The Daring Bakers Do Dorie: Perfect Party Cake

After last month's bread-baking debacle, I was so excited to see that Morven chose Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party Cake, sourced from her much-loved Baking book. Why? For starters, because there isn't any yeast (ha!), but mostly because it was recently my birthday, and this cake would serve as a lovely birthday cake. And! I made cakes from Dorie's book for both my mom and my husband's birthdays, so I wanted to complete the arc. And there wasn't any yeast.

I wish there was such a thing as taste-o-vision or something, because I wish all of you non-DBers, or those of you that aren't invited over when a DBer makes their challenge, could try this cake. It is seriously the most pillowy-soft cake I have ever put in my mouth (and believe you me, I have put A LOT of cake in said mouth.) I don't even know what to compare it to. Its a little like angel-food, but not all springy. It reminds me of really really sassy wedding cake, only better.

We were given the freedom to fill the cake as we wished, and though I'd fully planned to make the recipe to Dorie's letter, when I was at the grocery store picking out seedless raspberry jam (and I even had the jar in my hand!), I instead picked up a jar of preserves I've had before. My friend Liane once suggested to me this wonderful strawberry preserves with champagne. While I loved it, I never felt like my toast or pbj's did it justice. I thought that THIS cake was my opportunity to really let the jam shine.

And shine it did. The preserves went beautifully with the fluffy lemoney buttercream and surprisingly well with the coconut! (I hadn't expected that, but I should have, because Dorie is a genius!)

This cake was a dream to put together. I made the cakes last night and let them cool to room temperature before wrapping them in clingfilm. I made the buttercream this morning and layered the cake, preserves, and buttercream. I couldn't stand the idea of waiting to try it (and I think my mom is coming by with a cake she made for later), so we cut into it. (Yay cake for lunch!)

Please make sure that you have lots of milk, or some hot tea or coffee to serve with this cake, as it is really sweet. Really really sweet. Not that I'm complaining - it is just worth mentioning, for those of you with aversions to stuff like that.

If someone special to you is having a birthday or party, make this cake. You no doubt will be crowned the Rock Star of the Evening.

Thank you, Morven, for a wonderful challenge! This cake was just the thing I needed!!

Head on over to the Daring Baker's Blogroll to see all the other Rock Stars!