The Cake...

Oh my goodness... what a project I took on today! It shouldn't have been quite as much work as it ended up being, but sometimes things just don't go as planned.

I'm not a very good baker, so it makes projects like this even more of a challenge.

I set out to make Alan a simple chocolate cake for his birthday. Just a couple of layers and some yummy homemade frosting. Nothing fancy.

I whipped up the first cake batter, popped it in the oven and baked it as the directions stated. Maybe it's because of the humidity here lately (HUGE storm going right now!) but the cake didn't really rise all that much, although it was really "cakey" and looked beautiful! I thought maybe it was just a bad mix and since I had another mix in the cupboard, I decided to make a second cake and see if maybe it would bake up better and I would be able to make his cake out of the second baked cake.

Well..... the second cake didn't rise much more than the first one, but it looked beautiful too! So. What should be done with 4 beautiful, but FLAT, cake layers?

I stacked them up!

This photo does really show the size of this cake ... four 9" cake rounds... and it's 8" high at the center of the cake. I can't believe I actually got it to stack straight! And it didn't topple over! I served three pieces out of this cake tonight, and barely made a dent. SHEESH!  I think we're going to be eating cake for a good long while.

Maybe the gal that works at the post office will like some cake tomorrow... and maybe the mail man too... Hmmm....

Comments

[Juanita]

OOOOOOOH, AAAAAAAH!! The photo looks good enough to eat! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE chocolate cake. One time a made a scratch chocolate cake with coffee in it and my granddaughters hated it, LOL. Their taste buds were no conducive to fresh and real products, ha ha. They like cake from the bakery in the supermarket!

One thing I was taught was not to beat the cake too much, it will cause it to not rise well, and as you said, the humidity can be a factor. HTH. HUGS.

[Heather (kysmom)]

Oh man, I immediately began salivating at the sight of your beautiful cake... don't hesitate to send some my way if you have too much!! ;)

[janetwmarks]

I love cake and am not much for frosting, but if this is homemade icing, I can make an exception! You know my address. Send Pierre with the cake. He will be sleeping too much anyway to notice it. (send an extra piece with the Fed-Ex guy too so he doesn't touch my piece) Hugs to the baker! janet in nc

[Lois Michael]

Your cake makes my mouth water. Looks delicious.....Please take a bite for me.
Thanks

[aileen (bubbles)]

YUUMMMYYY! I'd gladly take some cake off your hands!

[Bagpuss (Helen)]

Wow - that cake looks gorgeous! But you used a MIX?????? I'm shocked (and a little relieved, too) - I thought you could do EVERYTHING!

[Jeanne in Idaho]

Well, Happy Birthday to Allan - Anna - when do you SLEEP?!?!?!? (Beautiful cake - my mouth is watering!!)

[Sandy Kay]

Anna,
Yes, please do give some cake to the mail carrier! My husband is a retired carrier and he loved getting treats from his customers! I bet it tastes great!
Sandy Kay

[Dotty]

Looks oh so sinful and yummy!!! Save a piece for your UPS man/woman! :)

[jkincolorado]

Like I said earlier...cake ships well to Colorado. Especially CHOCOLATE cake :)

You did good!

[Anne]

Can I have a slice? Mmmm looks good!

[Ester]

Anna, your cake looks delicious. My hb tells me he didnt marry me for my baking skills. lol

[Kathy]

That looks delicious. I guess you can now add "cake baking" to your long list of talents!

[mj]

WOW! That cake looks deeeeelicious! Homemade chocolate frosting??? I'm intrigued.

[StamperSharon]

Yum-O, looks like you did a fine job to me! HB to Alan!

[Viv (VivLyn)]

It sure looks good to me and I'm the only female I know that is not a chocoholic! BUT I do like frosting!!!

[Rosette]

The chocolatecake looks really yummy!! I´m curious about the recipe of homemade chocolate frosting.