It’s November and autumn … Christmas is around the corner and I’ll be sharing some new ideas very soon … in the meantime, don’t forget fall!
I tried and tried to come up with a clever name for this cake … just didn’t happen. One thought was … Redemption Cake! I made the cake to help Son #3 redeem himself for his past contributions to the office potlucks! He has been found guilty of picking up cookies at the grocery store and calling them dessert, even though I offered to bake something!!! When will that boy learn that Mom knows best? I’m not saying that store-bought are bad … it’s just that his coworkers were expecting something homemade …
I made a very simple three layer cake, frosted it and used chocolate frosting to draw some trees … then added pretty Shimmer Autumn Sixlets as leaves! This cake is not about perfection … it’s about taste, texture and fall colors! I’ve seen so many tall cakes where the sides are decorated … just wanted to give it a try!
I am sharing what I did … of course you can do what’s best for you! I am not a professional and not a cake decorating teacher … just a mom making a cake for her son 😉
- I used two cake mixes to make four layers … used three of them for this cake and served the extra layer as dessert after dinner 😉 Duncan Hines is my choice of mixes … baked each one using 4 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk and the oil called for on the box. I baked the cakes a few days ahead, leveled them, double wrapped them in plastic and froze them … I find it easier to handle a frozen cake. Note … having good pans with straight sides makes baking and frosting easier.
- I made two recipes of my Favorite Decorator Frosting using half butter and half shortening … had about one cup of frosting leftover. I achieved the creamy color by using one and one half tablespoons of vanilla bean paste as flavoring and then added two drops of yellow gel coloring.
Put a little frosting on the plate (helps hold it in place), first cake layer, frosting, second cake layer, frosting, third cake layer … adjust if necessary and make sure everything is secure.
Add a thin layer of icing on sides and top … sometimes called a crumb coat or dirty icing … just helps control crumbs.
Cover the whole cake with frosting … doesn’t have to be perfect … just fairly even.
Use a small spatula (or dinner knife, even the back of a teaspoon) to add texture … I am right-handed and started with my spatula pointed to the left and pulled it toward the right for about 3-4 inches. You will probably remove some frosting while doing this. I did this all the way around the cake in a random pattern and cleaned up a few smudges of frosting on the plate.
Ready made chocolate frosting that I had on hand worked great. I filled a disposable pastry bag and just snipped off the tip.
Next I piped three trees … please excuse my lack of artistic ability 😉
Then I added the Autumn Sixlets as leaves on the trees and as the border at the base of the cake!
I only used about 2/3 of a 4.5 ounce bottle of candy!
It sounds like the cake was a hit … some people even took photos! Son #3 is now in good standing at the office 😉
Thank you to SweetWorks for supplying the Shimmer Autumn Sixlets 🙂
♦ I share my stuff with these fun parties ♦
This looks great, so much effort and it screams deliciousness!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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The fall colored sixlets make perfect leaves for your frosting tree.
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Thank you Beth! I don’t believe that there is a rule that leaves need to be shaped like leaves 😉
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It looks so Awesome. The only difference is my daughter will use only Chocolate Cake mix as she doesn’t like White Cakes.
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Thank you Anna 🙂 Chocolate is good for me!
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Reblogged this on mojopixx.
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Thank you 🙂
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I think Redemption cake is very appropriate. I have a feeling Son#3 will not be able to get away at work with store bought anything after this cake!! Awesome! Wish I could have been at his work for this cake!!
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Thank you Dinaz! I hope Son#3 has learned 😉
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They’re sure gonna know THAT was not purchased at the local grocery store – good job. In a cake decorating class they taught us to freeze a cake before frosting it as it greatly reduces the amount of crumbs.
Yes – the autumn sixlets make great leaves. They’re so pretty. I found them at Walmart in with the Halloween cake decorating sprinkles, etc. They have such a rich illumination to them.
Get ready for lots more requests from the office now that they know your son has such a creative mom.
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Freezing is one of the best things I ever learned! I was just at the grocery store and saw a display filled with Sixlets in Christmas and winter colors!
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OMG. That is Stunning and looks so, so good.
Yes; I’ll take a slice to go with my coffee right about now. (oh shoot, your son has already taken it to the office. :{ ) Any crumbs left by any chance? :}
I still say you need to put out a book with all your wonderful creations. If nothing else do a family book of sorts with all your recipes and creations.
You have such a creative mind.
Enjoy your day /evening
ColleenB.
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Colleen … will you come live with me? I heart you 😉
P.S. The plate came home clean!
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Gorgeous!! I love how you used Sixlets!! So cleaver and pinning now!
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Thank you so much Lisa! It really means a lot coming from you 😉
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gorgeous
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Thank you Heather 😉
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What an amazing looking cake. How brilliant to decorate the side of such a towering cake! I absolutely love it.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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What an amazing cake! I’ve never thought of decorating the side of a cake. Brilliant idea!
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Beautiful cake, Brenda. Your son’s office mates must’ve loved the tall slices that came out of that one. I’m thinking some autumn colored M&Ms would go good with that cake, too.
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Thank you so much Kathleen 🙂 Autumn M&M’s is a great idea!
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What a gorgeous cake!! And yes, mom always knows best! When are our kids going to realize that? 😉
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Thank you so much Jocelyn 🙂 I keep reminding my kids!
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Love your cake & will be featuring it tonight!:)
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Thank you so much Jill 😉
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