80th Sprinkle Cake

I absolutely love making these sprinkle cakes. They are always so much fun. I’ve done one for a 70th birthday and a 16th birthday.

I’ve found a trick to making these cakes… you first have to accept the fact that sprinkles will get everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. Definitely need to vacuum after you make a sprinkle cake.

This cake was a vanilla and a chocolate cake, two layers of each.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare two 8-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.
2. Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.
3. Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute to add air to the batter.
4. Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely.
6. Cut and remove the cake tops to level each cake before frosting.

Vanilla Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (750 ml) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups (500 ml) sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) canola oil
• 1 1/4 cup (310 ml) milk

Directions:

1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350 °F. Butter two 8-inch pans and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer for about 10 minutes or until thick, pale and triple in volume. Drizzle in the oil while beating.
4. At low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until the batter is smooth. Divide the batter into the pans and bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes. Remove from the pans and let completely cool on a wire rack.
5. Cut and remove the cake tops to level each cake before frosting.

Buttercream

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted icing sugar
• 2 tablespoons of milk*

Directions:

1. In large bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla.
2. Gradually add icing sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.
3. Gradually add milk; beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
4. For thin (spreading) consistency icing, add 2 tablespoons of milk.