This week has gone by so ridiculously fast! It’s been a good week – a celebration week:
– my cookbook announcement (thanks everyone (again!) for all the super nice comments and tweets. You’ve made my face hurt from smiling all week). Oh and a sneaky a little bit of info: it’s 75 recipes – sweet and savoury (all the courses, you know it!!). Of course there are some vegan and some gluten free recipes in there too.
– it’s the end of this half term! hoollliiddaaayyy! It’s only a week off but at least I get to sleep in for like 5 of those days.
– it was my birthday!!
So because of all the things that have been going on, I thought we needed a cake.
A big, chocolate cake. Super indulgent with extra EVERYTHING.
It’s rare for me to make massive layer cakes because my cake layers always turn out domed so I have to level them and lose about 1/3 of the cake 🙁 Losing that much cake makes me sad (although Cynthia pointed out that those cake tops are basically made for ‘cake frosting tacos’ which is a very good point)
But this 8-layer, two tiered monster was appropriate. Cake scraps and all.
It took me a while to come up with the whole concept of the cake because there are so many variants in the land of layer cakes: flavour of the cake, flavour of the filling ,flavour of the frosting,
how many layers? tiers? frosted sides? ‘naked cake’ style? drippy frosting style? other décor???
So I stood in the kitchen on Friday for about an hour freaking out and living an ALL CAPS life until I’d figured out everything. I was going to do chocolate, peanut butter + pretzel. Then my mum chimed in and was like ‘Noooo you need to do POPCORN.’
I took the photos of the cake but then de-stacked it so I could transport it (on the TUBE) to my friends house for dinner. In doing this I accidentally made the discovery that caramel popcorn is like edible packing peanuts for cake! So cool.
Pro tip though, if you’re going to make it – decorate with the popcorn like an hour max. before serving because the moisture tends to make the popcorn go chewy after a while.
(Oh and side note: My friends made a Llama cake with a cinnamon-stick cigar for me. It took 4 guys to make this masterpiece:
Amazing)
Ingredients
- 1/2 batch of this caramel popcorn , (or about 4 cups of store bought caramel corn)
Chocolate Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
Peanut Butter Frosting:
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsp softened butter
- 1/4 cup cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Chocolate Glaze:
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 4 tbsp water
- 4 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease and line four 6" (or 3 8") pans and an 8" square pan.
For the chocolate cake:
- Cream together the butter, sugar and eggs until pale and fluffy. Cream in the baking powder, salt and cocoa until smooth. Add 1/3 of the flour and stir in until just combined. Add half the milk and stir until just combined. Add another 1/3 of the flour and stir in until just combined. Add the rest of the milk and stir until just combined. Stir in the last 1/3 of the flour until just combined.
- Divide the batter equally among the circular and square pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Leave to cool for a few minutes before turning out onto cooling rack to cool completely (remove the parchment paper from the bottom of the cakes too).
For the peanut butter frosting:
- Stir all the ingredients together in a medium bowl. If you need to, add a splash of milk to make the frosting thinner or add some more powdered sugar to make it thicker. It should be a spreadable consistency.
Assembly part 1:
- Cut the cooled, square cake layer into four 3" circles using a pastry ring. Level any domed circular cake layers so that they're flat.
- Stack up the 4 large (6") cake layers with about 2 tbsp of the frosting between each layer (don't frost the top layer)
- Separately stack up the 4 small (3") layers with a heaped teaspoon of frosting between each layer.(don't frost the top layer)
Make the glaze:
- Place the chocolate, water and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a simmering pan of water. Stir until melted then remove from the heat and stir in the butter.
Assembly part 2:
- Pour the majority of the glaze over the top layer of the large (6") cake and spread it out to the edges. Place the small (3") cake on top of the large cake layer and pour the remaining glaze over the top of this small cake. Spread it out to the edges.
- Decorate the cake with the caramel popcorn and serve.
Happy Bday! And this is THE MOST awesome bday cake I’ve ever seen! The different cakes, stacked on each other, and that deep dark choc frosting and the PB! And the caramel corn. So, so good! pinned
That cake is seriously the most awesome creation I’ve ever seen!!! I really wouldn’t mind having it as my wedding cake 😉 The ratio of glaze:frosting:cake is spot-on! Love it! And once again, happy birthday!! x
Happy Birthday Izy! My fave way of decorting cake has to be with other baked goods e.g the cinnamon roll cake and mini ice cream cone toppers that I feature a month ago. Yes The obsession with brown butter and sugar sometimes is too much; following the recipe to the word is honestly better (especially with caramel)
Layer cakes own my heart and your deep dark one has me in a trance.
Congratulations on reaching your majority. Cake looks great. Life is good!
The cake is quite something. Wow. And I love the photos. Congrats!
Oh wow. Oh wow oh wow oh wow. This is just BEAUTiful. I’d never considered popcorn on top of a cake before but why the hecky peck not?? I love popcorn, I love chocolate, I love cake (and I especially love anything to do with peanut butter) so this is just the ticket. The only problem I have now is replicating something as beautiful as this!! I can actually taste that slice in the photograph! mmmmm *drools*
Happy Birthday and congratulations again on your cookbook news – so, so bloody exciting
Bella xxxx
Happy birthday! And congratulations on your recipe book, you totally deserve it – your photos and recipes make me hungry every time. Your cake looks gorgeous as always and why have I never thought of cake frosting tacos before?!!!
Happy birthday, lady!! Your caramel corn situation sounds so like me. I’m so stubborn, I know it, and I keep doing whatever it is that I KNOW should be done differently even though it’s not how I WANT IT, goshdangit. This cake looks so amaaaaaazing! And the LLAMA CAKE. Oh lord, I die.
Happy Birthday, Izy!! Have a spectacular day & weekend celebrating this milestone!
What a spectacular cake! Love the clever popcorn garnish and the deep dark chocolate cake and glaze. Have to try your pb frosting recipe-really like that you include cream cheese in the recipe. You have the nicest friends and what an adorable llama cake they have made you. Here’s hoping that this year brings you further success and happiness in your life 🙂
What a stunning cake! I always said my dream cake would consist of just chocolate and peanut butter 🙂
Happy Birthday, Izy!! Hope you have an amazing day of celebration! That is one epic cake, and I absolutely adore it! And the llama cake is basically killing me right now 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday! And this cake… there are no words… amazing.
Just few days ago i found your blog. It’s amazing. And today I saw that you just turned 18?! Congrats!! I wish I could take such amazing pictures like you.
Happy Birthday!What an awesome cake – you know how to do birthdays in style! It basically contains all of my favourite things in a huge cake – what could be better?
Happy Birthday darling! This is a cake I will HAVE to make. It looks too incredible not to!
Katie <3
Amazing. Llama cake. Popcorn cake. Happy birthday!
That. Cake. Jeezus. I just wanna implant my face in that and eat my way out. HAPPY BIRTHDAY IZY! What an amazing year and I’ve no doubt the next is gonna be even better.
*Showering caramel popcorn and rainbow sprinkles in yo face*
Happy Birthday – this cake looks wonderful! I love that you added popcorn for a surprising and satisfying crunch.
As usual, this cake looks amaze! Happy Birthday Izzy!
Happy Birthday girl! You go with this cake, I mean that popcorn?! I die.
Happy Birthday!!! This is probably the best week in the world for you. Cookbook announcement, birthday, llama cake! I mean, what else could a gal ask for?
No, seriously, this cake is spectacular.
18 is such a fun age – enjoy it gorgeous! And this cake?? HOLY AMAZING!
I can’t believe you’re this young 🙂 such a talented person, you don’t see that very often. Happy birthday, best wishes for you and your career!
Uau, uma verdadeira perdição e que bela.
Bjs, Susana
http://tertuliadasusy.blogspot.pt/
https://www.facebook.com/Tertuliadasusy
This is the most incredible cake I’ve ever seen! Just….. wow. Hope you had a fabulous birthday!
Happy birthday!!! Keep amazing us with these wonderful recipes, and DAAAAAMMMNNN your cake looks fine.
Happy Birthday, Izy! This cake is amazing – but then again, I think you’re always creating something that makes me wanna scream AWESOME!
That’s one hell of a cake, perfect for a celebration! I wanna make it with peanut butter caramel corn on top 😉
Happy birthday Izy! Your blog is such an inspiration, and I can’t wait for your cookbook to come out! Also, this cake looks amazing, and I might just have to make is for my “coming of age adult birthday” in a few months!
Happy Birthday!!
This cake looks amazing and congratulations on the recipe book. That’s such a dream come true!
http://www.littlepaperswans.com/
Hey Boo Happy Birthday to you!!! This cake is ace homegirl..
Amazing! I am in for anything with peanut butter frosting!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com/
You had me at popcorn! This is both beautiful and obscene and I want all of it!
Happy, happy birthday, Izy!
PS: That llama cake is just ace.
Hip, hip! Happpppy birthdayyyyyyy!!!!!! Your cake is nothing short of amazing!!! But the llama cake…omg…possibly equally amazing! xoxo
What the heck. Best flavours all-in-one CAKE. Also happy birthday. The guys who made the llama cake just put a whole new standard for friends making me a birthday cake. If it doesn’t look like that, I don’t want it. Good job guys.
Oh my GOD. Oh my god. I have no words for this layer cake … I’m in love with it. It’s like you were like, naked cake? drippy frosting? nahh Ima do ALL of that at once AND add caramel corn. And what. It’s just stunning, Izy 🙂 Happy happy birthday!!!!
PS Hahaha I’m so tickled by my cameo!! Cake tacos… they’re gonna be a thing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY!! Also the googly eye on that llama cake is the best thing ever.
Happy birthday! Beautiful cake and beautiful photos – that golden popcorn looks as decadent as gold leaf – love the height it adds (and imagine the textures work wonderfully)
Massive congrats!
http://loloslittlekitchen.blogspot.co.uk/
amazing. simlpy amazing! The recipe, the styling, the photos. I drool! Happy Birthday friend!!!
Seriously, WOW! Gorgeous photos! I love the two sizes too and this is soooo goooey and delish! Want some NOW! Pinning for laters!
Happy B-day Izy….that is some serious sugar rushing you’ve got to be enjoying 😉
Oh wow… This just looks dirty, filthy good! Happy birthday – 18 is such an exciting year! xx
CharlotteMostly.blogspot.com
This is amazing! Happy birthday! And congrats on the cookbook. Can’t wait to read it 🙂
“Empowerment rush, boom. Utter Beyonce moment.” <– the perfect kind of moment to have on your bday! This cake looks so awesome, I'm usually scared off by layer cakes but this one is so creative. Pinned.
Happppyyyyyyyy buffday twinkletoes!!
You sure know how to celebrate in style, this looks beyond epic.
Also, kudos to your friends for schneaking in that cinnamon
<3 x x x
{The Lobster & Me}
Izy, this cake looks incredible! So perfect for such a celebration-worthy cake!
Happy birthday! I kind of adore that cake your friends made for you. E for effort!
The happiest of birthdays Izy! Welcome to the crazy world of buying booze (legally) and trying to work out who to vote for in the next election! This is a pretty spectacular cake, the absolute perfect way to celebrate.
This cake is unbelievable! Happy Birthday and congratulations on all the things! 🙂
Whoaaaaaaaa – amazing! I love the caramel popcorn idea!
Happy birthday and congrats again on the cookbook!
This.cake.looks. BEAUTIFUL. The colors, texture, man if only I could eat it. I will definitely be making this soon.
Happy Birthday! Have a good one! 🙂
Happy birthday, Izy! Welcome to adulthood 🙂
What an incredible cake, your layers look fantastic to me. And the cake your friends made is so funny! Llama cake should become more popular!
Happy birthday! Chocolate and pb sounds like an excellent way to celebrate!
Happy birthday! You are a serious culinary genius, girl. I’m almost 18, and I look up to you and your creativity.
Also, love your Beyonce moment.
Happy birthday, Izy! Your cake is stunning. 🙂 I just want to reach a fork into the pictures and take a bite. Also though, that llama cake literally turned my day around, it made me laugh so much! Your friends did an amazing (/hilarious) job. Belated congratulations on your cookbook. I will definitely be getting my hands on a copy.
Happy birthday! I was on the other side of the room when these images loaded, I stopped making my tea and stormed over to the computer to wonder in awe at your incredible cake. WOW! As for the dome of left over cake. I chop it up, soak it in home made chocolate or caramel sauce and bake it, pudding!
happy birthday! I NEED this cake.
Congrats on your cookbooks, your bday, and this amazing cake! Such stunning photos!
Wowwza, your cake is incredible! I have to tell you that you are soooo magnificently talented and I hope you never stop cooking and blogging! People can’t tell you enough. I can’t wait to get your cookbook for my husband!
Gorgeous cake!! Happy Birthday!
Ps, dying over that llama cake!!!
Oh my gosh you. This cake is PHENOMENAL. ahh I can’t stand it.
I have never seen anything like it and I have never seen anyone do caramel corn on cake. (my life is changed.)
Pinning this gorgeous masterpiece!
(AND SO EXCITED FOR YOUR COOKBOOK!!)
This cake is seriously what dreams are made of… Ticks all the boxes my friend!
Happy Happy birthday! Hope you had a wonderful day! 🙂
Great post as always 😀
Daisy and the Fox
http://www.daisyandthefox.wordpress.com
OMG, I saw this cake and just knew: this is my wedding cake. I might keep the popcorn on the side and switch them out for, say, pink roses, on top but yep. Definitely a wedding cake. Looks like you and I have the same idea Antonia @ Health Inspirations! Love it!!
I want to get married again just to have this cake for my wedding.
Happy birthday! I pinned this cake a few days ago, and HAD to go check it out! It’s definitely on my to-make list..
Happy Birthday!
This cake is totally awesome!!
I’m making this for my sisters birthday this weekend, but I do have a question though.
We get easily confused when using cups as a measurement in Norway, so how many ml or grams is one cup for this recipe?
Hoping for a quick reply,
Keep up the good work!
Xx
Happy birthday! Gorgeous cake! I had to throw out a pot once from burning sugar trying to make Carmel popcorn! I’ll have to try it again sometime. New to your blog can’t wait to read more recipes!
So much amazing news! Happy birthday, and welcome to the world of adulthood. And a huge congrats on the cookbook, I cannot wait to read it. Cheers times 1,000!
Mmmm!!! Divine Happy Birthday cake!!! Absolutely love PB and chocolate combo 🙂
WHAT. I cannot even. I have lost my ability to even.
Also, I cannot believe you are so young! That’s a lot of talent packed into those eighteen years. Keep going!
These are the most amazing photos! And I just can’t believe you transported the whole thing on the TUBE! Well, it sounds like your beautiful creation lived to tell the tale … or rather to be scoffed down by some lucky partakers!
WOW that is one impressive cake! I wish I could bury my face in it.
What a beautiful cake! I dig the caramel popcorn on top and the drippy icing! Yum!
Great Cake!!! One of the best I have seen 🙂
Thanks for sharing
This is one heavenly awesome cakeee…!!
I am making this recipe tomorrow for my birthday but was wondering how long I should bake the cake in cupcake form?
Depends on the size of the cupcake tin but I’d say 15-25 minutes 🙂