This is a happy day for me. Not only is it the day we post our Daring Bakers Challenge for March, (my 9th challenge already!), but it is also my 1 year blog birthday!! I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I started this little blog!!
I was going to remake the cake I made for my first post for my birthday post, but the Daring Bakers posting date just happened to fall on the same day. But when I found out that this challenge was Dorie Greenspan’s Perfect Party Cake, I thought it was even better, because I had made and blogged about this cake before!! (And it was even for a fellow Daring Baker’s blog birthday!) This time around, I could remake the cake, but find a way to challenge myself and make it even better!
After promising to make the challenge earlier in the month, I was all set out to do the cake the first weekend of the month. I was going to substitute the raspberry preserves with candied lemon and orange peels. I candied the lemon and orange, but that is as far as I got. But I’m glad I didn’t continue on, because over the next week, I came up with a different game plan that I liked even better. I have talked about Pierre Hermè’s French Lemon Cream, which I learned from Dorie Greenspan in Baking. In my opinion, this is the very best recipe ever created!! I thought to do just lemon cream in the layers instead of the raspberry preserves, but then I realized I had some limes that needed to be used, the idea came to me to do a lemon-lime cake, with 2 layers of lemon and one of lime. And just to challenge myself, I decided to do some fondant decorating. I had never worked with fondant before, but it is always something I have wanted to play around with, and this was the perfect opportunity.
The cake came together easily. I know many people had problems with flat cakes, but the recipe worked great for me. Since I had made the buttercream before, I knew that it would seem to curdle before it came together, so this also was pretty easy for me. I made the lemon cream just as I had before, and for the lime cream, I just substituted lime juice for the lemon juice. I did add a bit of coloring to the lime cream, because it was the same color as the lemon, and I wanted the layers to be distinct.
The fondant was fun. I used a marshmallow fondant recipe that I read about on Shawnda’s blog – Confections of a Foodie Bride. She makes beautiful cakes, and I trusted her recipe completely. I had pictured the fondant polka dots in my mind, and decided to stay with the same colors as the cream fillings – green and yellow. I’m really glad I tried this fondant, because now I am really excited to keep working with fondant, and maybe even learn how to cover a whole cake with it! And this fondant does taste much better than normal fondant. I really got a workout kneading and rolling this out. I did the yellow first, and I think I hadn’t let the fondant sit long enough, because I couldn’t get it very thin. The green worked much better for me. I ended up taking all of the yellow polka dots off, re-rolling them thinner, and then re-cutting them.
Overall, this was one of best cakes I have ever made. The lemon and lime cream complimented the cake and buttercream perfectly. I remembered the first time I made this cake with the raspberry, it was too sweet for me, but the sweet/sour combo of this was wonderful. My mom and sister even said that they could see it being served in a restaurant! The only thing I am disappointed in is my pictures. 🙁 I took this cake to a family get together, and it’s always hard to get good pictures while everyone is eating, and when you aren’t in your own house where you know the lighting is the best. But believe me that it was much better looking in person!!
Now is the time to say thank you to everyone for reading this past year. Without going into details, let’s just say that this little blog of mine has changed my life for the better. I am always touched with every comment that is left, and every single one of them means so much to me. The food blogging community is such a wonderful place, and I plan to be a part of it for a long time!!
*I know it looks like there isn’t a bottom layer in this picture, but it just got lost when transferring it to the plate!*
You can find the Perfect Party Cake Recipe at the site of this month’s host – Morven at Food Art and Random Thoughts. The lemon creme recipe is here, and the marshmallow fondant recipe can be found here.
Make sure and check out all of the other Daring Baker’s creations – I’m sure this month is going to be quite a creative one!!
Looks great for spring! I used fondant as well and mentioned Shawnda! She’s so talented. I love how you did your layering.
What a nice tall cake, love the spring colors!
I’m loving those dots and thought about learning to use fondant this time, too, but didn’t. The lime sounds lovely with this and looks good, too. Happy bloggoversary! Mine was the 19th. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
What a perfect challange for you – happy blog anniversary! I love how you decorated your cake – it looks fab and very happy and party like.
Happy blog birthday!!! And congrats on a gorgeous cake. It looks just lovely. And the lemon and lime flavours you chose – how delicious!
Happy blog birthday.
What fun to paly around with the marshmallow fondant. The polka dots are so very festive.
You’ve created a great fun cake Deborah! I love how the inside reflects the outside, well done, and happy blog-iversary!
Happy blog birthday!
Love the polka dots and all the colours!
Oh Deborah what a way to celebrate your blog birthday with this perfect part cake – YOUR perfect party cake. I love the decoration. Simply wonderful!
What an adorable polka dot cake!! I love the lemon lime idea and the colored dots complimenting it! Very cute!! Isn’t it funny how taking the desserts somewhere to share can completely throw us off? My extras did not survive and hour long bus ride and I had no slice of cake to photograph. Oh well, the toppled leftovers tasted good! 🙂
Beautiful cake, Deb..and Happy Birthday to your blog!
This is my favorite time of the month because I get to see what other daring bakers did with the challenge. I love the colors on your cake. It was a perfect combination.
Congratulations for one year of blogging and for another completed challenge 😀
Happy birthday! And your cake is lovely!
Happy birthday to your blog and congratulations on the festive beautiful cake you made. I love the colors.
What a pretty cake indeed! Happy belated birthday. I love the polka dots you dreamt of…they go so well with the flavours & the colourd frosting within! Beautiful!!
What a pretty cake indeed! Happy belated birthday. I love the polka dots you dreamt of…they go so well with the flavours & the colourd frosting within! Beautiful!!
Happy blog birthday! I really do love your blog…and your cake is awesome looking. I am a bit too nervous to try fondant yet, but maybe I will give it a go now. Grat job!
Your cake is so springy! I love the lime layer in the middle. If I make this cake again, I will definetly use your suggestion of doing 2 lemon, 1 lime layers. Happy Birthday too! 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday. I love that you made marshmallow fondant! Isnt it fun. What a fun, spring cake. This basic recipe is so versatile that I think it will become a ‘go to” in all of our minds!
LOVE the dots! You are so creative when it comes to decorating, that looks so fun and springy!
Happy Blog Birthday! How this year has flown!
I love love love the polka dots – what a great springtime idea!
So pretty!! I love the color contrasts on the inside! Happy blog birthday too!
I just showed my husband your cake and he wants me to make it immediately! It’s absolutely gorgeous and I bet the lemon and lime were amazing in it. Great job!
Deb, that looks so refreshing…and congrats on your blogversary…here’s wishing for many more to come 🙂
That is spring in a cake! Love the dots!
i love this cake deborah, it looks soo retro to me 🙂 by the way happy blog anniversary..your blog has definitely contributed in making this world much delicious and brighter with your brilliant writing, beautiful photos and delicious recipes!! more more anniversary to come!!
Happy blogversary!!
Deborah, that’s a beautiful cake! Great job on the challenge. I love the colours! 🙂
I love what you did with it! The polka-dots are so cute, and the colors scream SPRING!! Congrats on your blog bday 🙂
Deborah how perfectly fun, the cake is beautiful! The funny part? I did that same lemon curd cream recipe and did it with lime!! It is super good yes!!
Love the flavor combo and the complimentary colors. And fondant, how fun!
looks beautiful and happy blog birthday!
Happy Birthday to your blog. Your cake looks wonderful and I love all the round circles.
Happy blog birthday to you! That’s quite an accomplishment!
I LOVE that polka dotted cake! It looks so yummy, too! I am a huge fan of polka dots — in fact, I have a blog dedicated solely to them! Check it out at http://www.onthedotcreations.typepad.com
Julie
Love your flavor choices and the polka dots. I agree, the raspberry was too sweet. Great cake! Great choice to celebrate your ‘birthday’!
What a beautiful cake, the fondant circles are so much fun!
Next time I make this (and this is definitely a lifelong recipe), I’m trying the lemon lime combination. It sounds so refreshing.
happy anniversary! what a great citrus combo for your cake. i love the fondant polka dots, just adorable
What a happy springy looking cake! And happy blog birthday with this picture perfect cake!
Happy blog birthday! It’s a cute cake and I bet the lemon layer was wonderful. Great job!
Too Cute! Looks beautiful and Happy Birthday to your blog! I always love checking in.
Congratulations on your 1st blog birthday! Your cake is bee-utiful! It’s funny I just made marshmallow fondant the other night to cover a carrot cake. I thought it was quite fun to make. I love your polkadots and the citrus creams so so great with this cake!
xoxo
Gabi
holy cow – look at the dots. loving it, great idea!!!
Beautiful cake and Happy Blog-Birthday!!
How cute! I love it! :d
Droolz! French lemon cream…
That sounds absolutely divine and your fondant looks nicely moist. Happy Birthday!
your cake is so cute and happy blog birthday to you!
how cute and fun, i love it!!! lemon and lime together sound great, and i love the colors of your filling.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your cake. It is light and fun – what a success. Great job!
It looks great!! Nice and springy!!
I LOVE your cake! What great photos and an original take on the recipe! I love everything about it!
Happy Blog Birthday! I love the fondant.
happy blog birthday! what a way to celebrate! i love the different color layers you used.
Super cute! I would love to try the marshmallow fondant. Well done.
Oh my! That looks so pretty–and delicious! Marvelous idea, and the dots are adorable. I think spring when I look at that cake.
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!!
You are a little blog, no more.
The cake looks fantastic. I saw you on Tastespotting. The lemon-lime sounds tasty. Like Sprite.
I’ve never worked with fondant. Do you think I should give it a try?
Happy birthday, and your cake looks and sounds terrific!
Happy Blog-A-Versary!!!
Congratulations on your blog birthday! that is a very pretty cake. I love the pastel colours and the layers looks fluffy. well-done!
So creative and adorable! Bravo!
Happy Bloggy birthday !!!
The fondant looks really nice , love the giant polka dot pattern.
First of all congratulations on your blog-versary. We will look forward to many more years of excellent posts.This cake is the perfect celebration!!!
That cake is beautiful. Happy blog B-day!
Such a beautiful cake well done. Happy blog birthday.
Your cake looks beautiful!
Ironically, this is also the cake I chose to make for my first blog birthday last year!
Happy Blog Birthday!
Your cake looks fantastic! I love how everybody’s cakes are so different, and still they are the same. I was wondering what you were going to do because I googled the cake when I found out we were making it and your blog came up.
Congratualtions on 1 year and a gorgeous cake! I love it.
Congratualtions on 1 year and a gorgeous cake! I love it.
The cake is so cute with all the fondant circles 🙂
Happy blog birthday!!! Cool cake . I love the colors!
Aww! What an adorable cake! And I love your idea for the filling.
Awesome cake – good job!
What an adorable cake! I love the fondant circles and colorful layers.
I love you made your “dots” to match the filling! Very festive indeed – and happy blogging birthday!
Congratulations on your blogivesary!
Yes, I have no idea why my and other cakes didn’t rise. Luck of the draw, j’spose.
Like the polkadots…
j
happy bloggoversary! your cake looks great!
Happy Blog Birthday! Your cake looks simply divine and yummy. Looking forward to another year of your wonderful recipes, writings, and photos!
Augustina
Happy blog anniversary! I’m glad you found a way to challenge yourself even though you’ve made this cake before. That’s the DB spirit!
happy Blog-a-versary! You did an amazing job on the cake. I love the circles and the filling.
Happy blog birthday! 🙂 Your cake looks awesome! I love the dots. I’m still scared of working with fondant so good for you for trying something new.
Happy Birthday!!!!! How cool that everything fell into place what with DB cake being the same day etc!
Your cake looks awesome. I love that lemon and lime layering, it looks delicious! I’ll really have to try that marshmallow fondant sometime.
Looking forward to the next year!
Happy blog birthday! I have enjoyed your posts over this past year, and look forward to more.
Thanks for the link to the fondant recipe – I haven’t ever tried it but really want to. I love the colors and flavors of this cake – perfect for spring and I like how you’ve toned down the sweetness.
Congratulations on one year of food blogging!
Your cake looks really good! I like the pastel colours.
Oh wow what a beautiful cake! I just adore the flavours you have going on here and doesn’t it look so pretty! The polka dots also look lovely to combine with the layer colours – happy blog birthday too 🙂
Rosie x
Happy Blog Birthday!
Your cake looks amazing and very creative with the differnt flavor layers.
Great job on this month’s challenge
That is one cute cake. Your pictures are wonderful. Bien fait.
GREAT CAKE! I love the polka-dots! Great job! 🙂
I threw lime peel into my cake and loved it! Great job with the fondant–I use my pasta maker to roll out sugar gum paste when I work with it, which allows me to get it nice and thin. That should work for your fondant, too.
How cute!! Love the lemon/lime idea.
okay, could this be any damn cuter? i love the fondant dots, and the stripes inside the cake are just perfect. i’m honored to be a member of this esteemed group of bakers.
happy blogoversary!
Your cake looks so good! It looks so perfect and happy! Wish you a happy blog birthday! 😀
Happy blog anniversary. Has it been a year already? Beautiful job on the cake. The colors of the layers and the colors of the fondant are just perfect for spring. I can’t wait to try to make fondant.
Your cake looks so fun and delicious!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your blog! Yay!
I went the polkadot route too! But you went one step beyond with the colorful buttercream inside! Nice nice nice
Happy Blog Birthday! What a great cake to celebrate with! I love that you used Pierre’s lemon cream. It is one of my all time favorites too. The fondant dots look very pretty. A very fun and festive cake!
I love your cake and the colors! Happy blog birthday!
Happy Blog-versary. Nice way to celebrate – this is a lovely cake.
I love the choice of spring colour fondant – lemon and lime is so perfect.
What a colourful and happy cake! Happy blog Birthday to you 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday Deborah!!…and MANY more. The cake is just beautiful…love the fondant dots. Looks like I’m going to have to make the lemon creme…so many are thrilled with it…and the lemon & lime combo
is genius!…I can taste it in my mind and it is Perfect.
I love how beautiful the filling looks, the contrast of the bright green and the yellow really make the cake. The fondant looks great, I can’t beleive you made it, that’s amazing! Happy blog birthday!
Happy blog birthday!
Your cake looks wonderful. I’ll have to try that marshmallow fondant recipe.
Happy blog birthday!
I love your cake! so pretty and cheerful!
Happy Bloganniversary and long life to your blog!
Your cake looks wonderful and ever so pretty! I love the neat decoration… Very well done!
Cheers,
Rosa
i love the design of your cake!! it’s very cheery!
You’re cake looks so good– I have always been intrigued by fondant too but have never had a reason to use it.
Oh I love how it looks!
Happy blogging birthday!
This cake looks stunning – I love your variations! It was a bit sweet for me too, so a lemon/lime combination sounds perfect ^__^
How spring-like and colorful it turned out! Beautiful job once more, I love it love it!!
Happy blog birthday!! What a beautiful cake! :O)
What a beautiful job you did with the fondant, matching the layers of lemon and lime cream. And a fitting tribute to your blogs birthday! Happy Birthday!
Lemon and lime, how spring-y! By the way, I’m so excited about the next DB challenge you picked. AND because if your blog birthday just happened, then mine must be coming up (I had forgotten)!
Wow! A blogaversary! A DB challenge! A gorgeous cake! Sounds like a perfect celebration to me … love the polka dots!
Your cake looks awesome Deborah and I love the challenge you have picked for April – so cute!! I cant wait to try them
That is a yummy looking cake!!! mmm lime!!! Congratulations for your blog birthday and your cake!!
oh this is so cute!
Happy Blog-Birthday! That polka dot cake looks like the perfect way to celebrate 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday! I love your dotty colourful cake! Those are my fave colours there!
Happy blog birthday, dear Deb! I love reading you and seeing all the delicious food you make and bake. Here’s to many more birthdays, especially with lemon/lime cakes! 😉
Oh, I almost forgot – I think you started with the fondant with the right foot. It’s beautiful!
You did a fabulous job on the cake. What a wonderful learning experience this cake was for you. You truly excelled at being a Daring Baker this month.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
I like the different colors in the layers incorporated in the frosting, very nice!
hey the colours look lovely! happy birthday to your blog!
You take my breath away. I love your flavour combo. Your cake looks GREAT!
Looks gorgeous! I love the pretty striations with the polka dots. I fear fondant, but maybe one day I’ll get it!
It looks terrific! Great job on the fondant. I also like the idea of using both lemon and lime.
I love the fondant. Such beautiful colors!!!
This is indeed a very unique decoration. Love those polka dots.
beautiful cake! i love the fondant decorations 🙂 i would love to try your lemon/lime combo, that sounds great!
happy blog-iversary 🙂