A few weeks ago one of my dear friends Amy asked me if I would make a cake for her, & not just any cake but a surprise-gender cake for her, her husband & their family. They are having their first baby & were headed for the big ultrasound. They wanted the u/s tech to keep the gender a secret, they would then bring me the information & I would put either a pink or blue layer of icing in the center of the cake to indicate what they were having. Then the family would gather together that evening so they could all find out together. A pretty cute idea right? & I’d be lying if I didn’t feel a little drunk with power as they handed over the results & I watched her husband squirm at the thought that someone other than the doctor knew what they were having (sorry Jared!).
I had made the cake the night before (using Bakerella’s scratch yellow cake recipe - wonderful & relatively easy I might add) & once I had the ultrasound results in-hand I assembled the cake.
I have to say that I’ve iced cakes before but never trying to do a smoothed buttercream finish. I was quite nerve-wracked about it but it wasn’t that difficult. The best part about doing a buttercream finish is that if you mess up, you can smooth over the smudges pretty easily. I still need to perfect the overall “smoothness” but for my first go with it, ever, I wasn’t hating the results. I had to add the dots because I love polka dots & after Conner’s birthday party I was itching to use my icing tips some more.
Over all it was one of the funnest projects I’ve done in awhile - I got try something new & for something so fun as letting mom & dad know what they were having. I should add that I had to make four - yes, FOUR - batches of buttercream frosting. There was about three layers around the cake with two thick layers of icing on the inside & the thing weighed eight pounds (I got out the wii fit balance board & weighed it) - it is serious. I kept telling mom to prepare herself for the diabetic coma that would inevitably follow. I love having these types of projects to do - new, fun & a gift of sorts.
Oh, & they’re having a baby girl. Congratulations Amy & Jared!
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Absolutely goregous cake girl! I love the shades of colors that you used, soft but bold. Love the polka dots and I too adore buttercream!
By Rachel on 02.02.10 8:29 am | Permalink
Love that idea! Too bad I don’t know anyone having a baby. I think your cake looks great! When I try to get the buttercream really smooth I stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes then use a Viva paper towel, lay it across your cake and gently smooth away!
By Kathy on 02.02.10 9:30 am | Permalink
It’s beautiful!!! Love the colors & dots:)
By mandi@ it's come to this on 02.02.10 10:48 am | Permalink
That is the coolest idea ever!! That cake looks amazing, too!
By Elizabeth on 02.02.10 9:15 pm | Permalink
oh, the talent!
By j*lee on 02.03.10 7:51 am | Permalink
Gorgeousness!
By bakerella on 02.03.10 4:46 pm | Permalink
Wowee this is a great idea! It’s so beautiful! Could you do a tutorial here on simple cake frosting? (and congrats to your friends on their baby girl!)
By Emily on 02.05.10 4:21 am | Permalink
Coolest idea ever! Almost cool enough to make me want another baby so I can do the same thing. Almost. :)
You rocked the buttercream, btw!
By Will Blog for Shoes on 02.07.10 3:25 pm | Permalink
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