Sparkling Snowfetti Cake Recipes

SPARKLING SNOWFETTI CAKE

Steps:

• Start with the fruit. Pour the apple juice into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the butter, let it melt, then take off the heat and add the syrup and rum. Put the mixed fruit and cranberries into a large bowl, pour over the hot rum mix, then cover tightly with cling film and leave overnight.
• The next day, heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and double-line a 20cm round, deep cake tin with non-stick baking parchment. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy and pale, then gradually beat in the eggs until light and fluffy. If the mix starts to split or look lumpy, add 1 tbsp of the flour and keep beating. Sift in the flour, spices and 1/4 tsp salt, and fold in using a large spoon. Fold in the orange zest, nuts, soaked fruit and soaking liquid.
• Spoon the batter into the tin, level the top, then make a slight dimple in the middle using the back of the spoon. Bake for 1 hr 30 mins, then reduce oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1 and bake for a further 1 hr 45 mins or until it has risen, is a dark golden colour and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Put the tin on a cooling rack and leave until warm.
• To feed the cake the first time, use a cocktail stick to poke all over the top of the warm cake. Stir together the rum and maple syrup, then slowly spoon over the cake. Cool completely, then remove the baking parchment, wrap loosely in clean baking parchment and store in an airtight tin. Feed the cake every week to 10 days until you decorate it.
• Now you're ready to cover and ice your cake. Sit the cake on a large flat plate or board and brush a thin layer of apricot jam over the top and sides.
• Dust the work surface with icing sugar. Lightly knead the marzipan until pliable, then roll out in one direction, turning the marzipan 90 degrees every few rolls and keeping the pressure even. Keep it in a circular shape, reshaping it if needed as you go. When large enough (about 35cm across for a 20cm cake), lift over the cake. Smooth the top and sides with your palms and trim with a knife. If you have time, leave to dry overnight.
• Clean the work surface and rolling pin. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the sides with cooled boiled water or alcohol, then cover with the sugarpaste icing, rolling it in the same way. Lift onto the cake, then work your way gradually around, smoothing out any folds with your palms to avoid wrinkles forming. Polish the icing with the palms of your hands (or a proper cake smoother) for a smooth finish. Trim with a sharp knife.
• Now you're ready to decorate. Make the icing by mixing the egg white and sugar together until thick and smooth. Using a palette knife, spread a thin layer of icing all around the sides of the iced cake. Sit the cake on a large tray and, holding it at an angle, scatter on the sprinkles. You can use a palette knife to help, scooping them up and pressing them on. Leave to dry, then set aside.
• Sit the cake topper on the jar's lid, then invert the jar over it. If the figurine looks a little lost in the jar once closed, then glue in the milk bottle top as a booster. When you're happy, glue the cake topper in place and leave to dry.
• Use the acrylic paint to paint some simple fir trees on the back of the jar (remember to have it upside down as you paint) and leave to dry.
• When ready, fill the jar three-quarters full with water, add the glycerine and dissolve. Spoon in the glitter, then screw on the lid and shake well. The glitter will clump a bit at first but then separate. Carefully top up with water if needed, then screw tightly and dry any drips, taking care not to damage your painted trees. Glue the ribbon onto the lid/base of your snow globe.
• Use a little of the leftover icing to attach the jelly beans to the top of the cake, leaving room for the snow globe. Sit the snow globe on top (you can press it into the icing a little if it seems wobbly) and shake whenever you feel like it!

STRAWBERRY SPARKLE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until stiff. Sift the superfine sugar three times and add slowly to the egg whites.
• Sift the cake flour and salt five times, and then fold slowly into the egg whites. Sprinkle in the vanilla and fold.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in an unbuttered angel food cake pan.
• Set aside to cool completely, inverted on a bottle or jar that fits the cake pan.
• For the filling: Dissolve the gelatin in boiling water and add the strawberries, stirring to break up and mix the berries.
• For the icing: Whip the cream with the powdered sugar until thick.
• To assemble: Place the cake, wide-side down, on a serving plate. Cut a 1-inch layer from the top and set it aside. Cut around the cake 1 inch from the outer edge to 1 inch from the bottom. Cut around the cake 1 inch from the inner edge to 1 inch from the bottom.
• Gently remove the section of cake between the cuts and pour in the strawberry mixture.
• Place the cake layer back on top and spread the icing all over the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with whole strawberries.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

SPARKLING FOURTH OF JULY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Place paper baking cup in 1 regular-size muffin cup.
• Make cake batter as directed on box. In small bowl, place 1/2 cup batter; stir in red food color. In another small bowl, place 1/2 cup batter; stir in blue food color.
• Fill muffin cup 2/3 full with white batter; set aside. Pour remaining white batter into 13x9-inch pan. Randomly drop generous teaspoonfuls of red and blue batters over white batter in pan. For swirled design, cut through batters with knife in S-shaped curves in one continuous motion; turn pan one-fourth turn and repeat.
• Place muffin pan and cake pan in oven. Bake muffin cup 12 to 13 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; place pan on cooling rack. Continue baking 13x9-inch cake 14 to 18 minutes longer or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Remove cake and cupcake from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons frosting. Frost cake with remaining frosting. In upper left-hand corner of cake, lightly score 5x3 1/2-inch rectangle in frosting for blue area of flag; sprinkle with blue sugar. Cut 2 strips of clean white paper, 13 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Cut a third strip, 8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place strips lightly on cake to cover area for white stripes. Sprinkle red sugar on cake for red stripes. Remove paper strips. Top blue sugar with candy stars.
• Frost cupcake with reserved frosting; place in center of cake. Arrange candles in and around cupcake. Store loosely covered.

SANTA'S FAVORITE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9 inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, combine white cake mix, 3 egg whites, 1 1/3 cups buttermilk, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Mix with an electric mixer for 2 minutes on high speed. In a separate bowl, combine yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 egg, cocoa, red food coloring, and vinegar. Use an electric mixer to beat for 2 minutes on high speed.
• Spoon white batter alternately with red batter into the prepared cake pans. Swirl batter gently with a knife to create a marbled effect.
• Bake in preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the centers comes out clean. Let cool in pans for at least 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and margarine until smooth. Gradually blend in sugar until incorporated and smooth. Stir in peppermint extract. Spread peppermint cream cheese frosting between layers, and on top and sides of cake.