Dora Cake - Cake & Icing Question

[indie24]

I just used the disposible piping bags ZF they are in the cooking aisle and have the attachments. (Cake would have been better if I wasnt so sick when I was making it. LOL would have put more effort in)

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I think i might make it the night before her birthday after she's gone to bed, if i'm making it from scratch i might even just make a little bit extra and do some cupcakes for her for a cake the morning OF her birthday.
Normally i rush the icing because the girls are trying to eat it or put their fingers in it

I think i will just leave the jelly off, find a recipe for a nice buttercake or bananacake or something and do buttercream icing.
What food coloring do you ladies use for your icing, the liquid stuff or do you buy the powder, if the powder where do i find it?
Haven't made cupcakes in a while either so might have to do a test run... PRMG would you mind sharing a cupcake recipe with me?

[Mak]

ZF do you have the WW's kids cake book? They have excellent basic recipes that work everytime and are super easy! They make great cupcakes too.
Depending on the colour needed I tend to stick to the bottled colouring as I have to make a trip for the powder. Really red and black are the only times I have needed powder as they are hard to get the intensity otherwise ITMS. I love birthday cakes!!!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

No i don't have the WW's cake book, i've always wanted to get it though

[Mak]

Choc cake

1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1/2 cup cocoa
125g softened butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups caster sugar
2 eggs
2/3cup water

Preheat oven to moderate. Grease/line pans. Sift dry ingredients and then add rest - beat on low until combined then increase speed to medium for ~ 3mins until mix is smooth and lighter in colour. Bake in moderate ovenb until cooked - cool in pan for 5mins then turn onto rack.

Butter cream
125g softenedbutter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tablespoons of milk

Beat butter in bowl until as white as possible - gradually add half icing sugar and milk. add rest of icing sugar and flavour and colour as required. (Add 1/3 cup cocoa with icing sugar for choc).

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Ohhh thanks hun, i could probably even do the green grass icing as a mint flavor
I set aside a boots, dora & swiper toy this morning so i know where they are

[Miss.September]

ZF - I'll bring my cupcake book tomorrow for you to have a peek at. If there's anything there you like, I can copy the recipe.

OP - I can help anytime. I'm no pro, but I love baking

[OceanPrincess]

Warning, thread hijack to follow...!!!

Pac - can I book you in for some cake help in Feb, May and then July?

I'm pretty hopeless with cakes but I so want to get better at it and be one of those mums that makes awesome cakes for their kidlets!!!