Its all about the cake stand.
My MIL often listens to my random rants about things that I am obsessed with. I wouldn't blame her if she just tuned me out most of the time.
Luckily for me though, she listened extra good the day I went off on some random tirade about how I needed to own every cake stand ever made.
She found me this little gem at a garage sale.
I sorta like it.
A lot.
And I knew I wanted to make a cake just for it.
So I laid in bed at night and tried to figure out a way to make giant flower petals to mimic the cake stand.
Cause people do that right? Lay in bed and think about cakes. That's not abnormal right? Right?
And then I decided I wanted to make up my own white cake recipe.
Now whatever gave me the indication that I could just create my own recipe from scratch, I don't know.
I did create a recipe. Its just tastes NOTHING like white cake. It does however taste exactly like sugar cookies.
But I happen to enjoy sugar cookies.
And then I found the perfect icing tip to make the flower petals for my cake.
It was a good day in my kitchen.
Sugar Cookie Cake
3 cups cake flour
2 cups super fine sugar
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk (I used skim)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup melted white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 8in. pans.
In a medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a mixer, cream together sugar and butter. (I used chilled butter but room temperature would work as well) Add in extracts and eggs, one at a time. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with milk. (a third of your flour, half of your milk, and repeat until both are gone)
While that is mixing place white chocolate chips in microwave and heat for one minute. Remove from microwave and stir, then return and heat in 30 second increments until melted.
Add melted white chocolate chips to batter and immediately pour into prepared cake pans.
Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on your stove. Start checking at 25 minutes.
Let cool.
(can you tell its raining?)
I used my new favorite buttercream icing.
4 cups powder sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
Combine all ingredients in mixer on lowest setting for 30 seconds. Switch to medium high and mix for 2-5 minutes.
Yes its got shortening in it. No I would not substitute butter.
Just try it. Once. Then you can go back to butter. Trust me, I always go back to butter. And no, I am not just talking about frosting anymore.
I had SO much fun making this cake I am going to make it again just so I can show you how. That should be coming soon!
*****
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Your mother-in-law was sweet to think of you when she saw this cake plate and even sweeter to pick it up for you. It is so summery. So it this cake you made!
Love the cake plate, I’m with you I too have an addiction. As for the cake, so cute! can’t wait to see the tutorial!
Gorgeous cake! The cake plate is definitely a great find as well!!
So pretty and sugar cookie cake? Sign me up!
Hip Hip Hooray for you MIL this is so PRETTY!
You’re as sweet as sugar cookies, and it sounds like your MIL is, too!
That is one beautiful cake AND cake plate! Great find!
Wow, this is gorgeous! And the cake stand is AMAZING!
I thought the flower was made with fondant at first!! Wow – great job on the icing!
OMGosh!! I so want that cake plate!! GORGEOUS!! Never seen one like that. You have one awesome mom in law there girl!! Awesome job on the cake too. Going to have to try that one, sounds good and my kids, well they LOVE cake lol…
I’ve been reading your blog for a good few months now, and I usually don’t comment only b/c I’m too busy trying to wipe the drool off my face. But I really had to say something today…this looks AMAZING. Plus I love the plate, and a sugar cookie-tasting white cake sounds so yummy. urghh I need to go find some dessert now!
Love that garage sale find…and kudos for the rave mother-in-law review! {brownie points!}. A cake that tastes like your cookies? Wow wow wow!!!
simple sweet and beautiful. I agree…that thrift find is amazing!
my husband loves sugar cookies! Particularly your sugar cookies! I know he will love this cake!!
I don’t own a single cake stand….but if I could find one like that one I’m sure it would be the start of a glorious obsession.. I mean collection
)
My name is Sheila & I too, lay in bed & think about cake. Thank you for allowing me to join your group.
Such a sweet and happy daisy cake Amanda. If I lived closer I would invite myself for tea & cake
xo
What a great cake! I love that you were inspired by the cake stand. Your cake compliments it perfectly. I look foward to your tutorial post.
P.S.
I love that you always show the inside of your cakes. Not everyone does that. But seeing the inside is just as important as seeing the outside decorations.
The cake looks great and I bet it tastes amazing! Such a pretty cake stand too, your MIL is has great taste.
I find myself lying awake thinking about cooking and baking all the time! Although I’m usually in some sort of nervous sweat about what I’m going to make and if I’ll be able to pull it off in a normal amount of time.
What a cool cake plate and the cake matches it beautifully! I love it.
How CUTE is that… love it!
So pretty I LOVE it
Beautiful cake plate, it screams summer!
It couldn’t be more perfect!!!!!!!!!! And I love the cake stand!
Beautiful cake to match a beautiful cake stand! I also love sugar cookies, so I can’t wait to try this…it’s bound to be delicious in cake form too. Looking forward to your post about creating the flower…I have my suspicions about which petal tip you used, but I’d like to know for sure!
I also thing about cakes at night while I’m in bed
And some times I think about yours and how, me being so little talented in the kitchen, could make something similarly beautiful! I have some many of the recipes bookmarked I don’t know which one to start with 
Today’s cake is trully gorgeous!!!!
That sounds like my kind of cake!
I have this same cake stand (got it for our wedding almost 10 years ago)!!! Now I just need the cake
craftin-on-my-door.blogspot.com
It’s so good to know that I’m not the only one “crackers” for lovely dishes and serveware. If only I had kitchen storage the size of an airplane hanger. I’ll share one of my secrets with all the Baking Beauties here. I shop the yard/tag/garage sales, consignment & charity type stores for serving pieces. I store them until holidays, birthday or shower parties. I’ll bake a goodie & put it on a piece which becomes part of the gift, wrapped in colorful plastic and tied with a bow and I include the recipe. It’s a one of a kind gift.
That’s like one gigantic sugar cookie! How sweet of your mother in law to have gotten that cake stand for you.
What a sweet MIL you have! I love cake stands too! Just wish I could bake like you do girl! Gorgeous!
Amanda
You never cease to amaze me!! Sounds yummy! But as much as I love your baking….I think we need a new baby fix again…post some pics of those beautiful kiddos of yours soon ok?!
Hugs, Kristin
Amanda this cake sounds like MY PERFECT CAKE!! I can’t wait to make sugar cookie cake!
and I can’t wait to see how to make it!!
Beautiful as always! Love the rain picture.
my mother in law would LOVE this – just so happy and spring-like!! beautiful!!
Very, very pretty. So perfect for summer!
wow…when are you writing your book. i want all of your inspiriation in one place!
Oh my! My oh my! A cake that tastes like SUGAR COOKIE!? Be still my heart! This is on my must-make!
its totally not weird to thing about cake while trying to fall asleep…and if it is weird…then i guess im weird too!
Beautiful!! And I can’t wait to see how to make it. This would be perfect for my SIL’s bridal shower
p.s. I made vanilla ice cream the other night that tasted just like sugar cookies! But then I realized it was because I used the same very distinct vanilla that I always use in sugar cookies. *love*
the sweetest cake!
beautiful cake…..and kudos to your mil for finding the sweetest cake stand…..
this looks yummy and so cute too…I keep hearing how good your sugar cookies are, I SO want to try one!
What size tip did you use to make your petals? I gotta try this one out! I absolutely love this!!
So cute! I’m totally craving a slice of cake now
A Beautiful cake stand and beautiful cake. I think I want cake for dinner.
What a beautiful cake! I happen to love sugar cookies so I can’t wait to try this recipe. It sounds heavenly.
What a find at the garage sale! yay for MIL
Your cake is a beauty too!
It’s beautiful. If I had a cake stand like that I’d want it to have it’s very own special cake.
No you’re not weird laying in bed thinking about cake. Unless we’re the strange ones and no-one else thinks about food while they’re drifting off to sleep.
Love. A cake that tastes like sugar cookies??? AWESOME.
And love even more that someone else out there in the world ALSO lies awake at night obsessing about cake and buttercream and cake platters and sugar and butter and flour and Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. My cakes aren’t as pretty as yours (and neither are my photographs!) but we might just be kindred spirits.
Of course it is quite normal to be designing cakes while in bed. I’ve been doing that the last week (something to do with cakes and quilting.. my two passions at the moment), but due to travels and sick kids I haven’t had my day in the kitchen. I have to admit I haven’t created my own recipe..yet anyway.. you might inspire me. You have inspired me alot.. if you want to see how..check out my blog… http://www.punkinbug.blogspot.com.
it’s definitely not abnormal to lie in bed thinking about cake.
i do it ALL THE TIME.
ps i love garage sales. and cute vintage cake stands. etc.
pps. i love your blog.
What a sweet Mother-in-law…and what a sweet cake!!!
And this: “Trust me, I always go back to butter. And no, I am not just talking about frosting anymore.” Haha!!!
I’m totally trying that frosting! I’m going to admit…I LIKE frostings with shortening. Yep, I said it. Thank YOU for the recipe!
This cake is beautiful! Almost too pretty to eat.
I’d like to invite you to share this recipe on my weekly link-up, Sweet Tooth Friday. I hope to see you there. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/06/02/mini-peach-cobblers
daisy, daisy, give me your answer do…
lovely creation, yet again!
The texture’s unusual too….it actually tastes like a sugar cookie? How divine.
Love all your daisies right now.
So pretty and feminine!
The cake is stunning. It would fit, on many occasions.
Very pretty! I can’t wait to see your tutorial on the giant daisy petals. What tip did you use?
I’m baking this cake right now, Amanda, and I cannot wait to try it. And the buttercream icing? I’ve got it whipped up and waiting on the cake, and it IS delicious!!!
Made this last night!! But I made cupcakes instead of one big cake. Only one problem– the centers of my cupcakes deflated!! They looked great in the oven, and when they started to cool they started deflating! It took forever for the insides of the cupcakes to cool, so the outsides are really brown. Tastes great though. I’m hoping the icing covers up the sagginess? Any ideas on why this happened? I’m at a loss!!
I am at a loss why this recipe would still be listed … it’s not the bakers it’s the recipe~the same thing happened to me! I am VERY disappointed such a waste of time and money to say nothing about having to start all over with little time to make my grandson’s birthday cake! And the buttercream frosting takes like you are eating grease, you are….it may work well for decorating but take awful!
Samantha… this is completely my fault! I am so sorry. I had the wrong measurement on the baking powder… it should have read 2 tsp NOT 2 tbsp. That is was the centers deflated… my apologies!!
Thanks Amanda! I’ll try it again with 2 TSP of baking powder, haha!! I’ll just serve the “saggy” ones to my co-workers… they’ll eat anything!
A cake that tastes like a cookie sounds like a fun mashup of two delicious desserts. Way to go with developing your own cake recipe!
No it’s not just about the cake stand, that cake looks absolutely stunning and delicious. Bravo!
Can I tell you just how comforting it is to find someone else that lies in bed at night, pondering cake?
The cake is beautiful!! And I am going to have to try this recipe…love me some thin mints!
I tried to make this recipe work for cupcakes…they all fell in the middle. But they still tasted good!
I tried baking the cake, but failed! At 25 minutes, the cakes had developed a thick, almost burned crust, while the center was still completely liquid batter. It looked like a potpie. Do you know what mistake I may have made? Ive had no trouble baking other cakes and breads in my oven.
The cake stand is BEAUTIFUL!! The sugar cookie cake sounds delicous!!
Very cute ! I love the color. Thanks for sharing us the recipe. Great post!
I have tried making this cake twice this week. I followed the recipe exactly and each time the middle of the cake still was not finished cooking while the rest of the cake looked like it was about to burn (the outside edges were even hard). What am I doing wrong? Lol.
Hi Amanda,
I was just wondering if you get a really, sickeningly gross taste when you make buttercream with shortening in it? Cos I tried it for my cupcakes last week and threw the whole batch out. My brother hated it as well (he loves my usual butter buttercream frosting) but everyone else who isn’t familiar with buttercream was fine with it.
Is it just me (and my brother) or does shortening have an icky taste?
Oops, sorry if that came out sounding like it was THIS buttercream recipe that I tried. It wasn’t, was some other one i found on the net. I was just wondering if it was the brand I used, or if all shortening tastes different from butter.
By the way, I love you, your cakes, your stories, your pictures and everything about this blog! Thanks for taking so much time to share your passion with us.
The ingredients list calls for 1/2 cup of chocolate and the recipe instructions themselves call for 3/4 cup. Which is it?
Amanda,
Do you ever answer questions that people put in comments?
Woops….sorry for the above question. I see you do answer questions.
My question…..for example, is 1/3 C. melted white chocolate chips the same as 1/3 c. white cho. chips melted? Thanks.
I’ve made this cake three times since you posted it (my kids have close birthdays) and each time it hits the spot. Thanks!
Nice cake. Love it ! Thanks for sharing I will try that at home. Great post!
Beautiful cake on a specially beautiful cake stand!
Does your buttercream crust after sitting in room temperature? Thanks!
LOVLEY CAKE !!!! DID U SHOW HOW DID U MAKE THIS CAKE ON THE BLOG.
COULD U PLZ SHOW HOW U MADE THIS ELEGANT AND SIMPLE CAKE DZINE?
THANX
Hi
Alternatively, would you like to let me purchase your one from you??? Lovely cake too, I will try out the recipe!!
This is exactly like my cake stand which I very sadly broke yesterday! I am so sad as I loved it! Can anyone tell me wher eI can buy one like this. Mine was my favourite cake stand and I think I may have also bought it from a car boot sale
Lots of Love
Kerry, Northampton, United Kingdom xxx
For the buttercream icing, is it ok to use butter instead of shortening or would you recommend something else? Because the only store in Iceland that sells shortening doesn’t have it at the moment.
I made one of your chocolate cakes and MMM it was amazing. I also used the icing from this recipe. Well, it’s safe to say I really suck at making icing. Oh well.
Loooove this SO much! My youngest daughter’s name is Daisy & so I’m now obsessed with all things daises…. This would be so cute as a 1st birthday cake!
This is my favorite buttercream too! I’ve been making it for years, ever since I took the Wilton cake decorating classes at my local craft store. Although, I’ll admit, I’ve made SO much buttercream over the years I don’t measure anymore, I just eyeball it. Buttercream with butter tastes great too, but if you’re decorating or want actual white icing the shortening based buttercream is a must.
I just pinned this to Pinterest so I can try the cake recipe sometime, sounds really yummy!