Stars And Stripes Cake Recipes

STARS AND STRIPES CAKE

Steps:

• Stars: Have ready two 13 x 9-inch pans (disposable foil is fine) and star-shape cookie cutters in various sizes.
• Up to 1 day before serving: Place red and blue gelatin in separate bowls. Add 11⁄4 cups boiling water to each and stir until dissolved. Pour into separate pans and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours.
• To unmold Stars: Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Dip pans into warm water 10 to 15 seconds to loosen gelatin. Invert onto work surface. Cut out stars with each size cutter from both colors gelatin (you'll have more than needed to decorate cake). Lift stars to lined cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to assemble cake.
• Cake: Position racks to divide oven in thirds. Heat oven to 350°F. Generously grease, then flour two 8 x 1 1⁄2-inch-round cake pans and two 6 x 1 1⁄2-inch-round cake pans (see Cook's Tips).
• Place all Cake ingredients except egg whites into a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute until blended. Increase mixer speed to high and beat 2 minutes until fluffy. Return speed to low, add egg whites and beat just until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 1 minute longer or until whites are thoroughly blended. Don't overbeat.
• Immediately pour batter into prepared pans, filling each 2⁄3 full. Smooth tops.
• Stagger pans on oven racks so no pan sits directly above another. (Pans can remain in same position during baking.) Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of each layer comes out clean (smaller layers may finish baking first).
• Cool cakes in pans on wire racks 5 minutes before inverting on racks to cool completely.
• Thirty minutes before assembling cake: Place a large bowl and beaters of an electric mixer in freezer 15 minutes.
• Frosting: In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over water and let stand 1 minute. Place over low heat and stir with a rubber spatula until completely dissolved. Pour into small bowl and cool about 5 minutes (mixture should still be warm).
• Using chilled bowl and beaters, beat cream on high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, add confectioners' sugar and beat 30 seconds until blended. Add gelatin mixture, increase mixer speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Use immediately. Makes 6 cups.
• To assemble cake: Place one 8-inch cake layer on serving plate. Spread top with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining 8-inch layer. Center a 6-inch layer on top. Spread top with 3⁄4 cup frosting. Top with second 6-inch layer. Frost top and sides.
• Gently press some Stars onto cake. Pipe stripes with piping gels; add sprinkles. Garnish with berries and mint.
• To serve: Cut top tier in wedges down to bottom tier, then cut bottom tier. Add 1 or 2 of the extra Stars to each serving.

STARS AND STRIPES GRAND FINALE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix half of the strawberries, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1 envelope of gelatin in a bowl. Set aside at room temperature to allow the juices to develop and the sugar and gelatin to dissolve, about 15 minutes. Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes on full power, or until gelatin has dissolved. Stir to blend in the gelatin and then mix in the remaining strawberries.
• In a separate bowl, mash 1 cup of the blue berries with the back of a fork. Stir in 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1 envelope of gelatin. Set aside at room temperature to allow the juices to develop and the sugar and gelatin to dissolve. Heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes to melt the gelatin, then stir to blend. Mix in the remaining blueberries.
• Cover the bottom and sides of a springform or a tall, removable bottom tube pan tightly with aluminum foil to keep the juices from seeping out.
• Pour all of the strawberry mixture into the bottom of the cake pan, cover completely with slices of angel food cake, tearing or cutting pieces to fit in a tight layer. Spread 1 container of whipped topping over the first cake layer. Make a second layer of angel food cake, like the first, and pour the blueberry mixture evenly over the top. Arrange the angel food cake in a third layer on top of the blueberries, spread the remaining container of whipped topping on top. Finish the dessert with a final layer of angel food cake.
• The layered cake will be higher than the edges of your pan. Carefully lay a large piece of aluminum foil over the cake and place a baking sheet on top. Invert the cake, press the cake firmly onto the baking sheet. Weigh down the mold, using pie weights or bags of dry beans or rice; refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
• Soak a kitchen towel in very hot water, wring out excess water, and wrap the towel around the cake pan; let stand for 1 minute. Remove the towel. Holding the pan and plate together, shake the cake back and forth to release it from the sides of the pan. Open the springform ring carefully, or pull back the sides of the tube pan. Do not force the cake to release. If it continues to stick, repeat the procedure with the hot towel.

STARS-AND-STRIPES CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; line with parchment, then spray the parchment. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the cocoa powder and baking powder. Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in the cream of tartar and salt, then slowly beat in 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Increase the speed to high; beat until stiff shiny peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the meringue to a separate bowl.
• In the same mixer bowl (leave it dirty!), combine the egg yolks, vanilla and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Beat on high speed until light and doubled in volume, about 2 minutes. Beat in the water and canola oil.
• Sift the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture, then stir with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Add the food coloring to the batter and beat on high speed until smooth and bright red, about 1 minute.
• Stir a dollop of the meringue into the batter using a rubber spatula. Add the remaining meringue and gently fold into the batter until no white streaks remain.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared baking sheet; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Tap the bottom of the pan firmly against the counter to remove any air bubbles.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Immediately loosen the edges with a paring knife.
• Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar, working quickly while the cake is still warm.
• Lay a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) over the cake. Place another baking sheet on top of the towel.
• Invert the cake onto the towel. Remove the pan and peel off the parchment.
• Starting at a short end, roll up the cake and towel together into a log. Keep the cake rolled up until it has cooled completely.
• Unroll the cake (it's OK if the end is still curled up). Cut the cake into 3 long strips, each about 4 inches wide. Use a ruler to make sure they're even.
• Spread an even layer of frosting on each strip of cake (use a little less than one-third of the frosting). Make sure to get frosting under the curled end.
• Make the frosting: In a clean mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla and heavy cream. Slowly increase the speed to high and beat until smooth.
• Roll up one of the strips into a tight spiral.
• Move the spiral over to the next strip so that the ends meet and roll up into a fatter spiral. Continue with the third strip to make a large spiral.
• Turn the cake flat-side down and place on a cardboard round or platter. Gently squeeze the spiral together to make sure it's compact.
• Cover the cake completely with a thin layer of frosting, using the frosting to cover the seam of the spiral. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Return the cake (without the cardboard round) to your workspace and cover completely with the remaining frosting using an offset spatula.
• Place a star-shaped cookie cutter on top of the cake. Sprinkle some blue sanding sugar inside the cutter (use a small brush to help distribute the sugar), then carefully lift the cutter. Repeat to make more stars in different sizes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• When you slice into the spiral, you see vertical stripes!

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER DESSERT

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured star-shaped cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Brush lightly with water and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool., In a large bowl, combine berries and 1/4 cup sugar; set aside. In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Place sour cream in a small serving bowl; fold in whipped cream. , Place bowl on a serving platter. Spoon berry mixture onto platter; top with pastry stars.