Tuesday, February 17, 2009

TWD: Imitation White Out Cake

From whiteoutcake


Some may shake their heads at this post. While others, may breathe a huge sigh of relief. First some background. Before, I became a homemade challenge kind of cook and baker, I was a semi-homemade expert, a byproduct of being a working, single mother who wanted desperately to make nice eats for everyone under the sun, but had very little time and resources.

To pay homage to those days and also by scanning Dorie's Devil's Food White Out Cake recipe, which was just a little too much for me to do this week, I decided to Sandra Lee this recipe up! Here is how I did it:

First, I used Duncan Hines Devil's Food cake mix. I mixed the batter according to the package directions. Then, I mixed in 2 heaping tbs of cocoa and 1/4 cup of melted chocolate chips to the batter. I baked the batter in a Wilton 9x3 inch round pan for approximately 40 minutes. I allowed the cake to cool over night. This is best for preventing excessive crumbiness. It also allows for smoother decoration. Plus, it breaks up the work.

Then, this morning, I crowned, leveled, and torted my cake as directed by Dorie. I frosted the cake with a sweet and fluffy Whipped Icing (the marshmallow-meringue thing did not sound appealing to me this week), using broad, whimsical strokes, lifting the spatula upward. The good thing about this cake is that you do not have to worry about cake crumbs as much as you normally would working with a dark cake and light colored frosting. However, I still applied a crumb coat, but reduced the "set" time and covered the few crumbs that showed through the icing with the cake crumbs used for decoration. I also gathered the loose crumbs on the bottom and press them into the cake to form a border for a more tapered look.

From whiteoutcake

Although the cake looked good as is, I still felt it needed something on top, so I quickly made up some X and O's chocolate centerpieces. Voila, cake complete. I just wish I had remembered to decorate my cake board first! This cake deserved a great cake board.

From whiteoutcake

There you have it. I hope you will not be to deeply disappointed with my "shortcuts", but I think the result is amazing, simple, and affordable. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Did any one happen to see a similar version of this cake on the magazine stands about a month or two ago?

Now don't forget to go see what the other genuine imitators did at TWD's blog roll. I am sure they came up with wonderful creations, as they always do. Thanks, Stephanie of Confessions of a City Eater for choosing this week's awesome challenge!



P.S. I will post cut cake pictures later when we eat it.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the cake looks just amazing! I bet it is just heavenly!

Megan said...

You know, it doesn't matter how you did it, what matters is that you DID it. Personally, if you hadn't mentioned it,I never would have known. It still looks great.

Jennifer said...

Your cake looks great and, while I fall into the catagory of Sandra Lee-hater, it's not because of her short-cuts, it's because of her damn perky personality, skinny body yet big boobs, and crazy tablescapes! (Okay, that sounded bitter, really I'm not!)

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Great looking cake! Your fluffy frosting sounds like something worth investigating. I would have needed shortcuts for the decorating part; the actual cake was easy for me. And our very favorite cake is a semi-homemade type of thing.

Jennifer said...

That is one beautiful cake and I agree it makes no difference if you used a mix, it is still stunning!and I bet it tastes amazing too!

Carol Peterman/TableFare said...

What a stunning cake. Whatever it takes to make baking and life work, seems like a good plan.

Kayte said...

You know, it looks every bit as good...sometimes one just needs to get something done any way they can. Love the cutouts on top, too.

Ivette said...

Your cake looks awesome! I like the decorations you made for it. Let us know how it tasted!!

Dragana said...

You almost fooled me! At first glance, it looks like the real thing. Nice way to cut corners!

farah said...

Your cake looks fantastic and as long as you enjoy making it and eating it, then that's all that counts :)

Peggy said...

I love shortcuts and I love Sandra Lee. I like to watch her show because she always has those "drink" recipes at the end of the show. But this cake was actually an easy one to make. Yours looks fantastic and I'm sure it tasted great!

Teanna DiMicco said...

I think your semi-homemade cake looks great and I LOVE those x's and o's!!!!

Cathy said...

You are great! And your cake looks AMAZING. Those chocolate Xs and Os are the cutest things ever. Your cake could be on a magazine cover. I love your semi-homemade shortcuts!

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks wonderful! I understand not having time, we've all been there. When you do have time, make the cake from scratch. It truly is wonderful. YUM!

Jules Someone said...

Well, you are totally fired for using a mix. Totally. Ok, you can come back now. Nice cake!

Pamela said...

It looks great and I love the chocolate on top. Home made or not, I would LOVE a slice of that cake!

Debbie said...

That is just incredible. I bet it is as delicious as it is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

hi carolina! very crafty! i totally understand needing to take shortcuts. who has all that time? i've skipped a few recipes because i've been busy...good for you for being creative. the layers look lovely.

Heather B said...

Your cake turned out great! Much easier too! Great job!

Jaime said...

i love your XO's topper!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh. I want cake right now. Right this second. Before dinner? Yep, that's right!

Bradley said...

That is a really good looking cake. I have never made a cake before, but that cake makes me want to make one. The chocolate "x's" and the "o" are sweet.