White Cake

For my 20th birthday party (!!!) I made my very first tiered cake – with dowels, cake bases, the whole nine yards. The bottom layer was a white Funfetti cake, and the top was a yellow cake with chocolate buttercream. This is an amazing white cake recipe from Southern Living — I just gently folded in a heaped cup of Jimmies to the mixture once all the ingredients were combined.

The construction of the cake definitely leaves LOTS of room for improvement, but I am pleased with how it turned out. After all, taste is always more important than presentation!

https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/white-cake

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Cream Puffs

My very first attempt at choux pastry was a success! This is my far the most technical baking I have every attempted, and I am (overall) satisfied with the result.

Notes for next time: let the dough dry out for longer before piping, whip cream to a stiffer consistency, and cut the puff in half, then fill with cream using a piping bag and large star tip (in lieu of filing them from the bottom).

The recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cream-puffs