How to make a star-shaped cake

If you’re looking to add some flair and creativity to your next baking adventure, making a cake is an excellent choice. Whether it’s for a special occasion, a birthday party, or simply to impress your friends and family, a star-shaped cake is sure to wow everyone. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making your very own star-shaped cake from scratch.

Before we jump into the baking process, let’s gather all the ingredients and tools you will need:

Ingredients:
– 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
– 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
– ½ teaspoon salt
– 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
– ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
– 3 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 cup whole milk
– Food coloring (of your choice)
– Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Tools:
– Star-shaped cake pans (various sizes for layering)
– Electric mixer
– Mixing bowls
– Whisk
– Spatula
– Wire rack for cooling
– Cooling rack
– Offset spatula (for frosting)
– Pastry bag and decorating tips (optional)

Now that you have everything ready let’s dive into the step-by-step process:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease the star-shaped cake pans with butter or cooking spray.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. Then, mix in the vanilla extract.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients.

6. Divide the cake batter evenly into separate bowls, depending on the number of colors you desire. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix until the desired color is achieved.

7. Pour each colored batter into its respective star-shaped cake pan, filling them about halfway.

8. Carefully place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Afterward, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

10. Once the cakes are completely cooled, carefully remove them from the pans and place them on a cooling rack.

11. Now comes the fun part – assembling and decorating your star-shaped cake! Start by layering the cakes on top of each other, using a thin layer of frosting in between each layer to hold them together.

12. Once the layers are stacked, use a spatula or an offset spatula to spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake’s surface. This is known as the crumb coat and helps to seal in any loose crumbs.

13. After the crumb coat has set, you can proceed to frost and decorate your cake as desired. Use a pastry bag and decorating tips to create patterns, designs, or writing, or simply spread the frosting with the spatula for a more rustic look.

14. Finish off your star-shaped cake by dusting it with powdered sugar for a magical touch.

Now, sit back and admire your beautifully crafted star-shaped cake. Slice and serve it to captivate your guests with both stunning presentation and delicious taste. Enjoy!