I had so much fun putting together this tutorial for the Surprise Inside faith cake!
I am very new to tutorials, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me anytime!
Now.
This cake I did not bake from scratch. To be honest, I have not found a good vanilla/white cake recipe yet! (if you know of one please point me in the right direction!) So! If you are a true foodie and my ‘box’ cake offends you, please, turn away now! Your not gonna like what you see.
To make this cake you will need:
2 boxes White Cake
1 box Devils Food Cake
For frosting:
1 cup veg. shortening (do NOT use butter flavor. seriously. just take my word for it.)
1 cup room temperature butter
2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 cups sifted (sifting is a must!) confectioners sugar (powder sugar)
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon milk
For frosting:
Cream together shortening and butter until light and fluffy. And extracts, mix until combined. Add sugar, one or two cups at a time, until fully incorporated. The frosting should look dry. You can now add the milk to get a smoother, glossier, and easier to spread consistency. (if you need to add some milk after 4 cups of sugar you can)
You will be using an 8in or 9in round cake pan (its totally up to you!) for the white cake. You will need to make four layers.
I froze my layers for at least an hour before assembling the cake. This steps makes your life SO much easier, I promise. You can also freeze them overnight to save time!
For the devils food, bake the cake in a rectangle pan. I’ll tell you more about that in a second.
For now, lets look at some pictures.
The white cake.
The white cakes leveled.
This is the devils food cake. Before I removed it from the pan and crumbled it and added some frosting to make it stick together… I cut out this shape. (I just used a piece of tupperware that was about the right size)
(For one box of devils food cake add approximately 1/2 cup frosting. Blend with a fork or your hand to incorporate.)
Cut the same shape out of the white cake.
That devils food is going to fit perfectly into the white cake!
Now, to get started with assembly. Put one layer of your white cake on your plate. Add about 1/2 cup frosting and add another layer. Add another 1/2 cup frosting and add your layer with the cutout.
It should look like this.
Go ahead and add your devils piece into the white layer.
Add some frosting around the edges.
(the next step you can save until last, but I had to start now because my cake was getting so tall.)
Now go ahead and take a round cookie cutter or a smaller drinking glass or anything that is a smaller round shape and cut out a whole. You will need to go through all layers of the cake. Get a fork or spoon and carefully scoop out the excess cake.
I still have another layer to add… so I will just put it on top and then guesstimate where the hole was.
Now remember that devils food cake that we crumbled and added some frosting too to make it more usable?
We are going to fill up the entire hole with this cake mixture. Just start stuffing cake in there until its all full. (This works MUCH better if your white cake is frozen or very chilled)
Like that!
Next is the crumb coat layer. (Want to know what a crumb coat is? Want to learn how to do one? Click here.)
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After I added the crumb coat layer I threw this bad boy in the freezer and went to bed.
When I opened my freezer in the morning it magically looked like this!
I’m kidding. This was after I added another layer of frosting. Dont be shy with your frosting! This cake is big and can handle it.
Next I started decorating… and I am sorry… but I only got pictures of the finished product.
If you want to try the technique I did… I think the technical term is ‘swirly thingies’… get a piping bag and a decorating tip and practice on a piece of paper. Practice makes perfect! (and as you can tell, I am still practicing!)
Top view.
This cake is a big boy. This swirling stuff took me about an hour. Then I got frustrated and went back in and added dots. I didnt like that either so I added red dots. Then I gave up.
And this is what you see after you eat three pieces cut into your cake.
A cross.
Hence the name, ‘Faith Cake’.
Ok. I’m ready for it. Be honest now… do you think you’ll try and make one? 
This is amazing!! I love it, and I’ve been waiting for the tutorial. I’m so glad you posted.
Yes!!! I totally want to try it. I can’t do the fancy schmancie frosting job but I can do the cake! Remember … cake mixes rock!
I am amazed. I can’t believe you just did all that. How do you do it? Thank you so much for this post. To answer your question…hmmm… I don’t know… it looks complicated… But it looks like I have a good recipe for buttercream frosting!
Thanks!
Kathy D.
Your so sweet Kathy!!!
Been thinking about you lots… let me know if you need anything!
Blessings!
Cool… we’ll have to give this a try. Looks kinda complicated though!
Showed this post to my teen daughter and she was so impressed. And I quote…”that is the coolest thing EVER”
It does look very fun. And I bet that little bit of extra frosting mixed with the crumbled Devils’ Food gave it a) a lot more stability when cut and b) just a tad more richness.
I want some. Thank heavens I started a new “nutritional program.” (NOT a diet. I *can’t* diet over the holidays… so it must be something else!)
This is indeed a beautiful cake, I love the outside decoration
Now THAT is a huge compliment!
I might just try this today! Looks time consuming. I will not be decorating the outside so nicely, but will think of something. God bless – Holly
Wow. That is a pretty cool cake. And in all honesty, i love making cake form scratch, but white is a hard one to find a good one and in this case, w/ three cakes, you NEED to use box or you will go nuts!
Amanda,
I’m saving this link and hope to tell others about it in a post soon. This is awesome! (I remember when you posted about your Faith Cake…)
Genny
Very creative work!!!
That’s so creative! I haven’t seen it before. I liked scrolling down and seeing what made it a “faith” cake!
This is such a beautiful cake! It looks so easy to do but I’ve done a cake decorating class and this would probably take me a good day and a half
Therefore, no I probably won’t try it but it does look fantastic!
Oh my goodness…that is gorgeous. I’m not sure I could pull that off, but if you’d like to mail me a piece, I’d be happy to share it with you.
Lisa
A BIG HUGE THANKS! That makes it so much easier for me! For some silly reason I could NOT figure out how that horizontal part worked!!
YOU ARE SO TALENTED! And PATIENT! I am totally making this for Easter this coming year!
Just gorgeous!!!!
Oh yes, I’m totally going to make this for our preacher’s next birthday! And I’m not going to tell him what’s inside so he’ll be surprised. I love it. I also love your “swirly-thingies” (I call it scrollwork but that’s probably not technically correct). Very beautiful cake!
P.S. Don’t be embarassed of using cake mix–it’s the only way to go!
lol no, I think I am usually just so relieved a huge weight is lifted!
Okay, that answers my question about your cakes…I haven’t found a good vanilla/white recipe either, and it drives me crazy! I think I’m going to just break down and buy white box cakes because that will be much better than eating the dry, tasteless cake recipes I HAVE been trying.
This is a gorgeous, gorgeous cake, by the way…I love it!
I just want to know – do you have to deal with a backache/neckache after that work of art is done???
Ju
Beautiful cake! It doesn’t sound that hard, but I’ve been a baker for years, so that may change things.
There is a pan, not sure if you know about it or not, that could make this easier… it’s the checkerboard pan. Wouldn’t that work? Have you seen this pan? I think it would work great for people who don’t want to cut their cakes. May also save on cake mixes (I too, use mix… makes for a much neater, simplier, yummier cake!)
I have not ever heard of this checkerboard pan Megan!! How neat! Where could I see one or get one?? Do you have one? Do you use it??
Thanks for the neat info!
Blessings-
Amanda
I just love your blog! I have been gawking at all of your beautiful cakes and cookies! I am so impressed with your talent! This cake is so beautiful! My daughter and i have been baking and decorating fondant cakes for a little over a year. She loves to bake and decorate. We are getting all kinds of ideas here! I will for sure be back!
That is a beautiful cake! I love the squiggly decoration! I do not believe, however, that I will make that cake. My patience level is much too low and I would never take it out of the freezer to finish it. But you do a beautiful job!
Gorgeous! And I like all the dots.
Honestly, I’d probably think/dream about making this cake and be just as happy doing that and looking at your pictures than actually trying to make it myself! Of course, there’s the whole not being able to eat it with that plan. So maybe I’ll give it a shot someday. When I do, I’ll let you know!
Thanks!
Oh, I LOVE THIS! Now I am super excited about this cake, and the red and green cake! Which to make , which to make? I will have such a hard time deciding. Thank you so very much for sharing! I am still getting rave reviews from your rainbow cake!
)
(this is Christina from Piggies and Pumpkins…I started a new blog, that I hope is more efficient
Oh yea! If we can do the rainbow cake, we can *try* the faith cake — perfect for Christmas! Wow, Amanda, you are making me pretty cool in my girls eyes!
Thanks!
That’s too cool! I just did an experiment for my husband’s birthday but I don’t think it turned out as tall and I used two cake mixes, making four round cakes. It turned out okay but your skills far surpass mine. Take a bow! You deserve it. Maybe one day I will give it a try. I just need to find the right occasion, and get a little more practice… and…. ummmmm… courage. Yeah, courage. Definately more courage!
THAT IS AWESOME! I love love love it. I will never try to do this of course, because if I did my kitchen might explode… But still, I’m glad to know that someone else has this kind of talent!!
I just discovered your blog and I am in LOVE. You are so creative, talented, and inspiring. I absolutely love all things baking and decorating and I am mesmerized by your creations! I am dying to try out your sugar cookie recipe. My husband and I recently moved to Germany and some of the key baking ingredients are different here. When I tried a Martha Stewart sugar cookie recipe that used baking powder, the cookies spread way too much and ended up being raw in the middle because the baking powder is just not the same. Yuck. The cookies I have made with baking soda (Natron here in Germany) have come out great.
I will definitely be a returning visitor!!
Katie
I am in awe of your talent!
It looks sooo good.
If I get gutsy enough to attempt this I will make sure to document and blog about it;)
AMAZING!
Love the cake, beautiful job…seems you think about desserts the way I think about food. You have a talent! BTW congrats on being featured on TK!
hey amanda – random question not at all related to this post but i was wondering when you make your sugar cookies and then use the icing to outline and “flood” them, do you have to go over the outline after the flooded part dries? does the flooding ever cover the outline part? or should i just flood the whole thing before adding the outline details on top? not sure if that makes sense but if you have a moment i would love you advice:)
beeeeeautiful cakey by the way!
Very neat cake!
Wow! I think you’ll be making that cake in heaven! Amazing! Are you sure you have toddlers? They must be very well behaved little ones! Thanks for the directions–if I’m snowed in for too long, I might just attempt this…or just bake a cake and eat it!
Hi Amanda,
I am going to try out your sugar cookie recipe tonight!I am wondering…does the frosting that you make dry hard or does it stay soft and sticky?
It will dry hard to the touch but it never gets as hard as royal icing… it should never crunch… hope you have fun baking!!
Nope, I will never be that adventurous and make it…but the piping on top is GORGEOUS!!!!
Wow, wow, WOW! That’s so cool! You do beautiful work!
well, color me impressed and delighted! i’ve never seen anything like this, which is sad because it’s truly incredible. your work is flawless and undoubtedly delicious too.
Hooray! I made one, and I think it was beauttiful! What a great idea! Actually I just posted a whole blog about all of your fabulous baking ideas that I have tried, minus the cookies (which I used another recipe for, and they were hard) so I will try your recipe next
Thanks again for sharing!
I was trying to figure out where this cake was going the whole time! And then I got the end- what a beautiful cake!
honestly, no, i will not try to make it but i LOVE it – so, so cool! and…your icing is gorgeous – so beautiful.
beautiful cake!! I love the ‘swirly things’!! And the peanut bars above looked like paydays…I’m salivating right now!! I think I found a new baking blog…love it!
Wonderful!
I really loved your presentation. Your cake looks so refreshing and pretty decorative! I will surely try this item on my husband’s next birthday. Ingredients mentioned here are not much expensive and recipe also quite easy. Thank you…
oh my. i love this! wow!
OH. MY. COW. Ridiculous. Very cool.
That is the coolest cake I have ever seen! I love your decoration of it by the way.
I have the tools because I took a cake decorating class in college, maybe this year I should try making it.
~Heather
that is sooooooo cool! I may try it….but no way I would have the patience to frost and decorate so nice
I am so making this cake, it may take a few days but i am so making this cake. thanks for the tutorial
Your cake is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I don’t think I am adventurous enough to try and bake one but I DO want to try to make the Rainbow Cake that was pictured on MckMama’s blog.
Thank you so much for the links to how to crumb coat a cake – I know it needs to be done but did not know how to do it!
I would totally make that! If I only had a reason to…
Hi Amanda,
Wow, what can I say??? That is amazing! Seriously, you are so gifted!
That was a very involved tutorial, but you did a great job. Even I understood it!
By the way, I saw MckMama tweet this post, so I HAD to check it out.
This is too cool! This would be perfect for our family Easter gathering.
As for awesomefrom-scratch cake recipes–You have to try this White Cake from Stolen Moments Cooking: http://stolenmomentscooking.com/homemade-white-cake/
That is am AMAZING cake! Great job!
I will totally try this! I might make a smaller version, but I’ll make it. Not sure how I’ll decorate the outside, but I thought you did a great job on the “swirly thingies”. Thanks for sharing!
This cake is absolutely amazing! I’ve wanted to find your blog since you commented on the rainbow cake I made for my Baby Grady’s first birthday. I attempted that cake, but I can’t say that I’ll be brave enough to attempt this one. I am NOT a baker! It was by the grace of God that the rainbow cake turned out so well. Thanks for visiting my blog and reading Grady’s story. Many blessings to you!
Tonya
Amazing. This is stunning!
wow….that is all i can say…
That is amazing!
you totally rock!!!!!!!! wowsers girl!! can i come over and have some????
I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.
I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.
Wow. That is beautiful. My son makes his First Communion this Spring and I think I just found the perfect cake for his party. Better start practicing now!
ok so i would really love to make this for Easter, but im totally lost! what is the chocolate circle traced from, how big, does each layer have the same size hole inside of it? ahhh im so sorry i’m slow! this would be my first huge presentation cake for easter with the family, and what better way then to show the cross that the lord died on for us!
Mine is in the oven right now! It will be my daughter’s first birthday cake, which is perfect because her birthday is during Holy Week.
Thanks for sharing!
wow I am impressed . . . it puts my bunny cake to shame!
What an awesome cake!!!! I love a challenge and definitely have to give this a try!!! Thanks so much for posting this!
)
Do you think cream cheese frosting would be ok??? (gotta get in my dairy
Wow, that’s BEAUTIFUL! The “swirly thingys” are amazing…I don’t think I would have the patience to do them! I may tackle this cake eventually, but I’m still a “newbie” baker
This one is a bit intimidating!
ok so i would really love to make this for Easter, but im totally lost! what is the chocolate circle traced from, how big, does each layer have the same size hole inside of it? ahhh im so sorry i’m slow! this would be my first huge presentation cake for easter with the family, and what better way then to show the cross that the lord died on for us!
I made this for Easter and after a couple of hiccups, I think it turned out pretty well for a first time! I posted it on my blog!! Thanks so much for a great tutorial!
I just made this last night for my pastor. It is his last week at our church (he got another call to be the senior pastor). He will be greatly missed and I thought this cake would be the perfect occasion. I think I have to make one for us to eat at home this weekend.
I know this is an old post, but… wouldn’t you need to cut the small center circles out of the bottom two layers and fill each one with the chocolate cake before adding the “cutout” layer? Otherwise you’d be missing the bottom part of the cross… I really like the idea though, you’re one talented lady!
This is great! I featured you today on Today’s Top 20!! I’d love if you stopped by!
I seriously couldn’t stop writing about this cake. I love it. I can’t wait to make one.
Amanda
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
This is seriously the most beautiful cake. What an amazing idea! Just gorgeous. I’m sharing on my site’s facebook page and linking to it via Twitter. Amazing!
I’m so going to make this cake! It’s beautiful and represents everything about this holiday… Christ!! I love this. A million thanks for sharing your cake and your faith. You are awesome and God is surely pleased with you, as he’s given you such a fine gift to share with everyone.
Ok I am probably the dumbest baker (if I can call myself that…) out there. Or just a complete newbie. Christmas party. Going. Want to make cake. Just doing box stuff. Premade icing. Easy. Cake mix. Not working. UGG breaking. Cake is only 3 layers. And lop sided. Moral: Do not buy supermoist cake mist. Lesson learned. Hopefully the cross is still in there. {And it will turn soft again after being in the freezer right? It’s not frozen – just cold} P.S. I had made cupcakes but I had to crumble those up because I didn’t have enough chocolate cake mix. Good bye cupcakes. And my cake was laughable to look at. Solution. Give child icing and let him decorate. Then nobody will notice my lack of decorating skills!!!
Getting ready to make this for my daughter’s 12th birthday – we are both so excited! Thanks so much for taking the time to post the tutorial!
So, I made the cake for my daughter’s birthday and had a couple of minor issue that I want to leave so others don’t make the same mistakes and ask a question of Amanda:
I made the chocolate ring too small! I used the Tupperware hamburger patty maker – seemed ok until we cut it and the horizontal part wasn’t wide enough.
Also, I really packed the crumbled chocolate cake in and ended up causing the top layer to split. (It was fine with icing but I was worried it might go ahead and fall apart.)
It was beautiful and delicious but, when I sliced it, the chocolate fell off of every slice as it was being served. Did your cake do that as well. If not, any idea on what went wrong?
Thanks so much for the blog and tutorial, I’m definitely going to keep up with it!
Merry Christmas!
I will be making this cake for Christmas this year!!!!!!!!!! It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!!!
Hi Amanda! I will be trying out this tutorial for a girl’s confirmation this weekend. Would you mind sharing what number tip you used? Thank you so much. I really enjoy reading your blog!
u are great! keep going this! what an amazing gift!
This is great! My twin Granddaughters’ have their first communion in April and I will have to try this for the lunch we’ll have afterward. I can’t wait! I’ll try to remember to take pictures. Don’t know if it will have all the swirlie thingies, but I’ll try. Keep up the great work!
My daughter said if I make the cake, she will decorate it! Can’t wait! Have you tried using red velvet cake for the cross? I wonder if it would work or would the red fade into the white cake.
that is too cool! i had to read and read and reread (LOL) to get how you got the cross shape. i finally got it! phew. you are are awesome. the other night i read on your blog, i was bouncing around so i don’t know where exactly, but i read you are from fargo, nd? too cool! i am from mayville. do you know where it is? it’s about an hour from fargo, about 30 minutes before you get to grand forks. are you still in fargo? i couldn’t find where it says you currently live. i live in wichita, kansas. for now. we are moving this summer. my husband is in the military so we move every two years. anyway, great cakes. awesome to be on your blog!
What a cool cake! I’m a novice but I’m going to take a crack at this one. A few questions: how do you get your buttercream so smooth? I’ve heard that you should use a Viva towel but don’t know the exact technique. Also, I’m planning to do this for my son’s first communion. I’d love to make the top look like a communion wafer but I’m not creative enough to figure out how to do that. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
I used a glass of warm water to dip the spatula in between strokes. I helped but nothing really got it smooth like glass. If I had put the swirlie thingies on it, the flaws would be covered. I also tried something that Dr. Oz suggested on one of his shows. I used a regular cake mix, but used 12 ounces of club soda instead of the eggs, oil and water. TASTES GREAT!
YES!! My new Easter Cake- I find it so beautiful and perfect for a religious holiday. Thanks so much, Mary Happy Easter!!
I did this last weekend and will be doing it again next week for my granddaughters’ First Holy Communion. The tutorial is easy to follow and it tasted great! One thing I did differently tho, I used white cake and German chocolate mix with club soda instead of the eggs, oil and water. Add 12 oz. of club soda to your box mix and it comes out really light and fluffy and WAY FEWER calories. Of course when you frost it and get it decorated with the buttercream icing, that changes everything.
wow its so amazing i love that idea.very creative.
This cake is awesome! Thank you for your time making the tutorial!
This cake is awesome! Thank you for your time making the tutorial!
Thanks! And you are welcome!
hehe, awesome idea for Easter!
In a couple of web sites I visited, the authors referred to Martha Stewart’s “whipped cream cake” from Martha’s first book titled ENTERTAINING is the best white cake recipe.
That is awesome! If you are stol looking for a great tasting, moist vanilla cake recipe check this out. http://m.bakerella.com/finally-i-found-it/
I have made it many times, it’s easy, versatile and people love it!
Awesome! Love the way you decorated it. Maybe I could try this for Easter.
Its going to be my communions, confirmations and baptisms cakes from now on! I had never seen this type of before and seems east enough. This its such a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing and even better for the tutorial.