Confetti Pancake Cake Food

CONFETTI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 335 degrees F. Grease one 18-by-13-inch sheet pan or two 8-inch cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment. Spray the parchment.
• Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds.
• Whisk together the melted butter, sour cream, buttermilk, oil, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla and the orange zest in a medium bowl.
• Add half of the wet ingredients to the dry and mix on low until a smooth paste forms. Stop to scrape down the bowl and paddle with your spatula. Add the remaining wet ingredients on low speed. Once combined, increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 full minute. Stir in the sprinkles.
• Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan, or if using two 8-inch cake pans, divide the batter between the two pans, about 26 ounces in each.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out with some moist crumbs adhering, 28 to 32 minutes for the 8-inch round cakes and 25 to 30 minutes for the 18-by-13-inch sheet cake. Cool in the pan or pans for 10 minutes, then turn the cake or cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

FLUFFY CONFETTI BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of two 9-inch round cake pans; dust with flour, then tap out the excess.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, granulated sugar and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, then beat in the vanilla until combined.
• Alternate folding the flour mixture and milk into the batter with a spatula, adding the flour in 3 additions and the milk in 2, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. Add the sprinkles and fold 3 or 4 times until just blended to prevent the colors from bleeding too much. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes on the same oven rack, rotating the pans about halfway if they seem to be browning unevenly, until golden on top and the centers spring back to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: While the cakes cool, beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar. Once it's all been added, increase the speed to medium-high, and beat until white and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla until blended. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk, and beat to incorporate. Beat in the remaining milk, 1 tablespoon at a time (the frosting will be spreadable but not runny).
• To assemble: Place 1 cake layer right-side up on a cake plate or stand, and spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Decorate the top with additional sprinkles.
• The cake layers can be made a day ahead; wrap the cooled layers in plastic and aluminum foil and store at room temperature overnight. You can also assemble and frost the cake the day before serving; let it stand at room temperature overnight, covered by a large bowl or cake dome (if your kitchen is very hot, chill the cake and let it stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving).

BRAMBLE PANCAKE CAKE

Steps:

• Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda to a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Add milk, gin, melted butter, lemon juice, zest and egg to a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until just combined and slightly lumpy.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or brush with melted butter. Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup batter to the skillet for each pancake. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and bubbles begin to form on the surface, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on reverse side, about 2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and continue with remaining batter.
• Add the heavy cream and maple syrup to a large chilled bowl. Mix until stiff peaks form using a hand mixer. Add mint and fold to combine.
• Spread the whipped cream on each pancake.
• Stack the pancakes with cream and a few blackberries followed by another pancake with cream and berries. Continue in this manner, finishing with cream and berries on top. Serve!

CONFETTI GRAVITY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Coat with more cooking spray and dust with flour, shaking out the excess.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the milk and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk mixture in two batches. Beat until just combined, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Fold in the sprinkles.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans; smooth the tops. Bake until the cakes are light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the egg whites, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. In a medium pot fitted with a candy thermometer, heat the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar and the water over medium-high heat, undisturbed, until the thermometer registers 235 degrees F. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the egg white mixture. Increase the mixer speed to high and continue to beat until the frosting is no longer steaming, about 3 minutes. Add the butter, one piece at a time, and continue to beat until thick and smooth, about 2 more minutes. (It's OK if the frosting looks curdled -- keep beating and it will eventually smooth out.) Add the vanilla and beat until incorporated.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand and spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Place the remaining cake layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting (this is the crumb coat). Refrigerate until the frosting is set, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roll out the fondant on a confectioners' sugar-dusted surface into a long rectangle, about 2 by 7 3/4 inches. Wrap the fondant around the bent metal straw, leaving about 2 inches bare at the bottom. Pinch the seam to close, then roll the straw and fondant between your hands to smooth it out. (If using a plastic straw, insert a wooden skewer through it for stability.)
• Cover the cake with the remaining frosting in a smooth, even layer. Mark a spot on the top of the cake that's slightly off center (this is where the straw will go). Sprinkle confetti sprinkles on the cake so they radiate out from the marked spot and go down the side of the cake.
• Rub or brush a thin layer of corn syrup all over the fondant-covered straw, then roll in confetti sprinkles, pressing to adhere. Insert the straw into the cake at the marked spot, then place a small treat bag on the bent end, using a little corn syrup to stick it on, if necessary. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

PANCAKE "CAKE" WITH SPARKLING STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• For the pancake batter: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F; place a dinner plate in the oven.
• Whisk together the water, milk, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and 1/4 cup melted butter in a large bowl until completely smooth. Do not overmix.
• Brush the surface of a nonstick pan set over medium heat with some of the remaining melted butter. Spoon 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan and tilt the pan so the pancake is thin and about 6 inches in diameter. Flip once it looks crispy on the edges and air holes appear in the center. Cook another minute until cooked through. Remove the pancake to the plate in the oven to keep warm. Continue making pancakes until all the batter is gone, brushing the pan with butter as needed. Pile the pancakes one on top of the other in an organized stack as you go. You should have about 10 total.
• For the sparkling strawberries: In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries and sugar and gently toss to coat. Pour the sparkling wine over the strawberries and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve over the pancakes.