VANILLA BEAN ICED CAKE

Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and my son's recent engagement party. I have cooked more desserts this month, than I have in the past year. And... my waistline is starting to show it!
But, there are just some things that are meant to be shared. This is one of them.
It's so easy to make, and... depending on the type of pans you choose to use, you can get all kinds of really awesome looking cakes.
As always, I like easy. I don't however, like shortcuts. This is an exception!
I am giving you my recipe for the cake batter, but, if you are in a hurry, a packaged cake mix, works just as well too.
I made this one at Christmas Time, so I added Christmas colored sprinkles for a festive look. However, you can top a vanilla cake, with just about anything and it will be outrageous. I like crushed walnuts, chocolate chips, sprinkles, or... nothing at all. Any way, this is a winner!
I love to cook. I'd love to do more of it, especially when I'm on a roll. The biggest part for me, is to clean as I go. I hate having dirty utensils and mixing pans all over my counter, especially when I bake.

 



 

Prep Time: 35 min.      Cook Time: 30-35 min.     Servings: 6-8      Makes 1 - 9" round cake.

Double the recipe if you do use a Bundt cake, or want to make a double layered cake, using two 9" cake pans.

THE EASY WAY: 

Choose the white cake mix of your choice.
Bake cake according to directions

Allow cake to cool completely.

Ice, sprinkle with your favorite topping.
Wait 10 minutes for icing to set.

Serve.

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BASIC, MOIST, WHITE CAKE BATTER FROM SCRATCH:

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar.

1/2 cup butter.  

3 egg whites.

11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.  

11/2 cups all-purpose flour.  

13/4 teaspoons baking powder. 

1/2 tsp. salt .

1/2 cup milk.

1 -2 vanilla beans.
grater with small enough holes to grate vanilla beans. (or a mortar and pestle, to grind the bean, both ways work well.)

 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a 9x9 inch pan. (I decided to use a Bundt pan this time)
• In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.
• With an electric mixer, beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Mix in the vanilla. 
• Add flour and baking powder to the creamed mixture and mix well again. 
• Mix in the milk until batter is smooth.
• Grate vanilla beans as much as desired, to suit your taste.(The more you use, the more vanilla flavor you will have. This is again where I say, TASTE AS YOU GO.)
• Mix again.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cake is done when a toothpick placed down into the center of the cake, and comes out clean

 

•  Allow the cake to cool, while you begin to make the icing.

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Icing:

1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a small mixing bowl, mix the above items well, to make this simple, delicious icing.

Once the cake is cooled, begin to drizzle the icing with a spoon, so that it drip down both sides of the cake. Continue to do that until the cake is iced the way you want it to be. Add any topping you wish to add. Allow icing to set for a few minutes until it hardens slightly, and then Serve!
Now Enjoy!

© 2014 Jayne's Crazy Kitchen