A doll cake fit for a princess
When my kids celebrate a birthday, I don’t put up streamers, balloons or decorate with cute banners. I do put a “happy birthday” tablecloth on the dining table, so I’m not a total slacker.
Oh, and I make fun cakes.
These aren’t professional cakes complete with fondant polka dots and angles that defy gravity, but they are completely fun and extra delicious.
When Livi requested a princess doll cake for her 5th birthday, I was all over this classic birthday cake. I’d made one for Madison when she was about Livi’s age, so I was a pro. It didn’t hurt that the recipe was super easy:
- Doll
- Cake
- Frosting
- Sprinkles
…
The end.
…
…
Livi isn’t a fan of chocolate cake—or cake in general (whose daughter IS she? seriously!)—so I went with a white cake and buttercream frosting.
I decided to try the Tender White Cake recipe from King Arthur Flour. Reviewers said it came out a bit more dense (almost like a pound cake at times), and that was way okay with me. I don’t do super fluffy cakes.
…
…
Yep, it was a dense cake and I loved it. Of course, I’m a huge fan of pound cake so that helps.
To frost this doll cake, I wanted an easy, yummy buttercream frosting I could tint the perfect princess pink. I settled on the Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe from Food Network.
It was fabulous! The buttercream frosting was light, fluffy, smooth and sweet—the perfect complement to the moist, rich white cake. Plus it was super easy to make (my kind of recipe).
…
…
As far as baking and assembling the cake, I adapted this Barbie Doll Cake recipe from Allrecipes.com using the from-scratch white cake recipe and buttercream frosting. It took a bit longer to bake and didn’t come out quite as high as recipes that have you use two cake mixes and two bowls (see this doll cake recipe from Pampered Chef and this fairy tale princess cake recipe from Betty Crocker).
I always wrap the Barbie doll in saran wrap for easy cleanup, and because the skirt isn’t as high as the two-pan recipes, I simply frosted partway up the doll’s waist. It might not look as nice but it does save on time (and sanity).
After the doll cake was frosted, I litereally threw small, round silver, cream and white dragées all over Rapunzel’s skirt.
We might have lost a few in the kitchen…and then lost a few teeth while trying to eat them.
I then lined the top of her skirt with a row of silver dragées. (I found tweezers to be super handy with that little project.)
Voilà! A princess doll cake fit for a real princess!
Past birthday cakes I’ve thrown together:
- Cherry almond vanilla Lego cake
- Triple-layer yellow cake with fudge frosting
- Big Gulp Diet Coke #PDR cupcakes
- Chocoholic’s triple-layer chocolate fudge cake
- Halloween tombstone cupcakes
- Three-layer chocolate cake
- Shark cupcakes
- Blue’s Clue’s cake
…
Feel free to “like” is this REALLY my life? on Facebook. It won’t earn you an extra entry in any giveaway but it will give you warm fuzzies. Even better.
Don’t forget to sign up for free is this REALLY my life? updates via RSS or email so you don’t miss a single awesome post.
…
 |
You can read more about the inspiration for this site 
this cake seriously takes me back to the day when they were all the rage…
adorable you.
~j
jamie´s deep thought ~ insta thanks + mixed media
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 11th, 2012 at 11:40 am
If 80s fashion can come back in style, why not 80s cakes? I mean, come on. Doll cakes are awesome.
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ I’m a blogger…and I’m Mormon
[Reply]
So cute. And Barbie stands just like I do. All the time. ;)
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 11th, 2012 at 11:41 am
That’s my favorite stance while grocery shopping. It takes mad skills to push a cart like that.
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ Easy peasy (and cheesy) after-school snacks
[Reply]
I suck at cake making. The end. I need to learn from you.
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 12th, 2012 at 9:29 am
I will teach you all I know. It should take about 6 1/2 minutes.
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ I’m a blogger…and I’m Mormon
[Reply]
Speaking of birthdays . . . . .
Happy Birthday Emily !!!!
How does it feel to hit the big three-oh?
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 12th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
I love being 30! I’ve done it like 8 times already. Best birthday ever!
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ My first–okay, second–attempt at menu planning
[Reply]
If you would like to make Savannah’s birthday cake, I would totally hire you to do so. I don’t think I could make it look nearly as adorable. Major awesome Mom points!
evonne´s deep thought ~ friday photo dump: week 8
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 14th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
If you want me to make it, I’m all over it. I just need payment in Diet Coke. Would that work? ;)
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ Easy peasy (and cheesy) after-school snacks
[Reply]
I was so proud of you when I saw this, this is an awesome cake!
[Reply]
Emily Hill Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Thank you! I shall make you one for your next birthday. :)
Emily Hill´s deep thought ~ Jury still out on Heelys HX2 Bolt shoes
[Reply]