Make-Bake-Decorate Series

MAKE.

It's the moment you all have been waiting for - the first post in the step-by-step process of making my mom's birthday cake. I know some of the details are a bit, say, elementary, but have you ever really taken pictures of your process? It's actually really fun. Especially if you have a photographer boyfriend. ;)

Today's post is all about getting the ingredients ready to make a cake from a mix.

Alright. Let's do this.

All that I needed for this cake was eggs, water, oil and the cake mix. The cake mix was for a white cake, so I needed to separate the eggs. My trusty tool of choice? My own hands.

To do this, simply crack the egg gently. Remove the top portion of the shell, and pour the egg yolk and egg white into your hand. Gently rock the egg yolk back and forth between your hands and let the egg white fall into a small bowl.

It helps to have two bowls when you are doing this - one for the egg white and one for the egg yolk. I like to use my left over yolks in scrambled eggs.

I have never used an egg separator, so I don't know how this process compares, but it works the best for me. A little messy, yes, but it works.


Next, I mix the oil and water together. Just measure and pour.

I mix the water and oil together in a separate bowl from the eggs. This is just a precaution - if I make a mistake, it's easier to start over with fewer mixed ingredients.

Call me silly, but I like watching the oil and water separate in the bowl.

Then, I add the eggs and the cake mix.

I usually use a white cake mix. It's my personal favorite flavor of cake.

Referring back to my post on mixing cakes, I used an electric hand mixer for this one. It's up to you. I mix it for 2 minutes to add air to the batter to make the cake fluffy. Skip this step once, and you won't make the same mistake again.

I can tell the difference between a cake batter with air and cake batter without. It's subtle, but it's a detail you don't want to skip.

Alright, there you have it. My process for making a cake. Next up is baking, and it's a hot little post you won't want to miss!

Just beat iiiiit!

Imagine me rocking out to Michael Jackson's song... Wait, don't.

But do think about this: which works better for you - hand mixing with a whisk or using an electric hand mixer?

Honestly, I like both. I used to work as a waitress for several years, and I have built up a strong muscle in my wrist from carrying large trays of food. Hand mixing doesn't bother me, and it helps me feel like I really baked the cake from scratch, even if it's really a cake mix from a box.

Using an electric hand mixer is usually my first choice, though. I find that the electric hand mixer adds a lot more air to my cakes to make them fluffier than hand mixing can for me.

What are your thoughts? Do you have a strong opinion on which you prefer to use? Dish it.

Happy birthday to my mom!

I made this cake for my mom's birthday. Strangely, when I was deciding on what design to make for my mom's cake, I realized I hadn't used my new Wilton square cake pans. I know. How is that possible? These pans are very nice to use - they baked the cake evenly. Stay tuned for a unique step-by-step process on how this cake came to be.

Icing on the...

Who says you can only put icing flowers on cake? Use them to decorate all sorts of desserts, brownies included. This cute idea would be great for a tea party, a little girl's birthday or any time you want to showcase your decorating talents. The combination of pink icing with brownies is my favorite, but the possibilities are as endless as the colors you can create. These ribbon roses are deliciously simple, much like brownies, but any flower could be used as well. Imagine white daisies, orange chrysanthemums or even purple violets. How would you choose to decorate brownies or another dessert?

Star of the Show

Don't overlook miniature cookie cutters! They make great bite-size bits to serve at a party or to keep at home for a sweet snack. You can choose to ice the cookie smoothly and completely, or you can dollop the frosting on the cookie, making a little mound in the center. Sprinkle with colored sugar, and you're done!

Best of Both Worlds

What's better than cookies or cupcakes? How about cookies shaped like cupcakes!

Check out the cookie cutters here. They come in a set of two, and they are slightly different sizes. It's so much fun to decorate the cookies! For the bottom, smooth the frosting on thinly and pipe lines to mimic the design of a cupcake liner. For the top, keep the frosting thicker. Create swirls in the frosting for a different texture. Add some sprinkles and a red hot for the cherry on top and you're done!
Well, there is another step - but that's obvious:

Let's Face It

Family tree cakes are a fun way to get the whole family in on the sweetness. A plain tree transforms into a family memory with the addition of familiar faces. Just make sure you don't "leaf" anyone out!