Winter 2024 Snow Day Cake

 

Growing up in the South, whenever snow or freezing rain was in the forecast, my mama always planned ahead for us to have things ready to eat in case the power went out and she was unable to cook.  She had an electric stove/oven.  Year around, she more often than not, had a dessert ready for us to enjoy.  But she always baked a cake or pie when winter storms were on the way.  

I've carried on that tradition (habit?) and yesterday I decided to bake a Snow Day Cake.  I started out with a Betty Crocker French Vanilla cake mix, but veered off course with the recommended added ingredients and changed things up a bit. An extra egg, substituting milk for water, and melted butter for the oil, adds a wonderful richness to the batter.  I made a butter cream frosting and tinted the frosting with "sky blue" coloring gel.  After adding a few wintery mix sprinkles on top, voila, a Snow Day Cake.

 

1 Betty Crocker French Vanilla cake mix

4 eggs

2/3 cup melted butter

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

Mix together the dry cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and milk.  Using a hand mixer, blend together on low until batter comes together.  Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.

Spray 2 8-inch cake pans with non-stick spray.  Evenly divide the batter between the cake pans and bake for 28-30 minutes.

Let cake layers rest on a cooling rack for 10 minutes before removing from pans.  Let cake layers cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 box powdered sugar

3 T. whole milk

1 1/2 T. pure vanilla extract

a few drops of sky blue coloring tint

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until it becomes pale and super creamy, about 2 minutes.

Reduce the mixer to low speed and add powered sugar, milk, and vanilla.  When all ingredients are combined, increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 - 2 minutes until well combined and creamy.

Lower mixer speed back to low and add in a few drops of the coloring gel and mix until desired color is reached.

Place one layer on a cake plate and spread an even layer of frosting on the top of the layer.  Place second layer on top and spread an even layer of frosting around the sides and top of the cake.  

Add some sprinkles on top if you'd like!

The richness and texture of this cake is incredible!  Don't look down on boxed cake mixes, just raise them up to bakery level!