Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Perfect Party Cake: Tuesdays with Dorie


This week's TWD pick is the Perfect Party Cake, which was chosen by Carol of Mix, Mix..Stir, Stir. Glad Carol picked this, because it was a challenge I probably never would have chosen myself.

I divided the work into two days--day one, bake cake. That was the easy part...I cooled them, wrapped them and let them sit on the counter over night. When I unwrapped them, that sticky outer layer came off--that's one thing I learned to do anyway in cooking school. Taking that sticky part off, leaves the nice white cake all by itself. This cake, in particular, has a beautiful tight crumb. Besides that, the jam will soak more easily into the cake without that outside. Day two was for the meringue and assembly.

I heated the whites and sugar, then whipped them with the stand mixer, really pumping up the volume. Meringue is beautiful, isn't it?I've said it here before, I'll say it again. these things often are so much easier than they seem...My biggest problem is getting the layers even (that top layer looks a bit ...thinnish, doesn't it?)...I'll work on it. So? To make it again? Work on those layers. I have to go lighter on the jam on that first layer. But besides that? This cake is great. The bit of lemon flavor in the buttercream is so light, so nice...

I loved the idea of adding the fresh raspberries...The playing around ideas look REALLY good, too. Whipped cream instead of the buttercream (I'd probably like the flavor better, but I like the idea of doing the recipe as written first...I'll play next time...). Candied lemons between the layers? Okay. I'm all for that...

As always, check out the recipe at Mix Mix, Stir Stir (if it's not up yet, give Carol time; it'll get there.) And head over to TWD to check out all the other blogs.

Now go have a perfect party.

19 comments:

Celia said...

Perfect! Beautiful photos, Barb..

Pamela said...

Gorgeous cake!! Wonderful job.

Carol Peterman/TableFare said...

Wow! What an excellent result you had with your cake. I am especially happy that I was able to inspire you to make a recipe you might have otherwise skipped over. Well done.

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks gorgeous! I love the fresh raspberries on top. YUM.

Kayte said...

Oh, I love those raspberries around the top. That really sets it off so elegantly. Thanks for the tip about getting the sticky layer off...I did not know that, so I will try that next time as I always usually end up baking cake one day and frosting the next. I think your layers look perfect. So beautiful.

chocolatechic said...

I didn't know that about wrapping the cakes.

Brilliant!

I used cream cheese icing on mine.

Steph said...

Your cake looks wonderful. I love the crumb. The sticky layer bugs me. I never knew it could be peeled right off!

B said...

Looks delicious!

doughmesstic said...

Absolutely beautiful...and great tips!

Amanda said...

Great photos! That cake looks yummy.

isa said...

Looks wonderful! Love the raspberry on top!

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your cake is so beautiful! I made cupcakes and they look like close relatives of your cake!

Hindy said...

Your photos are gorgeous! I could take a fingerful off that meringue beater right now.
Glad you enjoyed!

Leslie said...

Gorgeous, just gorgeous! I never would have noticed the top layer was a tiny bit thinner than the others if you hadn't pointed it out!

♥peachkins♥ said...

This is a gorgeous cake!

Soy*Baby said...

What a beautiful cake. I really want a slice or lick of the frosting at the least.

Sweet as Coco said...

Your cake looks just like the book and fabulous!! I tried the whipped cream in the layers and it was great...made the cake a bit lighter.

AmyRuth said...

Oh goody, I didn't know that was a real baker's trick. That's what I like to do if I have time. That way with a white cake it doesn't show in between the layers when you slice it. Learned something. Your cake is really pretty and your layers are very nice and even. Perfecto!
AmyRuth

Lylah Ledner said...

OH...thanks for stopping by and passing on your suggestion for my grout....:-)

so glad you did...cause you're spot here in the big world is awesome...love that cake. i want a itsy bitsy piece, pretty please :-)