So, I know my birthday is in September, but I have this theory that it’s never too late for birthday cake. Good theory, right? 😉
I almost didn’t bake any cake tonight. But, I’ve already put it off a month, so I decided to not wait any longer. Unfortunately, this meant that my room-temp ingredients had to be brought to room temperature faster than normal.
I figured you could put eggs in room-temp water, but a quick google search confirmed my suspicion. I learned on Chow that you basically put the eggs in lukewarm water for 5-10 minutes, until the eggs feel like the temperature of your hand. Check out this handy-dandy video if you want to see all the details.
And lookie what I found at the grocery store! Unbleached cake flour. It seemed to fluff up just as well as normal cake flour, so why not go for the less-processed option.
I decided to try Smitten Kitchen’s Best Birthday Cake recipe, instead of baking in two 9-inch round pans, I used one 9×13 inch rectangle. I really wanted to do the two layers of round cake, but I only had 8-inch round pans, which wouldn’t work.
Mix, mix, mix!
Ready for baking.
I almost freaked out that my cake wasn’t going to cook up right. At 30 minutes, I checked the cake and it was light brown on top, but totally liquidy in the middle. Yikes!
I kept adding on time till the center was set. All in all, it took me about 55-60 minutes (though it may take you less time if you don’t open your oven as much as I do.
While the cake baked, I had Paula Deen’s Old Time Beef Stew on the stove.
Though, I did use an adapted version. I’ll have to post my version some time soon. 🙂
Anywho, while the cake cooled, we got to dig into the stew! I served it over pasta…I think rice would have been a better base. I tried to talk hubby into letting me add potatoes, in which case I wouldn’t have added any pasta or rice, but he didn’t go for it.
The stew was such cozy comfort food. I totally had to enjoy it in some plush PJs.
And then it was time for frosting! I just used the recipe on the back of the Hershey’s Cocoa container. I’ve used it several times now and it always comes out wonderfully tasty.
Mmm…frosting.
Time to frost the cake.
If I don’t eat all the frosting first. hehe.
Glossy frosting.
All frosted up and ready for one last decoration…
no, not sprinkles. I wanted to use those, but turns out…we don’t have any!
But we did have candles!
Hubby and Bailey even sang Happy Birthday to me. lol
And finally. FINALLY! The birthday cake was mine to be devoured!
I mean…enjoyed. 😉
The cake was wonderful! The top was a little crunchy, but the flavor was excellent and the center was very moist.
Yum!
Now…what do I DO with all this leftover cake!? Anyone want some?
Oh and if you’ve ever wondered what’s the best way to store frosted cake…look no further!
Just stick toothpicks evenly spaced into the top of the cake and lay saran wrap over the toothpicks. Your cake will be covered and your frosting will not stick to the saran wrap. Ta-da!
Btw, I do think yellow cake with chocolate frosting is quite possibly my favorite ever birthday cake combo.
What’s your favorite type of birthday cake?
I am commenting on your blog to tell you that I want some cake. Boom.
also need cake. wepa.
i saved you guys cake! when are you coming over!
Happy late birthday! I don’t think you need an excuse to make a cake 🙂
My favorite cake is carrot cake with just a little frosting!
ah FINALLY someone else who just likes a little frosting! 🙂
Red velvet or carrot cake…I’m all about cream cheese frosting. 🙂
LOVE red velvet! But that Hersey’s chocolate frosting looks amazing…
mmm red velvetttttttt
oh, yes… I have to agree – yellow + chocolate is The BEST.
happy LOOOONNNG birthday! 😉
thanks Kristina! 🙂
That beef stew looks delish! Please post the recipe soon!
okie dokie ….will do!
Carrie – I posted it tonight! It’s easy and tasty…hope you like it: https://thechiclife.com/2010/10/cozy-beef-stew-recipe.html 🙂
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to me!
you beat me! i was waiting till tomorrow to wish you happy birthday! 🙂
Yummy looking cake!
I do love yellow cake with chocolate frosting, but am a sucker for red velvet.
i do love red velvet too!
oh yummo! that cake looks wonderful!
I love cheesecake!!
do u do cheesecake birthday cakes? that would be awesome!
My fave cake is the chantilly cake from whole foods with fresh berries. So good! If I had to pick a home baked I would go with almond flavor cake like wedding cake–mmmmm!
ive never heard of that Whole Foods cake but it sounds frickin amazing! yum! and almond…a girl after my own heart. We had almond in our wedding cake for one of the layers. i need to try making THAT from scratch some time!
If it’s vegan and I don’t have to make it, I don’t care too much 😀 I usually do all the baking and I want someone to do the work for me!!!
I’ll be up too late tonight making a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting for my kid, who will be 4 tomorrow 🙂
good luck with the cake baking! i hope you don’t have to stay up too late. Happy birthday to your kiddo!
Thanks! I was up a little past 11. She really only wanted the frosting – alas 🙂
I love the toothpick idea. I hate wasting frosting. 🙂
exactly! gotta protect that yummy frosting!
i love cake! and your cake pan. jealous. i want some now… both the cake & the pan. haha. i love red velvet cake alot.
it’s a casserole dish my MIL bought for me awhile back. 🙂
that’s like 4 votes for red velvet, too!
Looks SO yummy!!! And, I love LOVE that cake pan – it’s gorgeous. 🙂
Glad you got to enjoy your cake!
thanks Lindsay! 🙂
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Yay! So you did get to make a birthday cake after all! Anything with chocolate and I’ll be happy 🙂
The cake you get from BiLo – White on White. The best…mmmm.
Ok, that is BRILLANT ! I always get icing on my saran wrap!
works like a charm! 🙂
I think I have those same jammie pants- or ones that are very similar. Mine are from Old Navy.
My favortie b-day cake is regular vanilla store-bought cake with buttercream frosting but…it has to be put in the freezer for at least 12 hours before consumption 🙂