the microphone cake and cookies
;)
For Charlotte's cake, I searched high and low for a suitable microphone-shaped baking pan, all to no avail. Then it dawned on me that I could construct the microphone shape using a jelly roll pan and a 9-inch cake pan. Two weeks before the party, I made my favorite yellow cake (I tripled the recipe), wrapped both cakes in Saran Wrap and aluminum foil and put them in the freezer until I was ready to decorate.
;)
The day before the party, I took the cakes out of the freezer and cut them into the desired microphone shape (I used a ruler and toothpick to first trace the shape before cutting). I suggest that you do not let the cakes defrost before cutting and frosting, otherwise, you will have crumbs everywhere.
I frosted the cakes with my favorite cream cheese frosting (1 lb. softened cream cheese, 2 sticks softened butter, 1 t. vanilla, a ton of powdered sugar – about 3 cups). Wanting everything to match perfectly, I mixed the frosting colors according to the illustration I used on Charlotte's invitation. I planned on using a star tip to frost the entire cake but quickly thought otherwise when the final cake ended up measuring approximately 48 inches tall!
Struggling with what to put the cake on (I didn't exactly have a cake stand that was 4' tall!), I bought 2 pieces of white foam board, glued them together and voila, the perfect cake base for Charlotte's oversized microphone.
Using an offset spatula, I carefully spread the frosting and then used various cake decorating tips for the details. Much more time efficient and good for my overall mental health.
;)
The finishing touches to the cake were my favorite cream cheese sugar cookies. The rest of the cookies were packaged in glassine bags for favors and the remaining ones set out on trays for treats at the party.
I ended up with quite a bit of leftover cake scraps so Amelia and I frosted a smaller cake which she then decorated herself for a pre-party celebration. A budding pastry chef in the making!
Tune in for party details tomorrow...
03.10.2010
Reader Comments (13)
Ooooh those star cookies look great. The colors are fantastic. Lovely final product!
That is very ambitious - especially considering the cake is larger than most my kids. Love how it turned out!
That is seriously impressive. It's tires me out just thinking about that big of a project.
Wow! How great! Absolutely love the colors, and it is just so cute!
I have to tell you how much I love your party planning ideas. I used your favor ideas for a baby shower I threw recently (you can see it on my blog http://awspencer.blogspot.com/2010/03/cant-take-all-credit.html). However, I have to ask exactly what you use to spread the icing on the cookies. I made the Royal Icing and your Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies (sooo yummy), but I couldn't get my frosting to look as professional as yours. Thank you for this blog...I LOVE it!
Very clever and I just love the colors you used! So pretty.
I am new to your blog and I just love it! I can't wait to see all the party pics, such a cute cake!
love it! Thanks for the inspiring ideas. I LOVE all your work!
I seriously wish you were my mom… or sister… I’d even settle for friend! I want you to throw me a party. Here’s my pitch: I’ll be 30 years old next month, I am a mother of one beautiful 12-week old baby boy and I just survived a stroke. Crazy I know. You can't make this stuff up. With a new lease on life I would love a Blonde Designs Birthday Party. Hmmm… what theme would I choose if my wish was granted?
Oh wow!! this is simply awesome!! My daughter has been asking for a rock star party... I sure know how the cake should look... Lovely.. thanks !
Fabulous angie!!!
was wondering if your cream cheese cake frosting needs to remain refrigerated or how long it can sit out? want to use it for my daughter's 1st bday cake this weekend & trying to decide when to frost the cake...
Ideally, the frosting should be refrigerated or at least kept relatively cool. My cake was too big to fit in our refrigerator but I covered it and put it outside overnight (it was still cool outside). The day of the party, the cake sat out for about 3 hours at room temperature and was just fine. – Angie