Totally Surprised Birthday Cake Recipes

TOWERING BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• For Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend butter, shortening and sugar with the paddle attachment until creamy. Add the cocoa to the butter mixture along with the milk and extract. Continue to mix until well combined. Turn off the mixer and gently fold in chocolate chips with a spatula. Set frosting in the refrigerator to firm up to a spreadable consistency while the cake is prepared.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, including sides. Cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit the pan bottoms and lay in place. Then spray the paper.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time. Stir in the vanilla until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk. Beat for 1 minute after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the cake's structure. Mix until the batter is smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a spatula, the pans should be 2/3 full. Place pans on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack, peel off the paper and let cool for at least 1 hour. Level the tops of the cakes with a serrated knife if domed in the middle. To divide each cake in half to give 4 layers: cut a vertical notch on the side of the cakes so you can easily line up the layers when assembling. Place one hand flat on top and the serrated blade along the side of the cake. Rotate the cake against the knife as you slice. Carefully separate the layers and brush away any loose crumbs. To make sugar glaze: combine sugar, water and rum in a small saucepan. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Brush the sugar glaze on the cake layers to moisten and add extra flavor.
• Put a cardboard cake round or plate on a lazy Susan; so it easier to turn and frost the cake. Lay 1 cake layer on the plate. With a metal spatula, spread about 1/2 cup of chocolate buttercream frosting on top of the base. Carefully place another cake layer on top. Do this for the remaining 2 layers.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake thoroughly. Refrigerate for 45 minutes before decorating or cutting.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LAYERED BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with a parchment circle. Butter the parchment and the sides of the pan.
• For the cookie layer: Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and both sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg, and beat until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Reduce the speed to medium, add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Press the cookie dough into an even layer in the prepared cake pan, and bake until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the layer cool for about 10 minutes. It will collapse slightly as it cools. To make the layer even, press the bottom and sides down with the bottom of a measuring cup.
• For the cake layer: Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat the granulated sugar and oil with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the vanilla. Alternate folding the flour mixture and the milk into the batter with a spatula, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. Stir in the sprinkles. (The cake batter will be on the thin side, like a thick pancake batter.)
• Pour the cake batter over the cookie layer, and bake until the middle of the cake springs back when pressed and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake, and let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Transfer the cake from the pan to a serving plate, with the cookie layer on the bottom.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until smooth and all the sugar has dissolved (rub some between your fingers; if it's gritty, keep beating). Add the cream and vanilla, and continue to beat until medium peaks form. Frost the cake, and decorate with more sprinkles.

EASY SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 8-inch cake pans.
• Place the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl, and mash together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is creamy and thoroughly combined. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, and pour into the butter mixture. Stir until combined.
• Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl, and lightly stir into the butter mixture. Pour half the batter into each prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on wire racks.

RAINBOW SURPRISE INSIDE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray two 8-inch round cake pans; place 8-inch round piece of cooking parchment paper in bottom of each pan. Grease or spray parchment paper. In large bowl, beat 1 box cake mix and ingredients called for on box with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on high speed about 2 minutes or until smooth. Spread in pans. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes; run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Gently remove from pans to cooling rack; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, repeat to make 2 more layers.
• Flatten cake layers by trimming off rounded tops. In 2 layers, cut small round out of center, using 4-inch round cutter.
• To assemble cake: Place 1 uncut cake layer on cake stand or serving platter; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with 1 layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with second layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top.
• Fill cake with candies and candy sprinkles. Gently press candies to level; top with full cake layer. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting.