Towering Birthday Cake Recipes

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.

TOTALLY SURPRISED BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the lemon filling:
• Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Gradually stir in the water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon zest. Gradually whisk in the lemon juice. Let cool completely before using.
• Make the berry topping:
• Put the berries in a bowl and sprinkle with the sugar. Toss gently and let stand for 1 hour or so while you prepare the cake.
• Make the cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a large mixing bowl, blend the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat in the shortening, 2/3 cup of the milk, and the vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes, frequently scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining 1/3 cup of milk and the egg whites, and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until the center of each cake springs back when lightly touched, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely on wire racks.
• Make the frosting:
• Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until they hold a soft peak. Meanwhile, mix the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Cook to 242 degrees F on a candy thermometer, or until a tiny bit of syrup dropped into a bowl of cool water and then pulled between the thumb and forefinger spins a 6- to 8-inch thread. With the mixer running, pour the hot syrup very slowly into the beaten egg whites. Continue beating with the electric mixer until the frosting holds stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla and use immediately.
• Place one of the cake layers upside down on a cake platter and, with a flexible spatula, spread the lemon filling almost to the outer edge. Place the second layer right-side up on the filling. Frost the sides, bringing the frosting up to form a rim around the edge of the top layer. Spread the frosting evenly over the top, making attractive swirls. Spoon the macerated berries and juice on the top of the cake, allowing the juices to run down the sides. Serve immediately.

TOWERING FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Put the bittersweet and unsweetened chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until the chocolate melts, then remove the bowl from the pan.
• Put the eggs, turbinado sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over the same pan of simmering water and whisk until the mixture is warm, about 2 minutes. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer; beat with the whisk attachment on medium speed until tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the beer and vanilla to a low boil in a saucepan. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the beer mixture, then the melted chocolate, until combined, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the butter until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack 1 hour, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the ring. Let cool completely.
• Make the meringue: Microwave the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate melts.
• Whisk the granulated sugar, egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and 1/3 cup water in a heatproof bowl. Put the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; beat with a handheld mixer on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high and beat until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan; continue beating until the meringue is cool and fluffy. Fold in the vanilla, then fold in the melted chocolate until swirled. Spread the meringue on the cake.

THE BEST BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly spray three 8-inch cake pans with nonstick spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds and spray again.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, eggs, and egg whites until evenly combined. Add the vanilla and milk and whisk until incorporated.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the granulated sugar and salt. Sift in the cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix on low speed to incorporate.
• Cut the butter into tablespoon-sized pieces. With the mixer running on low speed, add the butter to the dry ingredients, one piece at a time. Continue mixing until a sandy, coarse meal forms, 3-4 minutes.
• With the mixer running on low speed, pour in one-quarter of the wet ingredients at a time and mix to incorporate, scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth.
• Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and gently fold in the sprinkles with a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans, tapping the pans on the counter a couple of times to release any large air bubbles.
• Bake the cakes for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. 8. Set the pans on a wire rack and let the cakes cool completely, about 1 hour. Once cooled, run an offset spatula around the edges of the pans to loosen the cakes, then invert onto the rack and remove the parchment rounds.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer (or in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment), whip the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.
• With the mixer running on low speed, add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time. Once incorporated, add the cream, vanilla, and salt. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat for 3 minutes, until the frosting is fluffy.
• Assemble the cake: Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the top of each cake to create a flat surface. Discard the scraps.
• Smear a bit of frosting onto an 8-inch cake round set on top of a cake stand, then place a cake layer on the round. Use a large offset spatula to spread an even layer of frosting over the cake. Place another cake layer on top and frost. Place the last cake layer, bottom-side up, on top and spread a thin layer of frosting over the top and sides of the cake to make the crumb coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, until the frosting is set.
• Generously spread a thick, even layer of frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Decorate the cake with the remaining frosting and sprinkles as desired.
• Slice and serve. Cake can be kept at room temperature for 2 hrs and refrigerated for 3 days.
• Enjoy!