Beach Cake for Casey

| Dessert

Beach Cake

Casey’s Beach Cake

My friend Casey is getting married, on the beach, in less than two months!  To celebrate her upcoming nuptials, I created a 3-tier, vanilla and chocolate buttercream, beach cake for her wedding shower, as any cake-loving friend would do.  Casey loves all things teal, which coordinates perfectly with her beach-themed wedding.  I knew if I started with teal water, I couldn’t go wrong.  Once I finished the teal water, however, it was time to get creative!

Despite all my kitchen gadgets, my collection of sea-themed cookie cutters is well…. non-existent, as is my experience sculpting fondant!  I dumped my collection of random cookie cutters on the table and got down to business. I used the edges of various cookie cutters to piece together under-the-sea life.  It’s about time that kit I bought to learn how to create gum paste flowers got some use!

The chocolate buttercream filling, adapted from the Magnolia Bakery recipe, is truly amazing and will make any cake taste fantastic!

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie: Strategically placed fish are a great way to mask any imperfections that you may or may-not have in your fondant!

 

Chocolate Buttercream
(adapted from the Magnolia Bakery recipe)

INGREDIENTS
1 ½ cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
2 Tablespoons milk
10 ounces dark chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups powdered sugar (more or less depending on desired consistency)

PREP

Melt chocolate in the microwave, stirring rigorously every 30 seconds (will take about 90 seconds).

Let the chocolate cool, for about 5 minutes, until warm to the touch.

CREATE
Add the butter to a large mixing bowl and beat, on medium speed, for about 3 minutes.

Add the milk and continue to beat until well incorporated.

Once the milk is fully incorporated into the butter, gradually add the melted chocolate in a slow and steady stream.  Continue to beat the mixture for a full 2 minutes.

Then, add the vanilla and continue to beat for an additional 3 minutes.

Once the wet ingredients are light and fluffy, reduce the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar until the buttercream reaches your desired consistency.

Enjoy!

 

6 Comments

6 Comments on Beach Cake for Casey

  1. Casey McCoy
    April 17, 2011 at 4:22 pm (13 years ago)

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED my gorgeous cake!!! It was incredible. I was SO excited to have my very own Annie creation (well, okay, I shared it with everyone at the shower…)! It looked AH-MAZING, and tasted delicious! Loved the chocolate buttercream filling. I SO wish you could recreate this for the wedding… although it is not possible due to the destination nature…. I know this cake will totally show up the wedding cake! Thank you again, my talented friend! =)

    Reply
  2. Kristin Adams
    April 17, 2011 at 4:32 pm (13 years ago)

    I showed your beautiful cake to Jake. His comment: “Annie should be selling these cakes yo!”

    Reply
  3. Barb Mecker
    April 17, 2011 at 6:35 pm (13 years ago)

    You need to read Baking Cakes in Kigali. I’ll get it for you!

    Reply
  4. Kelli Doern
    April 17, 2011 at 9:26 pm (13 years ago)

    Annie this cake is so beautiful – I’m in awe of your baking skills!

    Reply
  5. Kathleen@so much to say
    April 18, 2011 at 6:20 am (13 years ago)

    You should be selling cakes. Just sayin’.

    Thanks for including the recipe! I still want to know exactly what you used to make those amazing white cupcakes we had at Michelle’s bridal shower…

    Reply
  6. Captain Canada
    April 18, 2011 at 8:02 am (13 years ago)

    Are you kidding me?! Wow! This isn’t a cake, this is art….something that could have been molded by the hands of Rodin but yet completely 100% Lady Cavedine.

    Reply

Leave a reply to Kathleen@so much to say Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *