Best Family Funs Sand Castle Cake Co Tasty Dish Recipes

LADYBUGS ON A STICK(--TASTY DISH--)

Steps:

• *Note: I found it easier to slice off a small section on the back of the strawberries (meaning from the stem to the bottom of the berry.) That way it will lay flat on the plate and easier to attach the chocolate chips. They won't be so wobbly. Ask an adult for help.
• HEAD: Place a grape on a toothpick or wooden skewer, sliding it all the way to the end of the stick.
• BODY: Next place the strawberry on the skewer, stem end first, and slide it down to touch the grape.
• SPOTS: Lay the ladybug down and carefully push the pointed ends of several chocolate chips (or dried currants) into the strawberry to make the ladybug's spots.
• PRESENTATION: Place several large lettuce leaves (or paper leaves or Easter grass) on a pretty platter. Arrange the ladybugs on the leaves.

GERA'S AMISH FUNNY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat together 1 cup sugar, cocoa powder, hot water, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium speed until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Pour this batter into the pie shells.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder; set aside. Cream together 1 cup sugar with the butter. Beat in the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time. Slowly beat in half of the milk, then half of the flour until moistened. Mix in the remaining milk then flour. Carefully spoon this batter on top of the chocolate batter, making sure that the entire top of the cake is covered with no chocolate visible.
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

PERFECT SAND CAKE

Steps:

• Put the oil in electric mixer bowl, put in sugar, beat the mixture until blended.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix yogurt with water.
• Add flour in thirds alternating with yogurt and water mixture.
• Add baking powder, baking soda and one of the variations mentioned above (or you can be creative and add whatever you like).
• Pour the cake mixture (the mixture shouldn't be thick, it is almost watery in consistency).
• In greased, floured cake pan (I prefer the one with the whole in the middle or a loaf pan for easy cutting).
• Put the cake in COLD oven, set the heat at 180°C, let the cake in the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Remove the cake from the oven,let it sit for about 10 minutes, remove from pan.
• Let the cake cool on wire rack (or I put the cake in plastic bag and close it while the cake in it so the outer surface of the cake won't be hard, it will be soft instead.
• Optional: You may sprinkle icing sugar on the face before cutting into pieces.
• Serve the cake with orange juice, coffee or hot tea.

SAND PUDDING RECIPE

Steps:

• Add Vanilla Wafers and 2 Oreos to your food processor and crush until they resemble sand.
• In a smaller bowl, cream together softened 8 ounce cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar.
• In another larger bowl, mix pudding with milk.
• Add pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture.
• Fold in all of the Cool Whip.
• Layer into bucket in this order: sand, pudding, sand, pudding, etc.
• Notes:.
• Allow to chill in fridge at least 1 hour before serving.

SAND CASTLE BROWNIE MIX

Steps:

• In a 1 Qt glass canning jar, layer the first seven ingredients in the order listed, packing well between each layer.
• Cover and store in a cool dry place for up to six months.
• TO BAKE BROWNIES: In a bowl, combine eggs, oil, vanilla, and brownie mix; mix well.
• Spread into a greased 8 inch square pan.
• Bake@ 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

SANDCASTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• For the cakes: Coat two 8-inch round cake pans and two 6-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray with flour.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until fluffy and light, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add half the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture and mix on low speed until just incorporated. Add the buttermilk and mix again until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just combined. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula, folding in any ingredients that didn't get incorporated. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, filling each no more than 3/4 full.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes for the 6-inch cakes and 40 to 45 minutes for the 8-inch cakes.
• Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto wire racks to cool completely. If necessary, level the cakes with a serrated knife or cake leveler.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, combine the butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat on low speed, gradually increasing to high as the sugar is incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the dulce de leche in three additions until thoroughly combined. Beat in milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is a spreadable consistency, about 2 tablespoons. Beat in the fine sea salt.
• Transfer 3/4 cup of the frosting to a piping bag and set aside. Cover the remaining frosting with a damp towel so it doesn't dry out.
• For assembly: Place an 8-inch cake layer on an 8-inch cake board. Top with 1 cup caramel frosting, spreading evenly to the edges. Top with a second layer. Cover the entire cake with a layer of frosting, using a cake smoother or bench scraper to make the frosting as smooth and even as possible. Chill for 20 minutes or until the frosting is firm.
• Pour half the graham cracker crumbs onto a rimmed baking sheet. Remove the chilled cake from the refrigerator and roll the sides in the crumbs. Cover the top of the cake evenly with crumbs, gently patting them into the frosting. (The crumbs should stick naturally, but if they don't, brush the cake with a light coating of water using a pastry brush and roll again.)
• Place a 6-inch cake layer on a 6-inch cake board and top with 1/2 cup caramel frosting. Repeat the frosting, chilling and crumb-coating process as before. Place the finished 6-inch tier on top of the 8-inch cake. Anchor the two cakes together using one long cake dowel, if desired. Refrigerate the cake while you prepare the remaining decorations. Reserve the pan of graham cracker crumbs to use later.
• Make the spires and turrets by frosting the top inner edges of two cake cones with the caramel frosting. Nest a second cake cone inside each frosted one. Coat the outsides of the cones with frosting using a small offset spatula, then roll both cone stacks in the reserved graham cracker crumbs until completely coated.
• Frost the exterior of two sugar cones with the caramel frosting and roll in the graham crumbs. Snip a small hole at the end of the piping bag and pipe a thick line of caramel frosting on the inside of each cake cone and top with the coated sugar cones so they point upward.
• Trim away 1 inch from the bottom of one of the remaining sugar cones with a serrated knife using a gentle sawing motion. Cover the cone with caramel frosting and roll in the crumbs. Coat the remaining sugar cone with frosting and roll in the crumbs. Refrigerate all the decorated cones until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and position the two assembled cake cone towers on either side of the front of the cake. Anchor each in place using a dot of frosting. Arrange the two remaining decorated sugar cones on top of the cake. Pipe a mound of frosting under each cone to anchor it in place.
• Put the brown sugar cubes in a large bowl and drizzle with honey. Toss with a fork to coat the cubes with honey, then toss with some of the remaining graham cracker crumbs. Arrange the coated cubes around the top edges of the cake tiers. Use a dot of piped frosting to anchor each cube in place.
• Use the remaining frosting to cover the serving plate. Generously sprinkle the remaining graham cracker crumbs over the frosting to create a sandy beach appearance. (You may have leftover crumbs.) Refrigerate while you prepare the candy decorations.
• Make the decorations: Combine the orange and red candy melting wafers in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until the candy is melted and smooth. Transfer the candy to a piping bag, snip the end and pipe into the starfish candy mold. Put the candy molds on separate small trays or baking sheets. Rap each pan on the countertop to remove air bubbles and freeze until set, about 20 minutes. Turn the candy out onto a work surface immediately after removing from the freezer.
• Place the white candy melting wafers in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until the candy is melted and smooth. Transfer the candy to a piping bag, snip the end and pipe into the shell and sand dollar molds. Put the candy molds on separate small trays or baking sheets. Rap the pans on the countertop to remove air bubbles and freeze until set, about 20 minutes. Turn the candy out onto a work surface immediately after removing from the freezer. Allow all the candy decorations to come to room temperature.
• Dip a dry art brush in the cocoa powder and tap off excess. Lightly brush across the white candy pieces to give them dimension. Arrange the candy shells and starfish around the cake tiers as desired.
• To make the castle doors and windows, put the melted semisweet chocolate in a piping bag and snip a small hole at the end. Put the printed template on a small sheet pan. Cover the template with parchment paper and pipe chocolate onto the paper following the outlines of the shapes on the template. Use a toothpick to spread the chocolate into corners and fill any holes. Freeze the chocolate until firm, about 10 minutes, then turn the pieces over using a toothpick. Handle the pieces as little as possible to avoid melting the chocolate.
• Pipe caramel frosting on the back of each chocolate piece and attach to the sandcastle.
• Use a metal skewer or cocktail pick to gently tap a hole into the tip of each sugar cone. Insert the cupcake flags into the sugar cone spires.
• Bring the cake to room temperature before serving.

SAND CAKE

Steps:

• NOTE: Recipe states to only grease and flour the bottom of the form, so that the cake will rise evenly and not only in the middle. You are supposed to loosen the sides with a thin sharp knife after baking, before removing the rim!
• Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
• Brush springform bottom with melted butter. Put in fridge until firm (2 min). Add flour and shake over sink until evenly dusted, shake out excess flour.
• Melt butter without browning. You will need it to be liquid, put barely warm.
• Mix flour and cornstarch.
• Put the eggs, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a large bowl and put this over a water bath (put bowl over a shallow pan filled with hot water, so eggs will get warm without curdling). Beat egg mixture on water bath until thick and heated to 97 F (36 C). Test temperature by bringing a drop of the mixture to your lower lip. It should feel neither hot nor cold (body temperature).
• Remove mixture from water bath and beat on low speed until cold again. (You could do this in a cold water bath to quicken the process).
• Sift flour/cornstarch over egg mixture.
• Pour barely warm butter over eggs/flour.
• With a rubber spatula fold flour and butter carefully but thoroughly into egg mixture.
• Fill batter in prepared form. Bake in the lower third of oven 30-40 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, no crumbs attached.
• Remove from oven and let cool in form for 15 minutes. Loosen rim with a thin sharp knife and remove from the form. Let cool completely.
• Dust with powdered sugar and serve as is, or better, after at least 6 hours (to firm up), half horizontally and fill with any cake filling and top with a topping of your choice.
• NOTE: This batter can be baked in a 9x5 inch loaf pan or a bundt form as well, baking time will be longer though, so reduce heat to 350F (180 C).

KNIGHT'S CASTLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Generously grease Nordic Ware® Castle Bundt® cake pan with shortening and lightly flour, or spray pan with baking spray with flour.
• Make cake batter as directed on box. Pour batter into pan.
• Bake 33 to 43 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Using a long serrated knife, trim cake even with top of pan, if necessary. Turn pan upside down onto cooling rack; remove pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Place cake on 12- to 15-inch serving plate, tray or piece of cardboard covered with foil. Stir 8 to 10 drops blue food color into frosting. Spread frosting around base of cake to look like water. Sprinkle brown sugar around frosting on plate to look like sand.
• Place gumdrops on top of each tower. Cut long flag-shaped pieces out of fruit snack with sharp knife or kitchen scissors. Roll fruit snack around 4 toothpicks to make flags; insert toothpicks into gumdrops. Arrange crackers and rock candy in frosting, and add chocolate bar, upside down, for drawbridge as shown. Store loosely covered.

FAMILY FUN'S BUTTERFLY CAKE (FOR DUMMIES)

Steps:

• *Note: I must confess that I cheated and used a box of 'Baker Josef's Golden Yellow Cake Mix' from Trader Joe's. Sincere apologies to my loyal fans who depend on me for made-from-scratch recipes. Also, it's worth mentioning I made two cakes-one using a standard 9" pie pan and the other using a 9" cast iron skillet. The cake baked in the cast iron skillet turned out far better. To remove the cake from the pan *after it has cooled completely*, first take a knife and run along the edge of the pan to loosen. Place a wire cookie rack over the top of the pan, invert carefully and set aside. I used two spatulas and carefully moved the cake from the wire rack to the cake serving plate to frost it. This method worked best for this inexperienced cake baker. Two cakes were made in case of any mistakes. The second cake was cut in half then in half again and made into "baby butterflies".
• Other candy decorating suggestions: M&Ms (regular or mini size), gummy candy, non pareils, sprinkles, etc.
• Once cake has baked and cooled *completely*, cut the cake in half (see photo) and place the two halves close together with the flat/straight cut side facing out and curved sides facing each other (leave about a 3/4" gap between the two halves).
• Frost. For my test cake: The main body/wings and Twinikie were frosted yellow, the inner body pink. I made a pattern out of a piece of paper for the inner wing design. Placed the piece on paper on the cake halves and using a toothpick made small holes around the edge of the pattern as my guide. Then I carefully drew the line with the toothpick. Remove paper and frosted the main section first then the inner wing. (See photo.).
• Frost the Twinkie and place it on top of the two cut cake halves between the wings for the butterfly's body.
• *Decorate the wings with candies and adding licorice antennae to the Twinkie. (I just curled the ends of the licorice and placed the pieces on the plate.).
• *Tip: it's best to decorate the cake right before serving [depending] on the candies you choose. As an example, if you use M&M candies, the dye will run and stain the frosting. Fortunately I was able to frost the cake the day before and due to the type of candies used had no staining problems.

LADY GRAPEFRUIT (--TASTY DISH--)

Steps:

• Cut the grapefruit in half. Then cut off a small slice on the bottom near the stem to make the grapefruit lie flat on a plate.
• Eyes: Cut both grapes in half and place on the grapefruit.
• Nose: Add the cherry between the two grape halves.
• Mouth: Place the apple slice (or other fruit of choice) underneath the cherry where the mouth would be.
• Hair: Place the grape cluster on the top of the grapefruit where the hair would be.
• Eat! Yummy!

FAMILY FUN'S SAND CASTLE CAKE C/O --TASTY DISH--

Steps:

• Notes and tips: I read through the recipe reviews on the Family Fun site and they are worth noting here. One reviewer stated that the cake does not transport well, another added fruit roll up shaped like flags to the tops of the turrrets.
• Use a long serrated knife to trim the top of the round cake flat, if needed. Cut a 5 1/2-inch and a 3 1/2-inch circle from the square cake, as shown, then stack all three pieces, spreading vanilla frosting between the layers. Frost the stack.
• Use a rolling pin or food processor to crumble the wafers. With your hands, press the crumbs into the frosting, completely coating the cake. Spread frosting on the bottom of each ice-cream cup, then set them around the cake. With a serrated knife, carefully trim 1 1/2 inches from the top of 2 of the sugar cones. Set all 6 cones into the cups to complete the turrets, spreading a bit of frosting around the rims to hold them if needed.
• Press 2 graham cracker-stick doors into the middle cake layer and rim the rest of the cake with graham cracker-stick halves. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs around the base and add a scattering of candy seashells and rocks, if using.
• Servings estimated.