Harry Potter's Birthday Cake

Harry Potter's Birthday Cake

Jul 31, 2013

Today is Harry's birthday! Being the huge Potter head that I am, I decided to bake a little something as tribute to my favorite fictional character of all time. Chocolate cake is hands-down one of my favorite things of all time so I was rather pleased that Harry's first cake was a "sticky chocolate cake." I love you, JK Rowlng. This cake was literally out of this world. It was super moist, super sticky, and the dark chocolate filling was wonderfully contrasted by the sweet butter cream. It was everything you could possibly want in a cake, and much more. Even licking the bowl was incredible. Basically it was liquid gold. Harry deserves the best, my friends. He saved us from the Dark Lord.

Let me talk to you a bit about this little contraption here...If you don't know what a cake leveler is, find out. If you don't have one, buy one. I'm definitely no cake expert (my frosting jobs will prove that), but this beautiful little gadget I found is so helpful. Stop using a knife to level your cakes!! I used to do that and oh me oh my how my cakes were lopsided! This cuts them so perfectly. I got mine from Michael's but I'm sure any craft or baking store has one.  

Est Voila! I swear and promise to god (not exaggerating, not being biased) this cake is amazing! Like I'll make it and not write "Happee Birthdae Harry" so that I can use it for any occasion. It's exceptionally rich so I'll have another slice tonight with some warm milk to help me pass out. Ahh...life is good today :)

*Adapted from Diamonds for Dessert 

Ingredients

Cake - 

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, baking powder, and salt (each)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp orange blossom water
• 1 cup boiling water

Chocolate Frosting -

• 6 tbsp butter, room temp
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp orange blossom water

Buttercream Frosting - 

• 6 tbsp butter, room temp
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• red + green food coloring

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F and spray two 9-12" diameter pans with nonstick spray

Sift all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda/powder, salt) in a large mixing bowl. Stir in eggs and then add milk, vegetable oil, and orange blossom water. Next, stir in boiling water. Add half the cake batter (about 2 1/2 cups) into each pan and bake for 30 minutes. Cool the cakes completely. 

To make the chocolate frosting, cream butter, then add 1/2 of the cocoa powder and sugar. Add half the milk, and repeat until all ingredients have been added. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.

To make the vanilla frosting, cream butter then add 1/2 of the powdered sugar. Add half of the milk and repeat. Scoop a little bit of the frosting in a separate bowl (enough for the letters) and add the green food coloring (I put about 15 drops of green) (I know it sounds like so much but I wanted a darker shade!) For the pink frosting, I added 2 drops of red. Cover bowls with plastic wrap until ready to use. 

To assemble, cut both cakes in half "hamburger style" to have four layers. (I also removed the thin top of the cake to make sure everything was even). Place one layer of cake on wax paper over your plate and add 1/3 of the chocolate frosting. Add the second, and third layer and repeat. On the fourth layer of cake, add the pink frosting all over. After your first coat of frosting, clean your knife/spatula and add another coat. Place the green frosting in a small plastic bag, cut a whole in the corner and write the words "Happee Brthdae Harry" on the cake. Enjoy!