Daring Bakers: The Perfect Party Cake

Have you been noticing a preponderance of coconut raspberry layer cakes as you surf around the web today? Well, that's because it that time of the month again. No not that time, it's Daring Bakers time!

This month's challenge is hosted by Morven of Food Art and Random Thoughts. As hostess Morven got to  select the challenge recipe and chose Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party Cake-- a lovely four-layer cake recipe originally given to Dorie by Nick Malgieri. The two recipes read slightly differently, though the ingredients and basic methods are the same. Oddly, I found the Malgieri version easier to follow than Dorie's.

As always, the ever growing group of Daring Bakers communicated their triumphs and failures throughout the month before the big reveal. A number of us, myself included, had issues with the cake layers, finding that they didn't rise as much as we'd hoped for. We did discover late in the month that there had been a typo in the recipe and that it called for an extra quarter cup of flour, but I'd already made the cake and I'm afraid I was not driven enough to try it again.

The low-rise issue resulted in layers that were only about an inch and a half high, which meant I was going to have a mighty short cake, even after splitting and filling them. Because I am a firm believer in tall majestic layer cakes I immediately baked a third layer, using a half recipe, deciding I would have six layers! 

The buttercream recipe was quite easy to make. In fact it seemed awfully familiar and I realized that it's essentially the same one we used for the December challenge. Though we were encouraged to vary the filling, and even to substitute whipped cream for the outside layer of buttercream, I elected to make the recipe exactly as written with four small exceptions: I added the extra layer, splitting each one for a total of six, as noted; I decided to alternate the raspberry and butter cream fillings, rather than spreading the butter cream over the raspberry between each layer (no bleeding of raspberry into the beautiful white frosting and a lighter-tasting cake); I increased the buter cream recipe by half, to allow for the extra layer; and I chose not to cover the entire cake with coconut, opting instead for a dab of raspberry preserves on the top and some frou-frous around the edge.

Interested in the Daring Bakers group? You can read more about us here and you can find links to all of us here if you haven't seen enough Perfect Party Cakes. Click the link for the Dorie Greenspan version of the recipe, or check out Nick Malgieri's version.

Perfect Party Cake
from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking from My Home to Yours

Stick a bright-coloured Post-it to this page, so you’ll always know where to turn for a just-right cake for any celebration. The original recipe was given to me by my great dear friend Nick Malgieri, of baking fame, and since getting it, I’ve found endless opportunities to make it – you will too. The cake is snow white, with an elegant tight crumb and an easygoing nature: it always bakes up perfectly; it is delicate on the tongue but sturdy in the kitchen – no fussing when it comes to slicing the layers in half or cutting tall, beautiful wedges for serving; and, it tastes just as you’d want a party cake to taste – special. The base recipe is for a cake flavoured with lemon, layered with a little raspberry jam and filled and frosted with a classic (and so simple) pure white lemony hot-meringue buttercream but, because the elements are so fundamental, they lend themselves to variation (see Playing Around), making the cake not just perfect, but also versatile.

For the Cake
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups whole milk or buttermilk (I prefer buttermilk with the lemon)
4 large egg whites
1 ½ cups sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 stick (8 tablespoons or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ teaspoon pure lemon extract

For the Buttercream
1 cup sugar
4 large egg whites
3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For Finishing
2/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves stirred vigorously or warmed gently until spreadable
About 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut

Getting Ready
Centre a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9 x 2 inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each pan with a round of buttered parchment or wax paper. Put the pans on a baking sheet.

To Make the Cake
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Whisk together the milk and egg whites in a medium bowl.

Put the sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl or another large bowl and rub them together with your fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant.

Add the butter and working with the paddle or whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat at medium speed for a full 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light.

Beat in the extract, then add one third of the flour mixture, still beating on medium speed.

Beat in half of the milk-egg mixture, then beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated.

Add the rest of the milk and eggs beating until the batter is homogeneous, then add the last of the dry ingredients.

Finally, give the batter a good 2- minute beating to ensure that it is thoroughly mixed and well aerated.

Divide the batter between the two pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cakes are well risen and springy to the touch – a thin knife inserted into the centers should come out clean.

Transfer the cakes to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unfold them and peel off the paper liners.

Invert and cool to room temperature, right side up (the cooled cake layers can be wrapped airtight and stored at room temperature overnight or frozen for up to two months).

To Make the Buttercream
Put the sugar and egg whites in a mixer bowl or another large heatproof bowl, fit the bowl over a plan of simmering water and whisk constantly, keeping the mixture over the heat, until it feels hot to the touch, about 3 minutes.

The sugar should be dissolved, and the mixture will look like shiny marshmallow cream.
Remove the bowl from the heat.

Working with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the meringue on medium speed until it is cool, about 5 minutes.

Switch to the paddle attachment if you have one, and add the butter a stick at a time, beating until smooth.

Once all the butter is in, beat in the buttercream on medium-high speed until it is thick and very smooth, 6-10 minutes.

During this time the buttercream may curdle or separate – just keep beating and it will come together again.
On medium speed, gradually beat in the lemon juice, waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding more, and then the vanilla.

You should have a shiny smooth, velvety, pristine white buttercream. Press a piece of plastic against the surface of the buttercream and set aside briefly.

To Assemble the Cake
Using a sharp serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion, slice each layer horizontally in half.

Put one layer cut side up on a cardboard cake round or a cake plate protected by strips of wax or parchment paper.

Spread it with one third of the preserves.

Cover the jam evenly with about one quarter of the buttercream.

Top with another layer, spread with preserves and buttercream and then do the same with a third layer (you’ll have used all the jam and have buttercream leftover).

Place the last layer cut side down on top of the cake and use the remaining buttercream to frost the sides and top.
Press the coconut into the frosting, patting it gently all over the sides and top.

Serving
The cake is ready to serve as soon as it is assembled, but I think it’s best to let it sit and set for a couple of hours in a cool room – not the refrigerator. Whether you wait or slice and enjoy it immediately, the cake should be served at room temperature; it loses all its subtlety when it’s cold. Depending on your audience you can serve the cake with just about anything from milk to sweet or bubbly wine.

Storing
The cake is best the day it is made, but you can refrigerate it, well covered, for up to two days. Bring it to room temperature before serving. If you want to freeze the cake, slide it into the freezer to set, then wrap it really well – it will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer; defrost it, still wrapped overnight in the refrigerator.

Playing Around
Since lemon is such a friendly flavour, feel free to make changes in the preserves: other red preserves – cherry or strawberry – look especially nice, but you can even use plum or blueberry jam.

Fresh Berry Cake
If you will be serving the cake the day it is made, cover each layer of buttercream with fresh berries – use whole raspberries, sliced or halved strawberries or whole blackberries, and match the preserves to the fruit. You can replace the coconut on top of the cake with a crown of berries, or use both coconut and berries. You can also replace the buttercream between the layers with fairly firmly whipped sweetened cream and then either frost the cake with buttercream (the contrast between the lighter whipped cream and the firmer buttercream is nice) or finish it with more whipped cream. If you use whipped cream, you’ll have to store the cake the in the refrigerator – let it sit for about 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Comments

[fanny]

I wish I could find those beautiful looking coconut here in France as it makes your cake look so pretty.
xxx

[Aran]

Wow Ann... very nicely done!!! I love the old fashioned bakery look of this cake. It was so tasty!

[zorra]

Wow, that's how a perfect cake looks like! Congrats.

[Maryann]

Beautifully done, Ann! Six layers! Wow!
Your cake stand is pretty too :)

[foodie froggy]

Wonderfully done ! "Félicitations" from Paris !

[Judy]

Your cake looks incredible! I love the extra layer!

[Lucy V]

Whoa that's one gorgeous looking cake! Excellent! 6 layers!

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Wish I had your decorating skills. Beautiful cake Ann.

[Karen]

Wow! I love the six layers. Very impressive.

[Manggy]

Ann, your experience in cake decorating has come through again. That is just gorgeous! I'm not a fan of coconut (as you may have heard), but I have to say it's a very pretty effect on the sides.

[Meeta]

This cake is a piece of of art Ann. It looks really PERFECT!

[carrie]

OH MY WORD!!! That is just AMAZING!!! WOW!~ You are one incredible Daring Baker! That is the most beautiful cake I've ever seen!!

[Deeba]

This takes the cake Ann...luscious & beautiful...WITH SIX LAYERS? WOOHOO...WOW!! Loved your intro...ha ha!! This is a real pretty cake...just perfect!

[Deborah]

Your cake is so gorgeous! I love the extra layers - and that you alternated the preserves and buttercream. Wonderful job!

[dhanggit]

oh my god ann!! this is gorgeous!! this is absolutely my perfect party cake..can i have a slice please ;-)

[CB]

Gorgeous layers! I love the idea of alternating the buttercream and preserves. Your swirls on the edge add a lovely dimension to your cake too. Can you email me how you make the circles on the top of your cake? Spatula and turntable? or is there a technique? Great job!

[Ben]

That is an amazing looking cake. The raspberries on top are the perfect touch. This was a great challenge and a lot of fun. :D

[Bellini Valli]

This is a beautifully represented cake. You did a wonderful job to make the cake look extra special for your over 500 guests:D

[Suzana]

Wow! Ann, awesome cake! I wished I had it in me to do those amazing cake decorations. Perfectly done!

[Texana]

OOOOO! Nice! Your cake is absolutely gorgeous and I am sure it tastes fabulous as well.
Hugs, Texana

[Bella Baita View]

Gorgeous. Your butter cream looks to die for!

[Judy]

What a gorgeous cake! It's fun to see how differently they all turn out.

[Maddy]

Looks gorgeous! Yours turned out beautifully- I especially love all the layers!

[prettytastycakes]

This cake is so beautiful and elegant. Love the height, too!

[bernie]

Wonderful !