Sunny Daisy Cake Recipes

DAISY CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 14 muffin cups with cupcake liners. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions. Fill the prepared muffin cups halfway full with batter. Scrape the remaining batter (about 2 1/2 cups) into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake the cupcakes and cake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes and cake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes for the cupcakes and 23 to 28 minutes for the cake. Let cool in the pans about 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks and let cool completely.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until smooth.
• Transfer 3 cups of the frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip (number 803).
• Transfer 1 cup of the frosting to a small bowl and tint with the golden yellow gel food coloring. Scrape the yellow frosting into a small pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch plain round tip (number 804).
• Cover the remaining frosting (about 2 cups) with plastic and reserve for frosting the cake.
• To assemble: Place the cake layer upside down on an extra-large cutting board or platter (at least 18-by-14-inches). Arrange the cupcakes in their liners around the cake to create a daisy shape. Pipe a border of the white frosting along the edges of the daisy. Using a small offset spatula, spread the reserved white frosting evenly inside the border to frost the top of the cake and bring the cupcakes and cake together into one cake.
• Gently invert a small bowl (with a diameter of about 3 1/2-inches) in the center of the cake to lightly indent a circle. Remove the bowl. Using the indented circle as a guideline, pipe small dollops of the yellow frosting with peaks to fill in the circle.
• Pipe a border of white frosting along the edge of each petal to define their shapes. To serve, remove the cupcakes and slice the cake.

SUNNY DAISY CAKE

Steps:

• Beat oleo with vanilla extract.
• Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together.
• Add flour/sugar mix to the oleo mixture.
• Add milk. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed.
• Add eggs. Beat mixture 2 minutes longer.
• Pour batter into 2 greased/floured 9" layer pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH A STRAWBERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to gently press the graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan; the crust will not be very thick. Spray the crust with cooking spray. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla and blend until smooth. Pour into the crust and bake until almost set but still jiggly in the center, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.
• For the strawberry sauce: While the cheesecake is baking, combine the strawberries and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer and let simmer until the berries start to break down, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix the cornstarch with the water, salt and vanilla in a small bowl until completely combined, creating a slurry. Add the slurry to the strawberries and cook until it thickens, another 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then transfer to a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Serve the cheesecake cold, topped with the strawberry sauce.