Maybe I am my mother's daughter

My mother is notoriously known for her baking. She can improvise, mimic and create all sorts of delicious baked goods. Well after the first cake I made in Taiwan, I somehow convinced my current roommates that I am skilled in the culinary art just like my mama smith and they have all requested I make them homemade cakes for their birthdays.

Building the cakes and designing them are 1/2 the fun (I'm sure you know the other 1/2). Too bad you can't taste them, but I'll give you my 9 judge's (roomies) verdicts on the recipes.

Susan's Carrot Cake: 1st Place

Recipe:

• 2 cups flour                                         
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups finely shredded carrots
• 1 cup cooking oil
• 4 eggs

Grease and lightly flour  2- 9” round pans.  In a mixer bowl combine the first 6 ingredients. Add next 3 ingredients, beating with electric mixer till combined. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Turn into pans. Bake in a 325 degree oven 40 minutes for the round pans. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 3 to 4 cups powder sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Milk 

Erin's Banana Cake: 2nd Place

Recipe:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons soda
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 3)

Mix and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• One 8 ounce cream cheese
• 1 cube butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

(I used hazelnut chocolate spread & cream cheese frosting between the layers and on top. Ferro Rocher's chocolate & bananas were also used for decorating. Creating 4 layers made this cake a little too dense; 2 layers would have worked much better.)

Sunny's Ice Cream Cake: 3rd Place

Recipe:

• Start at least one day before you need to serve the cake.
• Take the ice cream out of the freezer and allow to thaw for 20-30 minutes.
• Mix Vanilla ice cream with 4-5 Oreos. (1.5 quarts will fill a 9" cake pan).
• Line the round cake pan with plastic wrap. (chill the pan prior if possible)
• Fill the pan with softened ice cream
• Cover with plastic wrap, then foil. Place it in the freezer overnight to re-harden.
• Bake your favorite white cake recipe at least 6 hours before serving. The cake must be cool before proceeding.
• Assemble the cake by layering it above & below the ice cream with whip cream, chocolate syrup and bananas.
• Decorate quickly with whip cream, Oreos & chocolate syrup.
• Place in freezer for 3 hours so it can set.
• Remove from freezer 15-20 minutes before serving time.

Megan's White Layered Cake: 4th Place

Recipe:

• 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 egg whites

Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add butter, milk and 1 tsp. vanilla & mix (batter will be thick). Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Then add the unbeaten egg whites and beat for 2 more minutes.

Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes. After cool, decorate with vanilla frosting and whip cream.