May 29th Blog entry
Birthday for a Princess
This past weekend my granddaughter, The Princess, had her third birthday. She looked through a catalog and saw an extravagant pink princess castle that she felt she had to have. Mom and Dad had other ideas. After checking out castle cakes online, they decided to make their own, or should I say, get Grandma to make it and they would decorate it and save a ton of money.
Her parents always shop at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and want only organic fare for the royal family. They shopped for sweet treats to use for decoration, including ice cream cones, licorice, and letter cookies for the name. Granny Nanny (me) purchased two boxes of Trader Joe’s Vanilla cake and baking mix, organic eggs, and canola oil. And then the magic began.
Strawberry Princess Castle Cake
2 boxes Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cake and Baking Mix
1 large box strawberry gelatin (optional)
2 quarts cleaned chopped organic strawberries (or 2-15 oz. frozen strawberries thawed and pureed)
8 large organic eggs
1 cup of vegetable oil
½ cup of water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mixes and gelatin. Add the strawberries, eggs, oil, and water. Beat at medium speed with mixer or by hand with a wire whip until smooth. Pour into 2 large oblong cake pans that have been greased and floured. Bake until light brown and cake springs back when touched lightly in center, about 40 minutes. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool on a rack for at least 10 minutes. Turn the cake out on to a board covered with foil that has a four inch border all around. This will give you room for the turrets and mote if you should choose to add one. Spread with jam or butter cream frosting on the first layer and add the second layer. Frost sides and top and decorate with cone turrets. Flags can be made with fruit leather, doors with graham crackers and wall edges with gum drops, or taffy candy. Parts can also be made of poster board and attached with icing. You are only as limited as your imagination. This cake will serve about 30 people. If you want a single layer, just use half of the ingredients. If you omit the gelatin, the cake will continue to get moister for several days. Store the leftovers in the refrigerator. You will have fun and so will your helpers.
Butter Cream Frosting
½ cup butter
¼ cup pureed strawberries (or milk until desired texture)
7 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
This recipe may need to be doubled for the large castle if you are icing the cones.
Your castle will be unique, and delicious, and it won’t cost a fortune!
