Flowers And Vines Cake Recipes

FLOWERPOT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 6-inch-round and an 8-inch-round cake pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Prepare the cake mix as directed; divide between the pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Level the tops of the cakes with a serrated knife (save the trimmings). Halve the cakes horizontally. Working on a cake board or plate, stack the 8-inch layers, then the 6-inch layers, frosting between each layer.
• Hold a serrated knife at an angle and trim the edges of the layer cake all the way around to make an upside-down pot shape. Cover the cake with all but 1/2 cup of the remaining frosting; freeze 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cocoa powder on a sheet of parchment; put the fondant on top, make a small well in the middle and put the food coloring in the well. Knead until the color is even.
• Dust a surface with cocoa powder; roll out the colored fondant into a 24-by-6 1/2-inch rectangle, trimming the edges to make them straight. Cut off a 24-by-1 1/4-inch strip of fondant; set aside.
• Wrap the wide piece of fondant around the cake, pressing and smoothing it with your fingers. Trim the excess with a paring knife.
• Reroll the fondant scraps and cut out a 5-inch circle; press the fondant circle on top of the cake to form the pot bottom. Invert the cake onto a board. Lightly brush the thin strip of fondant with water; attach to the top edge of the cake, allowing the strip to come slightly above the edge. Trim the ends.
• Cover the top of the cake with the remaining 1/2 cup frosting, then crumble the cake trimmings on top.
• When ready to serve, stick mint sprigs and edible flowers into the cake.

FLOWERS AND VINES CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Lightly press licorice twists around bottom edge of cake. Lightly press licorice and candies into cake forming flower and vine designs.

FLOWERPOT CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush inside of each flowerpot with oil, and line bottom with parchment paper round. Brush parchment with oil, and lightly dust with cocoa.
• Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add egg and yolk, 3/4 cup warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix on low speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Divide batter among prepared pots, filling each about two-thirds full. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, rotating sheet about halfway through, until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cakes cool completely in the flowerpots on a wire rack.
• Frost cakes with an offset spatula; sprinkle with crushed cookies. Top with candies; "plant" 1 mint sprig in each cake.

FLOWER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with a rack in the center. Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch cake pan. Line bottom and long sides of cake with parchment paper, allowing at least a 1-inch overhang; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. With the mixer running, add eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Beat in vanilla, and lemon juice and zest.
• With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, and beating until fully incorporated.
• Pour into prepared cake pan. Bake until light golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Place 3 cups buttercream in a medium bowl, and 1/2 cup in each of 2 bowls. Add sunset orange and blushing pink food coloring to the medium bowl, to make peach; set aside. Add golden yellow to a bowl with 1/2 cup buttercream; place in a pastry bag fitted with a #18 Ateco tip and set aside. Tint remaining 1/2 cup buttercream bright yellow, and place in a pastry bag fitted with a #6 Ateco tip and set aside.
• To assemble: Cut out 6 four-inch rounds from cake. Split each round horizontally, creating twelve layers. Spread top of one layer with 3 tablespoons of the peach buttercream. Place a second layer on top of buttercream, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat with remaining layers, creating six filled cakes.
• To make the petals, place a 3 1/2-inch round cutter 1/2 inch in from the edge of one of the cakes, and cut; discard the cut piece. Repeat with four more cakes. Reserve one uncut cake for center of flower.
• Using an offset spatula, frost each of the cakes with 1/2 cup peach buttercream. Start from the center, and work out, making sure to push the buttercream over the sides of the cake. Smooth the buttercream.
• Place the center of the flower on a serving plate or pedestal. Coat the sides of remaining cakes with sprinkles, and place evenly around the pedestal, being sure to position the cut section of each cake against the center cake to adhere.
• Using the piping bag filled with golden buttercream, pipe two rows of small stars around the perimeter of the center of the flower. Using the piping bag filled with yellow buttercream, pipe small dots onto the center of the cake until it is completely covered.

FLOWERING CACTUS CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with coffee. Pour into two greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans and one 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes (small loaves) and 65 minutes (large loaf) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, cream butter and shortening in a bowl. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, vanilla, food coloring and enough milk to achieve desired consistency., Using a serrated knife, level the top of each cake. Round corners of small cakes; set aside. Place large cake, cut side down, on a 13x12-in. covered board. Round top corners. Frost top and sides of large cake. Frost small cakes; position at a slight angle on each side of large cake with one higher than the other., Sprinkle sugar on a work surface. For each large flower, place four gumdrops on sugared surface. With a rolling pin, roll each gumdrop into an oval; cut in half lengthwise. With cut side down, roll up one piece to form a bud shape. Wrap remaining pieces around it so rounded edges form petals. For smaller flowers, use two or three gumdrops., For cactus spines, cut licorice into 1/2-in. strips. Cut each strip in half lengthwise, but not all the way through, leaving strips attached at the bottom. Arrange randomly over cake.

SUNNY FLOWER CAKE

Steps:

• Place one cupcake in the center of a large platter; arrange six cupcakes around the center cupcake. Add an outer ring of remaining cupcakes, forming a flower shape., Tint frosting as desired; generously spread over tops of cupcakes. Pipe on additional frosting to define the flower petals and center. Decorate as desired.