April 6, 2011

Chocolate-Strawberry Basket Cake

Oh my goodness! I found this recipe on Southern Living's site and couldn't wait until next week to share it. It's so pretty,  and chocolate & strawberries? Yum!

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Florist wire
Assorted fresh flowers and foliage
Florist tape
Florist water picks
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Garnish: Marzipan Bees

Preparation
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Set mixture aside.
Stir together instant coffee granules and 1 cup boiling water until granules dissolve.
Stir together flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Gradually add coffee mixture and vanilla, beating at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 8-inch square cakepans.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool on wire racks.
Spread a thin layer of Chocolate Buttercream Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake, reserving remaining frosting.
Fit a decorating bag with basket-weave tip, and fill with some of remaining frosting. Pipe basket-weave pattern around sides, refilling bag as needed. Change to star tip, and pipe ruffle around top and bottom of cake.
Form handle from florist wire; attach foliage and flowers with florist tape.
Insert 2 water picks into top of cake near 2 opposite edges, and insert wire ends of handle into water picks. Mound Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries onto top of cake.
Garnish with Marzipan Bees, if desired.
NOTE: For foliage, we used strawberry plants. Roses, pansies, and violas may also be used.

14 comments:

  1. That cake looks awesome! Glad to find it on Full Plate Thursday! Nice blog you have here! Following you now! Hope you could follow back Pinay in Texas Cooking Corner.
    Thanks! Have a wonderful Thursday!

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  2. How cute is that?!? And it sounds yummy! Have a great Thursday!

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  3. oh yum! that is a gorgeous cake Tamara! I have the huge Southern Living cookbook, and am pleased with everything I've made from it so far!!
    I come by way of the Terrific Thurs hop, nice to meet you!
    Blessings!

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  4. I'm in love with your cute basket cake! It's perfect for Easter! Adorable!

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  5. Hi Tamara,
    Your Strawberry Basket Cake is just gorgeous.It looks delicious, sure wish I had a nice slice right now. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

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  6. That looks yummy. Thanks for stopping by, I am now following too.

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  7. ok...my word...I'm drooling!! Looks yummy
    Make sure you take a pic when you bake it ;)

    Thanks for stopping by Mommy on the Move !! I am now a new follower on Google friends ;)

    Nicky

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  8. Wow, if only I could really make that! Here from the bloghop with a follow back! Hey what do you do at home for work that you get to stay in your jammies? I'm jealous!

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  9. Looks yummy! Thanks for stopping by from the blog hop! New follower!

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  10. That is absolutely beautiful! I am stopping in from Victoria's Voice and following. Thank you for visiting!

    Vickie
    http://victoriasvoice44.blogspot.com

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  11. Your blog sounds so inspiring... and I saw your cake... oh wow.. it is also inspiring to just grab a plate and eat.Hope you dont mind if I follow you.if you have time, come and visit me..www.cookiedropletsetcbymarelie.com

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  12. Wow, this looks delicious! Yum! Thanks for dropping by and following my blog. I'm following you now as well. Take care. :-)

    /Alexandra
    http://ropcorn.com

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  13. Yum! Looks so delicious!

    Thanks for following!
    I am your newest follower.
    Blog Hop Directory
    More Than a Blog Hop Directory
    :)

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  14. That looks amazing! I am following you from the hop...Please stop by and say hi Areyouamom.com
    Have a great night....
    Maureen :)

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