The cake has a wonderful "wow" factor to it (especially after you cut it--see photo below), yet it's incredibly easy to create, practically a klutz-proof design, making it a great project for families with young children. The step-by-step process is photographically illustrated for you below. To make the cake itself, you can certainly use your favorite white cake and frosting recipes, but (honestly) I saved time the way so many busy families do. I used a boxed white cake mix and 2 cans of white frosting.
I didn't use a pastry bag, either, just grocery store cake decorating supplies like the ones you see in my photo (right). So let's get started...
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| Click here to download this recipe in a free PDF document. |
To make the cake
you will need:
2 eight-inch round cake pans
Parchment paper
Non-stick cooking spray
1 box White Cake Mix (I saw nice results with Pillsbury's Moist Supreme Classic White cake mix, which has pudding in the mix)
1-1/4 cups water (or according to your mix's directions)
1/3 cup oil (or according to your mix's directions)
3 to 4 egg whites (or according to mix directions -- just do not use whole eggs, the yellow in the yolk will muddy up the food coloring)
2 teaspoons liquid food coloring (red and blue)
or 1/2 teaspoon food coloring paste (also called "icing color")
2 (16 ounce) cans of White Frosting (or about 3 cups of homemade white frosting, be sure to use clear vanilla extract for a pure white frosting look)
Step 1 - Prep oven and pans: Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. (or according to your own recipe or cake mix directions). Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray. (If your baking pans are non-stick, just spray the paper. If your pans are not non-stick, lightly spray the sides of the pans, as well.)
Step 2 - Color your Batter: Make your cake batter according to package directions or your own recipe, with these notes.
(a) Use egg whites only and not whole eggs. Yellow egg yolks will muddy up your cake color. And...
(b) Cake mix directions will tell you to beat the batter for 2 minutes. (You are whipping air into the batter and this is an important step, but you don't want to over-beat, either, so...) Instead, beat the batter for only 1 minute. Then stop the mixer. You should have about 3-1/2 to 4 cups of batter. Divide the batter evenly into two bowls. Add red food coloring (or paste) to one bowl and blue to the other. NOW beat the batter for your 2nd minute. The color should blend in nicely.
Step 3 - Bake your cake: Simply bake according to package directions or your favorite recipe.
Step 4 - Cool and prep for frosting: Allow the cake to cool completely then run a knife along the outside edge of the pan, place a flat plate over the pan, and flip. The cake should come right out. If the parchment paper is still stuck to the cake, carefully peel it off. Place the blue layer top side down, flat side up onto your cake plate, cardboard, or serving platter. (A few dabs of icing on the plate first is a good trick to help it stick.)
Generously slather white icing onto the blue layer. This will (of course) give you the "white" layer between your red and blue cake layers.
Stack the red layer on top. Here's how: Using a sharp knife, carefully level off the top of the red layer. Then flip it and place it on the iced blue layer. You want the flat bottom of the red layer to serve as the very top of your cake. This will give you a perfectly flat surface to create your fireworks design.
ICE, ICE, BABY! 3 Tips on Icing Cakes
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| These 2 cake layers have been crumb coated. |
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| Offset (aka Angled) Spatula |
You can find these at Michael's stores (in their cake decorating section) or most stores that sell kitchen tools. Click here for an online buy link.
CAKE DESIGN:
CREATING THE FIREWORKS
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| Cleo Coyle is author of The Coffeehouse Mysteries |
Of course, pastry chefs also use this method, calling it a spiderweb pattern...
Begin with a simple dot
in the center of the cake.
I'm not using anything fancy or pro, just the "drawing tip" of a Betty Crocker "Cake Icing" can.
Draw concentric circles around the dot with alternating colors of red and blue. The last circle should be just off the top of the cake, around the side. This allows you to extend the design down the side of the cake.
As you can see, my circles are far from perfect, but the final result will still look great. You've got to love a kid- and klutz-proof cake design!
Next you'll need a wooden skewer, a toothpick, or the edge of a knife. (When using the knife, do not cut into the cake. Simply drag it lightly through the icing.) Drag the tool from the center dot to the outside of the cake. Clean the tool between each drag. Do this four times, making a simple cross...
Repeat this process 4 more times, bisecting each quarter of the cross you made. (You will now see 8 "slices" of cake in the design.)
Now REVERSE the dragging direction.
Instead of dragging the tool from the center to outside
of the cake, start at the outside and drag your tool to the
center of the cake. Be sure to clean your tool between each drag.
Instead of dragging the tool from the center to outside
of the cake, start at the outside and drag your tool to the
center of the cake. Be sure to clean your tool between each drag.
Using the reverse drag, you are now bisecting
each of the original 8 cake "slices" that you made above.
Now clean up the edge of the cake plate,
wiping off excess frosting. Use the "star tip" to
pretty up the base of the cake, and...
Eat (and read) with joy!
Our 20th
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Our 20th
Coffeehouse Mystery!
Pre-order now at:
Bulletproof Barista
includes a killer menu
of delicious recipes!
of delicious recipes!
Coming Soon
New Paperback Edition!
Learn more or pre-order at:
Includes a mini guide
to honey varieties
and a wonderful menu
of delicious recipes...
Click here or on the image above
for Cleo Coyle's Free Illustrated
Recipe Guide to Honey Roasted
Haunted Bookshop
Mystery...
Jack & Pen
Together Again!
~ Fresh Fiction
"DELIGHTFUL" ~ Kirkus Reviews
To Buy:
The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling works
of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
20 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.
of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
20 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.
Cleo Coyle's Books in Order
Click here or on the image below.
👇