Presidential Birthday Cake Recipes

BEST VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
• Whisk the cake flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the 3 eggs, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. (Mixture will look curdled as a result of the egg liquid and solid butter combining.) Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients just until combined. With the mixer still running on low, pour in the buttermilk and mix just until combined. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be slightly thick.
• Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Weigh them to ensure accuracy, if desired. Bake for around 23-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
• In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add more confectioners' sugar if frosting is too thin, more milk if frosting is too thick, or an extra pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet.
• Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Discard (or crumble over ice cream!). Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand, cake turntable, or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides. I use and recommend an icing spatula to apply the frosting.
• Refrigerate cake for at least 1 hour before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and dust an 8 x 8 cakepan with cocoa.
• Cream butter and add sugar a little at a time.
• Cream well; add eggs.
• Sift flour, salt, soda and cocoa together 3 times.
• Add coffee to batter alternatively with flour mixture.
• Then add vinegar and vanilla.
• Bake at 350 degrees about 30 to 40 minutes.

PRESIDENTIAL BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and place the rack in the middle of the oven. Line the bottoms of two nine-inch cake pans with wax paper or parchment paper, and grease the sides of the pans.
• Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture turns white, scraping the sides often. This takes about 15 minutes.
• Add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, beating between additions, until thoroughly blended.
• Blend the flour and baking powder, and slowly mix into the batter with the milk, just until incorporated. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared pans, and bake about 20 minutes. If necessary, switch the pans after the first 15 minutes so that they brown evenly. The layers are ready when a cake tester or toothpick inserted into their centers comes out clean.
• Remove the pans from the oven, and cool on racks for about 30 minutes. Then flip them over, and remove paper from the bottoms. Cool completely. If the layers are higher in the middle than on the sides, slice off the domes to make them flat.
• Place one layer on a serving plate, and spread evenly with the raspberry preserves. Top with second layer, and spread the top and sides with buttercream frosting. Other decorations can be added. Refrigerate until serving time. The cake can be made a day ahead.

WHITE HOUSE APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10-inch cake pan and place a silicone sheet or parchment paper on the bottom. (You can substitute a 10-inch spring-form pan, as long as it is tightly sealed at the bottom.)
• With a handheld or electric mixer, combine the oil, brown sugar, honey, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add half the sifted dry ingredients to the liquid mixture, and mix on a low speed until combined.
• Add the grated apples and the remainder of the dry ingredients. Finish mixing by hand, and pour into the greased cake mold. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Make the maple glaze: Stir maple syrup and confectioner's sugar over low heat in a small saucepan until combined. Then increase the heat and boil for 30 seconds. Set aside on the stove top, off the heat.
• To finish the cake, run a paring knife around the edge of the cake pan. Invert a serving dish on top of the cake and then flip the cake over onto the dish, carefully lifting away the cake pan. Re-warm the maple glaze, stir it and pour it over the warm cake. You may decorate the platter with peeled orange sections. The cake will stay moist overnight if covered with foil. It does not need to be refrigerated.