This year Dorothy's son Alexander had a fairly small gathering for his birthday. He went to a Nationals baseball game with a few friends and then everyone came back home to enjoy cake with his extended family. I only needed one 10-inch cake to feed everyone and Alexander requested lemon. I made Rose Levy Beranbaum's white butter cake with lemon mousseline, and I included a bonus layer of lemon curd (in addition to the mousseline) between the two cake layers. I loved both the flavor boost and sharp visual impact of the lemon curd.
I went truly minimal with the design, using only a piped border and the candles for decoration. Fortunately, no one minded the lack of bells and whistles. The cake tasted great and it made the birthday boy -- and his guests -- very happy.
Recipes: "Base Formula for White Butter Cake," "Mousseline Buttercream (Fruit Mousseline Variation with Lemon Curd)," and "Lemon Curd," from The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum.
Previous Alexander Birthday Baked Goods: Alexander Turns Ten (Strawberry Supreme Cake and Burnt-Butter Brown-Sugar Cupcakes); Nine (Antique Caramel Cake and Classic Carrot Cake Cupcakes); Eight (Carrot Cupcakes and Strawberry Cupcakes); Seven (Fraisier); Six (Rose Levy Beranbuam's Carrot Cake): Five (Riva's Carrot Cake): Four (Red Velvet Cupcakes and Brownies): Three (Red Velvet Cake and Salted Fudge Brownies); and Two (Restaurant Eve Cake).
Recipes: "Base Formula for White Butter Cake," "Mousseline Buttercream (Fruit Mousseline Variation with Lemon Curd)," and "Lemon Curd," from The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum.
Previous Alexander Birthday Baked Goods: Alexander Turns Ten (Strawberry Supreme Cake and Burnt-Butter Brown-Sugar Cupcakes); Nine (Antique Caramel Cake and Classic Carrot Cake Cupcakes); Eight (Carrot Cupcakes and Strawberry Cupcakes); Seven (Fraisier); Six (Rose Levy Beranbuam's Carrot Cake): Five (Riva's Carrot Cake): Four (Red Velvet Cupcakes and Brownies): Three (Red Velvet Cake and Salted Fudge Brownies); and Two (Restaurant Eve Cake).
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