Gingercake Men Tablescape Centerpiece Food

TABLESCAPE CENTER PIECE - GOLDEN CAKE TOPPER CENTERPIECE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 6 by 3-inch high cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, butter, and milk. Using a hand mixer, beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl to be sure the batter is well incorporated. Fold the dulce de leche into the batter, but do not completely incorporate. Fill the cake pan 2/3 of the way to the top. Make cupcakes with the remaining batter. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and using an ice-cream scoop, fill the muffin tins with batter. Bake the cupcakes for 10 to 12 minutes, and the cake for 20 to 25 minutes. The tops should be golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool 10 minutes before unmolding and cooling completely on a wire rack, right side up.
• Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together the vanilla frosting and the dulce de leche until well incorporated. Add enough confectioners' sugar to make the frosting thick but spreadable.
• To decorate the cake, use a serrated knife to cut the top of the cake to make it flat. Adhere the cake to a 6-inch cardboard cake board, and ice the top and sides of the cake with frosting in a swirl pattern. Decorate the top with gold dragees, and the number candles. Frost the cupcakes and arrange them on a serving platter.

TABLESCAPE CENTERPIECE: FORTUNE BUSH

Steps:

• Line 2 sheet pans with wax paper, unwrap all the fortune cookies, and pour the sanding sugar into a shallow bowl.
• In a glass bowl in the microwave, melt 1 bag of white chocolate chips in 30 second intervals, being sure to stir the chocolate frequently. When completely melted, dip half of the fortune cookies from the pointed end and the other half from the rounded end. Dip in the bowl with purple sanding sugar while still wet. Place on the wax paper-lined sheet pans and allow to set up.
• To make the royal icing, beat together the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder with the lemon juice. Slowly add in the water until smooth and thick (the icing should not be runny).
• To assemble, cover the styrofoam cone with craft paper, using tape to secure. Start on the bottom row with the cookies dipped from the rounded end. Put a dollop of royal icing on the back of a cookie and press gently against the cone. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat around the base. Allow icing to set 5 minutes before continuing to the next row. (To help secure each cookie you can also use toothpicks inserted into the cone through the fold in the middle of each cookie.) Using cookies dipped from the pointed end, adhere around the cone above the first row in the same manner. Repeat, alternating rows between cookies dipped on the rounded and pointed ends, allowing each row to set for 20 minutes in between. Don't worry if they don't line up perfectly, the spaces will be covered later with ribbon. When complete, stick 2 cookies together with icing and place on the very top. Allow to dry for a few hours.
• To finish, using purple satin ribbon, start at the top and make loops by securing into the empty spaces with the pearl-topped pins. Scatter the violets throughout, securing to the cone in the same manner. Gently place atop a cake stand in the center of your table.

APRIL BLOOMFIELD'S GINGER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees with a rack set in the center. Generously butter an 8-inch round, 3-inch high springform pan. Line bottom with parchment paper and place on baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a small saucepan, stir together boiling water, molasses, and baking soda until molasses has completely dissolved.
• Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to medium-low and add egg; mix until combined. Add grated ginger and mix to combine.
• Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the molasses mixture, scraping down sides as necessary. Batter will be very wet. Pour batter into prepared pan and transfer to oven. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool slightly before removing ring from springform pan; serve warm.