It's Cake Time!

Last Fall I took a cake decorating class at JoAnn. I learned a lot about decorating and I wasn't half bad at it either.  I also learned that I still dislike frosting when I make it.  I found a recipe online for whipped frosting and altered it but it's not as easy to decorate using it.  I have resorted to cupcakes. People like them and you can experiment with the filling. I guess I should have taken a frosting and filling making class because the decorating is going by the way side . . .
Anyway, I offered to make my sister's grad cake. But she didn't really just want a cake of course! We decided on blackberry and raspberry cream cheese filled golden butter cupcakes with whipped frosting. I guess I forgot to take the picture of the finished product, but here they are in the making!

I thought we should have a cake too. Alisha loved the "black" frosting I made for my Dad's 50th Birthday party. It's the same whipped frosting but I added a sleeve of Oreos too!  Black frosting without the interesting side affects in your mouth.  I thought it would be a great idea to put the cake in the shape of a graduation cap. Easier said than done but I think it worked out!

Frosting Recipe:

Heat milk and start adding flour slowly while stirring.  Do not let the flour clump up. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken.  Let it cool so it does not melt the butter later. I stir it every so often so it doesn't get a gooey layer on the top. Beat soft butter and sugar with a mixer. Do not melt the butter first, it's better if it's been sitting out until soft. Cream with vanilla. Put flour and milk mixture into a clean bowl. Slowly add the butter, sugar and vanilla mixture. Beat until fluffy. If adding oreos, add them whole or crushed to the flour mixture when it's still hot. The oreos break up by themselves - so easy!

 

5 tbsp. flour

1 cup milk

(I use whole because it's creamy)

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

(I used powdered because that's how most frosting is made. My sister-in-law used regular granulated because I didn't specify and I think hers tasted even better! It takes a lot more time to beat the mixture if you use granulated because of the grainy texture)

1 tsp vanilla

 

Filling Recipe:

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup shortening

5 tbsp butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 pkg cream cheese

pinch of salt

jam or fresh fruit

Beat the milk, shortening and butter. Be careful because you can easily lose your ingredients if they splash out. Add the cream cheese and vanilla. Add the powdered sugar. Add the jam. If using fresh fruit - puree in a blender first so any seeds and chunks can fit through your bismark tip.