Daisy Cupcake Cake Food

DAISY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Using kitchen shears, snip off a thin strip from the side of a marshmallow to make a petal. Work your way around the marshmallow to snip off more petals. Repeat with 23 more marshmallows. (You'll need 10 to 12 petals per cupcake.)
• Snip a thin round from the top and bottom of the remaining 6 marshmallows. Press the 12 rounds cut-side down in the yellow nonpareils to coat.
• Arrange the marshmallow petals on the cupcakes, then place a nonpareil-covered marshmallow in the center of each.

DAISY CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 14 muffin cups with cupcake liners. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions. Fill the prepared muffin cups halfway full with batter. Scrape the remaining batter (about 2 1/2 cups) into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake the cupcakes and cake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes and cake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes for the cupcakes and 23 to 28 minutes for the cake. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth.
• Transfer 3 cups of the frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip (number 803).
• Transfer 1 cup of the frosting to a small bowl and tint with the golden yellow gel food coloring. Scrape the yellow frosting into a small pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch plain round tip (number 804).
• Cover the remaining frosting (about 2 cups) with plastic and reserve for frosting the cake.
• To assemble: Place the cake layer upside down on an extra-large cutting board or platter (at least 18-by-14-inches). Arrange the cupcakes in their liners around the cake to create a daisy shape. Pipe a border of the white frosting along the edges of the daisy. Using a small offset spatula, spread the reserved white frosting evenly inside the border to frost the top of the cake and bring the cupcakes and cake together into one cake.
• Gently invert a small bowl (with a diameter of about 3 1/2-inches) in the center of the cake to lightly indent a circle. Remove the bowl. Using the indented circle as a guideline, pipe small dollops of the yellow frosting with peaks to fill in the circle.
• Pipe a border of white frosting along the edge of each petal to define their shapes. To serve, remove the cupcakes and slice the cake.

DAISY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously grease and flour a bundt pan.
• In a large mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in lemon extract. Add remaining ingredients. Blend at low speed just until thoroughly combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in the center. Cool 30 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely and drizzle with glaze.
• For glaze: In a small bowl, place the extract and powdered sugar; stir in only enough water to make proper drizzling consistency.

DAISY CUPCAKE 'CAKE'

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes; cool completely. Pierce cupcakes with wooden skewer or large fork at 1/4-inch intervals. Add boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Spoon 2 tsp. gelatin over each cupcake. Refrigerate 3 hours.
• Arrange 12 cupcakes, with sides touching, in center of large circular platter; spread with 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP. Sprinkle with yellow sugar.
• Spread remaining COOL WHIP onto remaining 12 cupcakes; top with sprinkles. Arrange around cupcakes in center of platter to resemble flower petals. Store in refrigerator.

DAISY SOUR CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour 2 8-inch round baking pans; set aside.
• In a large mixer bowl add the vegetable oil, egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Beat at medium speed until well mixed (1 minute).
• Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar; continue beating until well mixed (1 minute).
• Add the melted chocolate, 1 cup of the flour, 2/3 cup of the cocoa powder, the baking soda and salt. Beat at low speed until mixed.
• Add 1/2 cup of the water; beat at low speed until mixed.
• Add the remaining 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water; beat at low speed until mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Beat in 1 cup of the sour cream until mixed.
• Pour the batter evenly into the pans.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove the cake pans from the oven and cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the pans; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the butter at high speed until creamy (about 1 minute).
• Add 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup powdered sugar.
• Beat the frosting at low speed until mixed.
• Add the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup sour cream and milk; beat at low speed until mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• Place one cake, rounded side down, on the serving plate.
• Spoon and spread 1 cup of the frosting over the cake.
• Place the second cake, rounded side up, over the frosting.
• Frost the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting.
• Garnish if desired.