Here is the second recipe I used in the Buzz Lightyear cake , the recipe for the Devi's food cake is again from Christopher Kimball's " The dessert bible".
Devil's Food Cake
( IMPORTANT: This is a single dose recipe! For the Buzz Lighthyear I used 2 pans 9"/12" and I doubled the recipe!)
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups boiling water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 pound ( 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still firm)
1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2. Next thing, preheat the oven at 350F. The original recipe calls for three 8 inch cake pans but for Buzz's ship I used 9"/12" rectangular pans. Cover the bottom of each pan with a piece of parchment paper.
3. Stir the boiling water, chocolate and cocoa together and reserve. Now here I have to mention that my chocolate was on chocolate chips, so basically I couldn't melt it just by adding boiling water, so I melted it in Bain Marie ( water bath) and then gradually I added the boiling water and cocoa.
4. Combine the dry ingredients and sift together.Beat the softened butter on medium high for 1 minute. Add the brown sugar, vanilla and beat until fluffy.Add one egg at a time, add the sour cream and beat until well combined. Be sure to scrape the bowl often.
1. First make sure that all ingredients are room temperature! It is extremely important!
2. Next thing, preheat the oven at 350F. The original recipe calls for three 8 inch cake pans but for Buzz's ship I used 9"/12" rectangular pans. Cover the bottom of each pan with a piece of parchment paper.
4. Combine the dry ingredients and sift together.Beat the softened butter on medium high for 1 minute. Add the brown sugar, vanilla and beat until fluffy.Add one egg at a time, add the sour cream and beat until well combined. Be sure to scrape the bowl often.
5. Add half of the chocolate mixture it in the batter( be sure to stir well before you add it) and half of the dry ingredients mixture. Beat on low and then add the rest of the chocolate mixture and the rest of the flour.
Scrape the bowl and continue to stir by hand ( just folding).
6.Pour the batter into the pans and bake or 20 to 25 minutes, as you rotate the pans halfway through.
6.Pour the batter into the pans and bake or 20 to 25 minutes, as you rotate the pans halfway through.
When it is ready, let it cool for 10 minutes and take it out of the pan. Again, I let it cool completely, then freeze it to be more convenient for shaping.
Enjoy!
Since a lot of people are asking, I guess the links I've posted in the posts are not visible enough, so here are the instructions how to make my Buzz Lightyear cake
-How to make a Buzz from fondant
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/05/buzz-lightyear-is-born.html
-Decorating the finished Buzz figure-
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/05/frankenbuzz-is-born-or-how-to-make-buzz.html
- How to make Buzz's ship:
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/05/buzz-lightyear-cake-tribute-to-buzz.html
- Decorating Buzz's ship
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/05/buzz-lightyear-cake-tribute-to-buzz_23.html
- The cake recipes ( yellow all purpose cake layer)
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/06/long-overdue-cake-recipes.html
- The cake recipes 2 ( the Devil's food cake layer)
http://www.anniesartbook.com/2008/06/long-overdue-cake-recipes-part-2.html
Let me know if you have other questions,
Annie
Annie
5 comments:
Hi there! I love your Buzz Lightyear cake and plan on attempting to make one like it for my son's 3rd birthday party coming up on January 31st. I have a few questions for you: 1. Just to clarify, you used just one 9 in X 11 in pan and multiplied the recipes by 1.5 for both the devil's food and the lemon yellow cake? I was a little confused as to if you used 1 pan or multiple pans to bake the cakes. 2. How many days ahead of time can or should I make the cakes? I'd like to start early since I know this will be a huge challenge for me! Thanks in advance!
Hi Kristen!
1. I have used 1 baking pan 9X11, in which I baked a recipe and a half of each- Yellow cake and Devil's food cake. Now that I am thinking about it, if I do it again I'll probably just make 2 times each recipe, instead 1.5.
First I baked the yellow cake, then the chocolate one. After it cooled down I cut 2 layers of each.
2. You can make the cake whenever you like- if you freeze it, it can stay ( and be good after it thaws) 2 months. What I do when I don't have time to bake right before I need the cake, I bake couple of days in advance, I let the cake cool down, I cut the layers I need and I freeze them. Make sure to wrap each layer ( 2 per each cake) separately, because if you don't you'll have to wait for the cake to thaw completely before you assemble the cake. The cake being frozen can help you in the cutting process too, because the frozen cake would be way easier to carve in the desired shape. You can assemble the frozen layers with the filling and to crumb-coat it with buttercream, but NEVER place a fondant over frozen cake! You'll have to leave it at least 4 hours in the refrigerator before it's ready to cover with the fondant.
So, to answer your question, you can make the layers as soon as possible, freeze them and then assemble the cake on 30th. Don't leave the decorating for 31st! It puts a hell of a pressure on you and people can make mistakes when under pressure.
Good luck and I am waiting for you to send me pictures! I have an album on Flickr for cakes made by readers of this blog, I would love to have yours too!
If I can help you with anything else, I'm here for you! :-)
Hi Annie,
I'm a newbie at cake decorating and hands (and feet) down to your wonderful creation/s. I can only imagine the joy in your son's eyes! Planning to make a simple round fondant covered cake for my 3yo son's bday picnic on 30th Oct with buzz as cake topper. Is the ff possible?
1) on 29th Oct, assemble thawed layers with filling & crumb coating & store in the fridge without any cover? (while rolling out my fondant)
2) or should I assemble layers, coat, cover with fondant in one go (while at room temp)?
3) with fondant in place, how do I store the cake awaiting the event (for next day)? (since fondant hate the fridge??)
4) can i make buzz figure a week ahead to dry & how do i store it
Many many thanks for your insights!! Thesa
Hi Thesa,
You are very kind!I'm sure your son will love your cake too!
On your questions:
1) it is not only possible, but I also recommend this! It's better if you give the cake some time after crumb coating before you apply the fondant. I sometimes leave them overnight, but it's not necessary by all means.
2) You can do this, but I do not recommend it.
3) it is a common misconception that you can't store fondant in a refrigerator. That is not true! I always, always keep my cakes in the refrigerator! However, fondant hates rapid changes in temperature and humidity! Since it's not hot outside anymore ( it's 40 F where I am now) you do not need to worry about that at all. Adjust your refrigerator on the lowest cool setting and you can safely leave it there overnight. When you take it out, be sure you don't put it in a warm room! Even if there is a little condensation, leave the cake for 20-30 min outside and don't touch the surface! That will ensure the cake is fresh ( I would never serve my quests especially kids cake that wasn't in the refrigerator) and it looks good!
4) You can make Buzz a month ahead if you like! Leave it to dry in an dry and cool place ( not the refrigerator!). I used a regular cardboard box.
If you have anymore questions, don't hesitates to ask! Good luck!
thanks Annie!!!
it's spring weather now in Sydney but it sometimes get hot esp early afternoon outdoors.
i'll take all your suggestions on board, appreciate your patience answering all my questions!
best regards,
thesa
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