly mixing the wet ingredients into the dry. This is also the way that biscuits and most quick breads are made. There are some coffee cake recipes that call for vegetable oil as the fat-this is supposed to make a moister and tenderer coffee cake.

Coffee Cake benefits from the addition of nuts, raisins, dried fruit, or just about any other sweet things that you like. You can also make a savory coffee cake with the addition of meats, onions, and other vegetables and spices. Also, try baking your coffee cake in a muffin pan instead of the traditional round layer cake pan or bundt cake pan. These make a quick breakfast that you can grab on your way out the door in the morning.

Coffee Cakes can be assembled at night and mixed together the next morning. Just mix all the wet ingredients together in one bowl, and all the dry ingredients together in another bowl. Put this in the fridge overnight and in the morning preheat the oven, mix the two bowls of ingredients together, and pop into the preheated oven. It will be done when your coffee is done brewing!

Coffee cake freezes well for about 6 months if tightly wrapped. When thawing, leave the wrapping on it until it’s all thawed out. This prevents condensation from collecting on the cake as it thaws which can make the coffee cake sticky and damp on the outside.

The moment we think of bakery products, first thing that comes into mind is the cake. We cannot even think of celebrating any happy occasion without a cake. A cake is the essence of all parties liked by people of all ages.

One can choose cake of their individual choice for celebrating the occasion. There are many varieties of cakes available. The type of cake includes cake made from chocolates like chocolate rum cake, fudge cake and chocolate orange cake. All the chocolate cakes are made from exotic moist chocolate, rum, some with orange and rinds. Other type of cake includes Pineapple cake, Pineapple and raisins cake made from margarine or butter cheeriest chunks and seedless raisins.

Marble cake, Honey cake, and Spicy ginger cakes are made from cocoa, honey, golden syrup, black treacle, dark brown sugar and rich spices. For people in love with fruits the choice can be Rich fruitcake, Light fruitcake, wheaten fruitcake, and Carrot cake. These cakes are made from melted butter with sherry brandy dried fruits carrot bananas walnuts and almonds. All these cakes are available in beautiful colors and attractive sizes.

In general, there are two types of cake: foam and butter cake. The differentiation is based on the amount of fat containing. Cakes that do not contain fat, like sponge, angel food and chiffon cakes are referred as foam cakes. They contain large proportion of egg and not butter. Foam cake includes eggs and includes egg whites or whole eggs or yolks, with sugar, folded into a small proportion of flour. They are fat free cake. Cakes like Chiffon and Angel Cake is perfect example of foam cake made from vegetable oil, egg yolks dry ingredients chocolate, strawberry and Bavarian cream. People who want to enjoy cake with fruits and ice cream can go for Meringue cakes.

One can also enjoy the taste of chocolate, fruit, pastry cream, or whipped cream along with egg yolk in Genoese Cake. Sponge cakes may contain milk for soft and dry texture. It can be any type of cake. The making process and ingredients included is same.

This is a beautiful looking cake that is perfect for the holidays.

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

Raspberry Filling

Chocolate Glaze

Directions

Prepare packaged cake mix according to directions for two 9-inch cake rounds. Cool cake for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and put on wire racks or plates; cool completely.

Raspberry Filling

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

2/3 cup milk

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups fresh raspberries, divided

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the flour and milk; mix until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Let cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla. Beat in the milk mixture until sugar is dissolved (about 5 minutes).

Place bottom cake layer on serving plate. Spread cake with 1 cup of filling. Place the remaining filling in a pastry bag with a star tip (or use a resealable plastic bag and cut a hole in the corner). Pipe filling around the outside edges of the cake.

Sprinkle 1-3/4 cups of fresh raspberries over filling. Put the remaining layer on top. Chill cake in refrigerator. Top with Chocolate Glaze.

Chocolate Glaze

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons half and half cream

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

White chocolate garnish and pearl dragees (optional)

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, cream, butter and corn syrup. Cook over low heat until the chocolate is melted; stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat; stir until smooth.

Spread enough of the glaze on top of cake to completely cover. Put cake back in the refrigerator and let chill for 10 minutes. Take cake out of refrigerator and pour on remaining glaze; letting glaze drip over the sides. Chill cake for 1 hour. Decorate the top of cake with fresh raspberries, white chocolate garnish and pearl dragees.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Christmas Cake Recipes: Gingerbread Torte Cake

A delicious gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting.

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup molasses

3 cups all purpose flour

3 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

Cream Cheese Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line three 9-inch cake pans with waxed paper. Spray paper with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with flour. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Beat in the molasses.

In another bowl, combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool for 10 minutes then remove to wire racks; let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

3-3/4 cups confectioners sugar

Directions

In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese and the butter. Add in the lemon peel. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar; blend well.

Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with a layer of frosting (about 2/3 cup). Put the second layer on top and spread same amount of frosting on top. Repeat with top layer. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Our kid birthday cake idea collection makes cake decorating fun and fearless. You don’t have to be a pastry chef to create a professional quality cake for your child’s birthday or other special event. Learn unique and easy cake decorating ideas to make spectacular homemade cakes.

PARTY CAKE CONCEPT AND DESIGN

The most important kid birthday cake idea is choosing a cake concept which fits with your party theme. You can start with a simple sheet cake topped with small toys or figures, or piece the cake itself to form a unique design.

For example, a Construction Party cake could be topped with tiny toy dumptrucks and bulldozers pushing a chocolate chip mountain. Or, the cake itself could be cut, pieced and frosted to look like a dump truck.

For a Train Party, set a miniature choo-choo train on licorice tracks atop your cake, or line up several brightly colored frosted loaf cakes to form train cars.

For a Luau party, a simple round or sheet cake can be festooned with a silk flower lei, or form a string of cupcakes in a circle and adorn each one with silk or frosting flowers. Connect with a licorice string to make a cupcake “lei”.

Baking cakes in an oven-safe glass bowl or in a special 3D sports ball pan is great for making any kind of perfectly round ball cake, or the dress part of a Barbie doll cake. A wonder mold cake pan makes small single serving doll cakes and other cute creations!

Think of the design you’d like to make and what shapes you need to make it - round, sheet, loaf, cupcakes, or a combination.

Peruse cake decorating books for a kid birthday cake idea which fits your needs. Many books provide templates forcutting and piecing cakes to create any number of popular designs. You decide just how simple or challenging your cake will be.

For a no-fuss kid birthday cake idea, apply an edible cake art image to the top of a frosted cake. Many popular themes and copyrighted images such as Disney are available to provide a professional looking cake design.

Themed cake pans are another popular cake decorating option. They provide the shape and visual design to follow for an impressive finished cake. Popular TV and cartoons characters are well represented in cake pans, as well as teddy bears, butterflies, pirates, Tigger,Mickey Mouse, and lots more.

FROSTING CHOICES

Homemade Frosting - Dig up that famous family recipe or check out one of the many online recipe sites and make your cake frosting from scratch. Be sure to plan ahead how much of each color will be needed for both basic foundation and decorative trim.

Canned and Tube Frostings - Easiest and quickest, prepared canned frostings are available in grocery stores in the baking aisle with the cake mixes. They generally come in white, chocolate, and a handful of other popular flavors. Keep a few ready-to-use tube frostings on hand in various basic colors to add the finishing touches.

Fondant Frosting - Gaining in popularity in this country in recent years, fondant frosting gives a beautiful smooth finish to your cake decorating creation. Fondant can be rolled out and draped over a cake, poured on as a glaze, or sculpted into shapes. It is easily tinted, and can be flavored as well. Ready-made fondant is available through party supply outlets. There are also many recipes online for homemade fondant.

CAKE DECORATING WITH CANDY AND SMALL TOYS

Cookies, candies, and other materials can be used for special and impressive effects. Frosted sugar cones can serve as the fins on a space ship cake or the turrets on a castle cake. Make a surprise cake filling with jello.

A wide variety of plastic stand-ups or cake toppers are available in craft stores. Or, simply use a toy which fits in with the party theme as a cake topper and give it to the party child when the party is over. Action figures, small dolls, animals and cartoon characters all make good choices.

Add cool candy accents with M & M’s, licorice pieces, licorice whips, animal crackers, oreo cookies, paper umbrellas, pretzel sticks, tootsie rolls, jimmies, gummies such as worms, bears, etc, gumdrops, mini marshmallows, colored coconut, jellybeans.

THE LATEST CAKE DECORATING FADS!

There are many novel choices for placing the finishing touches on your party cake. Dress it up in style with one or more of these unique special effects:

Spray Color Mist - is a fun addition to your baking repertoire. Frost your cake white, then spray on edible color from an aerosol can. Available in many colors, it can be used with stencils to make unique designs, as a highlight to whipped topping - even on your child’s mashed potatoes!

Luster Dusts - are an edible food safe “dust” which can be used on any frosting recipe that dries hard and firm to the touch. Brush it on white frosting for a metallic-like glossy sheen or layer it for interesting color effects.

Cake Stampers - can be used along with brush-on color for fondant icing. Simply stamp shapes and designs into the finished fondant and tint with brush-on color.

Cake Stencils - Place stencil on iced cake and sprinkle edible glitter, confetti sprinkles, or use spray-on color mist.

Edible Color Markers - These unique markers are used just like an ink marker. Draw fun designs on cakes, cookies, fondant frosting, even cheese, fruit slices and bread. Decorating marker kits are available for children.

Edible sugar-shape decorations,
decorative candles, themed cake picks and rings,and edible glitter are all fun tools in your cake baking arsenal.

Now you’re armed with lots of great ideas for cake decorating success - without fear!

Go forth and create… and above all, have fun!

For more cake decorating information, check out our webpage: Kid Birthday Cake Idea Collection

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