Poinsettia Red Velvet Cake

 

I asked my friend Gracie what kind of cake she wanted me to make as XMAS gift and she immediately said red velvet, which I wasn't surprised by at all.  It’s her and her son's favorite!  Since this was for the holidays I made this Poinsettia Red Velvet Cake.  

For the cake layers I used my favorite recipe from Cook's Country that produces the most tender crumb.  For the frosting I chose Stella Park's cream cheese buttercream, which is super fluffy, delicious and a lot less sweet than the traditional frosting made with cups and cups of powdered sugar.    

To give the cake a festive feel I featured a large poinsettia as the main design.  I went online and watched a few videos on YouTube on how to pipe the flower using icing.  I know my poinsettia isn't the most botanically correct, but I think it will more than suffice, and I can live with that!

Oh Baby Shower Cake

My friends Claudio and Julia are expecting their first baby this spring, a girl.  For their baby shower they asked if I could make the cake and I was more than happy to oblige.  These are the exact occasions where I love to put my baking skills to good use.  

For the cakes themselves Julia had requested her favorite, carrot, for the bottom tier and I suggested red velvet for the top since it was Claudio's favorite.  As for the theme Julia had in mind something similar to this pink and grey themed creation she found on Pinterest.   Lucky for me it didn't look too complicated once you deconstructed its parts. 

Don't be intimidated by the design because it's a bit easier than you might think.  Once I filled and crumb coated the three layers of carrot cake I simply piped large rosettes all around the outside with pink hued Swiss meringue buttercream.  For even the novice baker this is achievable with beautiful results.  Admittedly, the top tier of red velvet did require a bit more patience and skill in order to get the buttercream perfectly smooth and even.  Once that was achieved I decorated with grey and pink fondant circles and applied a thin fondant ribbon at the bottom.  

One trick I did learn from watching numerous episodes of Ace of Cakes is to use large boba straws as supports when doing a tiered cake.  This provides structure so that the top tier doesn't sink in to the one below.  The straws are so much easier to use than wooden dowels and they're super cheap too.  I picked up a packet of 50 straws from the local restaurant supply store for under $1!

Congratulations Claudio and Julia!

Red Velvet Valentine Cake

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and here's a great dessert to celebrate the holiday.  What could be more appropriate than a heart-shaped red velvet layer cake? 

 

The combination of buttermilk and white vinegar in the batter makes the cake layers really moist and tender.  A generous two tablespoons of red food color give it that trademark deep, rich color.  No red velvet cake is complete without cream cheese frosting.  I particularly like this version because the addition of buttermilk powder cuts the sweetness and  provides a really nice tang.

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo,

treats

I ♥ Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ok, I confess, the title of this post is a bit of a lie.  I don't really love red velvet cupcakes but it would have sounded stupid to say " I eh red velvet cupcakes".  Despite their ever growing popularity I don't really get what all the fuss is about.  Yeah, they look cool with the unusual color and all but I suspect it's the frosting that's the real star.  Who doesn't love the cream cheese frosting?

I made these cupcakes for two friends at work who's birthdays are a week apart in February.  Seemed appropriate to decorate them in a Valentine's theme, red being the signature color and all.

My introduction to this cake was from that classic tear jerker of a chick flick, Steel Magnolias.  Growing up in California I'd never heard of red velvet before.  Apparently it's a southern  specialty.  The groom's cake featured in the film was shaped like an armadillo, with drab gray frosting and blood red velvet cake inside.   When they cut in to it  it looked they were performing surgery.  How's that for a visual? Oh well, it's still one of my favorite movies.  Whenever it's playing on tv, normally TBS,  I have to stop what I'm doing and watch it.   It never gets old. 

Some of the best lines I know are from that movie and I've found myself using them every now and then:

• "If you don't have anything nice to say come sit by me"
• "My colors are blush and bashful"
• "..looks like two pigs fighting under a blanket.."
• "..what is this in my Frigidaire?