September is here. I’m back at Pikes Peak Community College, teaching three English Composition courses. I’m also on call for five births (yes, I’m doing birth photography!). Needless to say, life is busy. Add in a bubbling, vivacious toddler and my days have been filling up at an ever-quickening rate. So for the time being, I’ll just be posting twice each week. If you absolutely need to see more baked goods and whole foods, you can always find me on instragram (@cakestand).
Last week, after a beautiful day photographing three women for the Breastfeeding Project, I drove home from Denver with one goal in my mind: to make my 10-year-old nephew a birthday cake. With only a couple of hours before we were set to meet for dinner, I knew I’d have to execute a stellar baking and decorating performance if Ben’s birthday cake was going to be a reality. I needed simplicity. I needed ease. I needed delicious. And so I fell back on a classic vanilla cake with a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting. When I have ample time, I love to make a traditional french buttercream…with egg yolks and corn syrup and granulated sugar. But when I need something sweet and simple that will decorate beautifully, I turn to this recipe: an easy buttercream made with only a few ingredients: cocoa, powdered sugar, butter, and a dash of milk. In under two hours (from start to finish!) we had this cake ready for Ben’s birthday celebration. It was enjoyed by all.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
3 sticks butter, softened to almost room temperature
1 cup cocoa powder
5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup whole milk (for an even richer frosting, use cream)
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine butter and cocoa. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add in powdered sugar and milk (1 cup of powdered sugar, followed by 1-2 tablespoons milk). Run the mixer on low as you combine. After all milk and powdered sugar are added, stir in vanilla. Beat mixture on medium-high until light and fluffy (add more powdered sugar or more milk if needed). Frost on a completely cooled cake.
Oh I love buttercream! Your chocolate frosting looks absolutely wonderful – and that cake! Super impressive!
Great, because those ingredients are always around the house (why do I crave for frostings with cream cheese when I don’t have any around?) 😀 Have a great week!
You are one busy lady! But it sounds like all good things 🙂 Gorgeous cake – the classics get overlooked so often but man are they good. What a perfect birthday cake to celebrate with!
Wow, what a great cake to make in such a short time! Good job! And speaking of jobs, sounds like you’re busy, busy, busy! Anyway, fun post — thanks.
You know the saying ‘if you want to get something done, ask a busy person’ – this post reminds me of that. I find myself exhilarated for you – busy but exciting too! Gorgeous decorating on this cake my dear — what a perfect way to wind down at the end of the busy day (plus, you get to enjoy the spoils 😉 ). Hugs.
Monet, you amaze me all the time. I can’t believe you have so many projects and jobs on the go, while raising sweet Lucy at the same time. I can barely survive with one job, a husband and a dog! I’m doing the bare minimum over here. And lady, this cake is amazing. My jaw actually dropped open when I saw the first photo. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I hope your nephew was ecstatic when he saw and tasted it!
Gorgeous cake! I love how different all your jobs are–writing, teaching, cooking, photography. I bet you are continually inspired and inspiring! Making this frosting for my next birthday cake. 🙂
Very impressive cake busy lady! I don’t think I could throw something together in 2 hours like that!
Kelly took the words out of my mouth – ask a busy person indeed!
it is exciting to see you doing so many things, so be it if you have to post “only ” twice a week – don’t put pressure where you don’t have to
go with the flow, you are doing absolutely great!
This is the fluffiest, most gorgeous buttercream ever! Sinfully delicious 🙂
That just looks so decadent!
I bet he loved that cake. I would love that cake. Yea for chocolate and yea for buttercream.
Twice a week is more than I do, so I’m sure you’re fine 🙂 I’ve never made chocolate buttercream, I need to try it!
omigosh you ARE busy-it sounds wonderful, though!!
This cake is insane-I love how beautiful it is, the buttercream looks so luscious!
What a gorgeous cake, Monet! A showstopper for sure. You are one busy mama!!! xo
Gorgeous looking cake!! Love the chocolate butter cream.. looks so decadent.. 🙂
This sounds like it’s probably a fabulous fail-safe recipe for buttercream … which I definitely could make use of as I’m not so well-versed in these things!
Your life sounds very full but certainly in a good way at the moment! I only manage to post twice a week anyhow – if I’m lucky to be honest. I don’t know how anyone can keep up more than that with a full-time job!
This looks fantastic . I would love that cake
Manuella
Monet,
Your cake and frosting are gorgeous, all in two hours, Amamzing! Buttercream is my go to frosting, too. You are certainly a super busy Mom.
Good luck with juggling everything on your schedule! I’m glad you made time to make such a delicious-looking cake for your nephew. Happy 10th to him!
That cake is absolutely GORGEOUS!
Look at this cake! Beautiful! I could eat this frosting with a spoon! 🙂
This cake is insanely gorgeous!! Totally drooling over this frosting and your photos! Pinned 🙂
Wow, you are a busy woman with some amazing projects! : ) This cake is perfection!! MMM buttercream!
That is the cutest cake ever! I’m not a very good froster but will be using this cake as my frosting “guide” in the future. Love it!
Wow! You are crazy busy, but it sounds like all the things you love, so that never feels like work! This chocolate buttercream looks amazing!
This cake is so super stunning! It looks amazing.
Whoa! It sounds like you are super busy! I hope you still take time to have fun and of course post more awesome recipes like these!
Chocolate buttercream just proclaims celebration, don’t you think? Love it!
You are so talented to juggle all these projects and raising Lucy. Hope you try to get a little bit of time for yourself too 🙂 This cake is stunning Monet, I love the gorgeous decorating!
Wow! It sounds like you are a busy lady these days! That is so awesome that your are doing birth photography! It sound crazy and amazing at the same time! This cake also looks so delicious! What a lucky nephew you have! Buttercream frosting is my favorite and I could eat this with a spoon 🙂