Surprise Cake Food

RAINBOW SURPRISE INSIDE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray two 8-inch round cake pans; place 8-inch round piece of cooking parchment paper in bottom of each pan. Grease or spray parchment paper. In large bowl, beat 1 box cake mix and ingredients called for on box with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on high speed about 2 minutes or until smooth. Spread in pans. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes; run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Gently remove from pans to cooling rack; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, repeat to make 2 more layers.
• Flatten cake layers by trimming off rounded tops. In 2 layers, cut small round out of center, using 4-inch round cutter.
• To assemble cake: Place 1 uncut cake layer on cake stand or serving platter; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with 1 layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with second layer with center removed; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top.
• Fill cake with candies and candy sprinkles. Gently press candies to level; top with full cake layer. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting.

CHRISTMAS TREE SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• You have to bake 3 cakes, but bake them one at a time, mixing up the batter only when you're ready to bake. For 2 of the cakes, tint the batter green. For the third cake, tint the batter red. Bake each cake until the center springs back when lightly touched, about 45 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert the cake onto a wire rack to cool. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes so the cake becomes firm.
• Carve and level the cakes: Using plates, bowls, glasses or round cookie cutters to trace around, cut the following: From the two green cakes, cut out 4 rounds: 8 inch, 6 inch, 4 inch, and 2 inch. Then from the red cake, cut out 4 rounds: 7 inch, 5 inch, 3 inch, and 1 inch. Take the round cookie cutter and cut a hole through the centers of the 4 inch, 5 inch, 6 inch, and 7 inch layers. (Save all the scraps for making Christmas-colored cake pop dough!)
• Make the buttercream frosting. Measure out 1 cup and tint it red. Tint the rest dark green.
• Spread a little green frosting on the cake board, lay down the 8 inch green cake layer, and spread a layer of frosting on top. Add the 7 inch red layer and repeat, taking care not to frost the inside edges of the center hole. Continue stacking and frosting gradually smaller cake layers until you reach the 4 inch layer.
• Take the 3 cups of candy and fill the center core of the tree, pressing down a little to compact the candy. Frost the top of the 4 inch layer and continue stacking and frosting until all the layers are stacked.
• Once stacked, take a serrated knife and gently carve away the sharp edges of the layers to form a tall cone shape. Apply a very thin "crumb coat" of frosting all over the outside of the cake. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the Christmas lights. Melt the Candy Melts. Cut the colored Tic Tac candies in half crosswise. Use a toothpick dipped in the melted candy to attach a Tic Tac to the end of a peanut M and M of the same color (the M and M is the bulb and the Tic Tac is the base). You will need about 40 of these.
• To make the star for the top of the tree, trace around a star cookie cutter onto parchment. Pipe an outline of white melted candy, then fill in the shape. Place a lollipop stick in the center and cover with more melted candy. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and let set at room temperature.
• Place the green frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 open star tip. Starting at the top of the cake, pipe 3/4 inch long strands of frosting in neat rows around the entire cake, like layers of pine branches on a Christmas tree.
• Once the cake is covered, place the red frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 21 piping tip and pipe draping lines of "tinsel" around the cake. Attach the colored M and M lights directly to the red frosting. Work quickly here, as the frosting will start to form a crust, which can make attaching the decorations difficult.
• Take the star and flip it over. Coat the back with white melted candy and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Allow to set. Insert the lollipop stick into the center of the top of the tree.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 x 3 inch round cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer, with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and eggs on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixer bowl. Add the oil to the creamed mixture and combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture and beat on high speed until the flour is completely mixed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scrape the batter into the pan and use an offset spatula to smooth the top.
• Bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Check after 45 minutes, and if the top is browning too much, tent with foil. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then run a metal spatula around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed for at least 5 minutes, until the butter has lightened in color and is thoroughly whipped. Using the tip of a sharp knife, scrape the vanilla seeds into the butter and beat to incorporate.
• Add 1 cup of the sugar and begin mixing on low speed to combine, then beat on high speed for about 2 minutes. Repeat this process 1 cup at a time until all the sugar has been added. Add milk a dash at a time if the mixture becomes too thick or dry. Scrape down the sides as needed and make sure no sugar is visible.
• The frosting will last for 1 month in the freezer, 2 weeks in the fridge, and 3 days at room temperature.

COOL WHIP ANGEL FOOD SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Use serrated knife to cut cake horizontally in half. Cut small tunnel around center of bottom half of cake, being careful to not cut through to bottom or sides of cake.
• Combine berries and 1/2 cup COOL WHIP; spoon into tunnel in cake. Cover with top half of cake.
• Frost top and side of cake with remaining COOL WHIP.

CHOCO-BERRY SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease sides of two 8-in. round cake pans with butter, than dust sides with cocoa powder (tap out excess). Line bottoms with parchment.
• Make cake: In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In large measuring cup or bowl, mix together oil, sour cream, coffee, eggs, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to flour mixture and whisk to combine.
• Divide mixture evenly between prepared pans and bake until wooden pick inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
• Make buttercream: Roughly chop strawberries. Add to blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside. using electric mixer, beat butter to soften. Sift in half of confectioners' sugar and slowly mix to combine. Sift in remaining sugar, add strawberry puree, and mix to combine. Increase speed and beat until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds.
• Trim cakes to level if needed. Slice each cake in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Sandwich all 4 layers together, dividing roughly half of buttercream and spreading between each pair. Next, spread scant layer of buttercream over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Transfer cake to stand or board.
• Frost cake with remaining buttercream. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Meanwhile make glaze: Melt chocolate and butter in heatproof bowl set over pan of barely simmering water, stirring until melted and smooth. Cool 5 minutes.
• Pour glaze over chilled iced cake, encouraging it to drip down sides. Allow to set 15 minutes before decorating with whole strawberries.

EASY SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 8-inch cake pans.
• Place the butter and sugar into a mixing bowl, and mash together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is creamy and thoroughly combined. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, and pour into the butter mixture. Stir until combined.
• Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl, and lightly stir into the butter mixture. Pour half the batter into each prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on wire racks.

CHOCOLATE SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the chocolate and butter together over hot water.
• Meanwhile, sift together 1 1/4 cups of the sugar, sifted flour, baking powder and salt.
• Stir the dry mixture into the chocolate mixture and blend.
• Stir in milk and vanilla.
• Pour into a greased, square 9 by 9-inch cake pan.
• Mix brown sugar, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cocoa powder and sprinkle over the batter.
• Pour coffee over and bake for 40 minutes.
• Serve warm or cold from the pan.

CHERRY SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Mix oil and sugar thoroughly. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until fluffy. Add vanilla.
• Sift flour and baking powder. Add to liquid and beat. Mix sugar and cinnamon for topping.
• Grease a 13 1/2 x 9 x 2 inch pan, and pour half the batter across the bottom. Sprinkle 1/2 the topping over batter. Spoon cherry pie filling over batter. Pour remaining batter over filling and sprinkle rest of sugar mixture on top.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.