Photos from Freddie Bennett.
One year ago today, my sister gave birth to Ava Mary Bennett. A couple weeks ago, when the little bitty California girl was in town for a family vacation, we threw her a surprise birthday party (it was a surprise to her, anyway!). Ava’s favorite dolls/stuffed animals are her bla bla dolls. So, for her 1st birthday cake, my sister and I created Lulu. We had a blast with all the fun colors, and Ava had a blast tearing it apart!
To see step-by-step photos of the construction of the cake, read more!
First, I had to bake a large sheet cake. I chose an incredible chocolate cake recipe….even if you’re not going to make a bla bla doll cake, go bake this chocolate cake! It’s too good (recipe at end of post). Then I used parchment paper to plan my cuts, and using the actual bla bla doll, Lulu, as a guide, I assembled the cake.
Once she was assembled, I applied a crumb coat (with a big batch of basic buttercream) and let her chill out in the refrigerator while my colorologist (my sister) and I worked on the various frosting colors we needed. While the colors weren’t matched just perfectly, they were close enough.
I think the cake turned out well. At least Ava thought it was finger-lickin’ good!
Happy 1st Birthday, Ava! We love you!
Everyday Chocolate Cake
(Adapted from At Home with Magnolia Bakery, found via http://www.smittenkitchen.com/)
I doubled this recipe and baked it in a jelly roll pan.
1/2 cup (1 stick or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (6 7/8 ounces) firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (6 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (2 5/8 ounces) Dutch cocoa powder (see above for a natural cocoa adjustment)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter and lightly flour a 9×5×3-inch loaf pan, or spray it with a butter-flour spray.
- In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat well, then the buttermilk and vanilla. Don’t worry if the batter looks a little uneven.
- Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt together right into your wet ingredients. Stir together with a spoon until well-blended but do not overmix. Scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in pan on a rack for about 10 to 15 minutes, at which point you can cool it the rest of the way out of the pan.
That's so cute!
What a fun idea – thanks for sharing it with Bla Bla Kids!
beautiful recreation of Lulu!!!
I'm so impressed! I considered doing a Bla Bla cake for my little one's first bday but decided I'd probably mess it up. Great job!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your blabla cake!!!
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