It was a triple-header: Father’s Day, My Dad’s Birthday, and the First Day of Summer. No excuse was needed to bake Dorie Greenspan’s Perfect Party Cake for this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie.
Because of this grand day, I had helpers bake with me. More specically, my 6- year-old niece Paula and my 4-year-old nephew Diego. Although, Diego has made an appearence here before, we actually baked this cake before the casatiello.
The kids “helped” me dump the ingredients, separate the eggs, and mix everything together. We made the full recipe, but used my 7×3-inch cake pans instead of the 9-inch pans recommended. Other then adjusting the baking time and temperature (decreased the temp and increased the time), we followed the recipe as written.
The cake was a big success. It was light, moist, and the crumb was -dare I say-perfect. It truly is a Perfect Party Cake. In fact, I almost didn’t get a chance to take a picture of a slice because it almost disappeared before I remembered.
Thank you to Paula and Diego–who actually remembered there was lemon zest in the cake–for baking the cake with me.
And thank you to Carol of mix, mix… stir, stir who made the perfect choice this week. If you would like the recipe, please visit her blog or buy Dorie Greenspan’s book: Baking…From My Home to Yours.
I told them to smile and look at the camera; this is what happened.
56 Comments
June 30, 2009 at 1:28 am
Your cake looks perfect! Where do you find the time to do so much baking? You’re a busy woman!
June 30, 2009 at 3:47 am
This is one gorgeous cake and what lovely photos of your kids – they are cutie pies! I have baked this cake before and it really is delicious
June 30, 2009 at 3:48 am
Just the perfect ingredients to make a perfect cake…adorable nieces and nephews
June 30, 2009 at 3:57 am
des fêtes qui méritaient bien un superbe gâteau comme le tien ! super
June 30, 2009 at 4:33 am
Your cake looks perfect! I love excuses to bake.
June 30, 2009 at 5:29 am
Your cake turned out perfectly. What a grand presentation!
June 30, 2009 at 6:32 am
Your cake is extraordinary!
And I love the pics of the kids…especially the one at the end…hilarious!
June 30, 2009 at 7:12 am
so cute! the cake looks perfect- somehow when I have little hands helping me things never turn out quite how I expect them too
June 30, 2009 at 7:47 am
Lovely cake…funny final foto, too! Lucky everyone for having the cake!
June 30, 2009 at 7:50 am
Your helpers are adorable! It looks like you all did a great job! I loved this cake so much!
June 30, 2009 at 8:03 am
the picture of your whole cake remind me of this hostess sno-balls. Except that I am sure your cake was a billion times tastier. Your little helpers are cute, though they look like they can be little devils too!
June 30, 2009 at 8:11 am
Love your cake, darling! Perfect for Father’s Day, Summer Day, and your Dad’s bday!
Must have been busy over there! Cute kids.
FAB JOB again!
June 30, 2009 at 8:31 am
I don’t know which is cuter, the kids or the cake with those festive little candles on it! Okay, it’s the kids, but the cake is really really nice, too! I love the touch of the candles, they really make it look like a party cake. Kudos to Paula and Diego for being such great helpers…the cake was undoubtedly better for their efforts!
June 30, 2009 at 8:40 am
Gorgeous cake. And you little helpers are adorable. Always nice to have some help in the kitchen especially when they are that cute.
June 30, 2009 at 8:46 am
Your cake looks wonderful. The layers are done so nicely, it looks like you get a perfect combination of cake, frosting and jam in every bite.
June 30, 2009 at 8:49 am
Great beginning to baking with children! Y’all turned out some quality baked goods that weekend. I love how you used the 7″ pans – so tall and gorgeous. Too bad it’s all gone cause I’d love a taste to refresh my recollection…
June 30, 2009 at 8:53 am
Such beautiful cake, for such cute children! Makes sense! LOL
Sorry I haven’t been here for a while, I’ve been out of this world busy this last week! I’ve got so catching up to do… and there I go…
June 30, 2009 at 9:04 am
Awww! Cute kids and a perfect cake! I’m a sucker for cute kids.
June 30, 2009 at 9:40 am
Aaah, it can’t help but be good when you’ve got helpers as cute as these!
It looks fantastic!
June 30, 2009 at 10:03 am
Love that last picture.
Just adorable!
June 30, 2009 at 10:24 am
This cake is a real crowd pleaser. Glad yours was such a success.
June 30, 2009 at 10:38 am
I have to bake it now after seeing yours! Great looking cake! Im glad you all enjoyed it too. It’s so nice to bake something that is put to good use.
June 30, 2009 at 11:12 am
oh, your cake is wonderful! so tall and elegant. i love the coconut, though i didn’t go that route myself. and the kids–precious. what fun!
June 30, 2009 at 11:22 am
Your little helpers are so cute!
Sounds like this cake was a huge hit with the family…you did a great job!
June 30, 2009 at 11:32 am
Yeah, I don’t know which is harder – photographing food or photographing kids. Paula and Diego couldn’t be any cuter even if they were smiling and looking at the camera! What great little helpers, and what a festive cake! Glad it was a hit!
June 30, 2009 at 11:38 am
What a great cake! And such cute little helpers!
June 30, 2009 at 11:52 am
I made this back in May for my birthday.
If you hadn’t picked it, I would have! DELISH! Thanks for hosting this week, I love how yours came out, so pretty!
June 30, 2009 at 1:11 pm
It looks just perfect! Someday, Diego is going to have his own blog and he’s going to tell everyone that he taught you how to bake.
June 30, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Great job! What great occasions to have a party!
June 30, 2009 at 1:29 pm
That. looks. awesome! Love how tall it is and all the coconut covering it. Is that some kind of chocolate in the layers? Mmm.
June 30, 2009 at 2:36 pm
You’ve convinced me this is the perfect cake! Nice job!
June 30, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Next time, tell them to make a face and they will smile!!! Cake slice looks delicious.
June 30, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Your cake looks enchanting. I love how your captured the magical moment with your niece holding it. The tiara on her shirt looks like it is topping the cake. Great shot! Way to go, Deigo and Paula!
June 30, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I love baking with kiddos — they’re so much fun. Paula and Diego look like they were wonderful helpers, too. The cake looks so moist and delicious, and I bet it was truly a “perfect party cake” for your celebrations! I’m glad that everyone enjoyed it.
June 30, 2009 at 5:21 pm
It sounds so involved, but looks so gorgeous. I’m glad you enjoyed this, and had fun baking with your niece and nephew.
June 30, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Looks GREAT! Where’s the ice cream? When I headed over here I thought for sure you’d have ice cream.
Your niece and nephew are too cute! That last photo is a good one.
~ingrid
June 30, 2009 at 6:59 pm
cute cake and cute kids!
June 30, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I love your helpers. They look super cute; as does your cake.
June 30, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I’m glad the cake was such a big hit! It looks delicious and I love the candles on top – so festive. Diego and Paula are just adorable too.
July 1, 2009 at 7:47 am
Kids, they do the darndest things. he he Priceless photo and they are so very cute. What a great memory for you both. he he Love the sorbet yummy photo too. oops this is about the PPC right? Great job and I agree it was perfect.
AmyRuth
July 1, 2009 at 10:33 am
You have such cute helpers! =)
Your Perfect Party Cake looks so grand! It’s soo tall! The sliced cake looks so yummy!
July 1, 2009 at 11:23 am
Your cake looks picture perfect! Great job! Your niece and nephew are just adorable.
July 1, 2009 at 11:40 am
Aw, the photo is adorable!
What a pretty cake. It’s a great thing to have in one’s arsenal. I can’t wait to make it again.
July 1, 2009 at 11:44 am
I made this for my Dad’s bday too. I love how your cake turned out, but that last picture cracks me up!
July 1, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Cutest helpers ever! Your cake also turned out very lovely. Glad you enjoyed!
July 1, 2009 at 1:09 pm
how lucky you are to have two super-cute helpers! great looking cake– i’m sure your dad loved it!
July 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I really do think this is the Perfect Party Cake! Sounds and looks like it was a great occasion to bake it. Your helpers are cute!
July 1, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Awww, your niece and nephew are adorable and your cake looks great!
July 1, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Gorgeous children – and they must love helping you bake.
July 1, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Looks perfect…picture perfect party cake! I love that last pic of the kids. Typical of little ones!! I also like the one of them in their aprons. Great job.
July 1, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Aww, what cute helpers! I love that last pic. Your cake looks perfect too!
July 1, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Great cake, your little helpers are so cute.
July 2, 2009 at 10:46 pm
HOW CUTE are those kids?! Adorable! And the cake looks great, too.
July 5, 2009 at 7:59 am
I love the last picture. Looks similar to some of the poses I get from Brianna. =) Your cake looks lovely.
July 5, 2009 at 9:24 pm
What a beautiful cake, and how fun to have baking help to make it. I am glad everyone liked it. Thanks for baking with me this week.
July 6, 2009 at 8:30 am
Cute kids! My niece is 7 and refuses to have her picture taken now, silly children. Lovely cake! Ours went pretty quickly too, always a side affect of delicious TWD recipes, they go so quick sometimes its hard to snap a picture.