Dylan’s Best Ever Birthday Cake

Prep Methods/Techniques
Course ,
Servings 25
Description
One more example of wretched excess, but I still make this every year because Dylan cries if I don't and the guilt is just too much.
Noted on 3/23/2012
Ingredients
    Cake
  • 2 1/4 cup blanched, slivered almonds
  • 2 cup cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 1/4 sticks, room temperature)
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 21 oz almond paste (cut into small pieces)
  • 12 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
    • Berry Filling
  • 3 cup frozen blueberries (thawed)
  • 3 cup unsweetened boysenberries or blackberries (thawed)
  • 2 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 cup sugar
    • Frosting
  • 15 oz imported white chocolate (such as Lindt, chopped)
  • 2 1/4 cup unsalted butter (4 1/2 sticks, room temperature)
  • 2 1/2 lb cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 3 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 6 1/2 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 1 cup sour cream
    • Assembly
  • 1 cardboard round (11-inch diameter)
  • 1 cardboard round (7-inch diameter)
  • 2 yard ribbon (1-inch wide)
  • 4 bamboo skewers (6-inches long)
  • Assorted fresh flowers
Method
    For cake:
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour one 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides and one 12-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides.

  2. Finely grind almonds in processor. Sift flour and baking powder into small bowl. Set aside.

  3. Using a stand mixer, cream butter with sugar until blended. Crumble the almond paste and beat in a few pieces at a time. Beat until mixture resembles smooth paste. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until batter increases slightly in volume, about 5 minutes. Mix in almonds, then dry ingredients.

  4. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until tester inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, about 55 minutes for 8-inch cake and 65 minutes for 12-inch cake. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides to loosen. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.

    5. For berry filling:
  5. Combine berries in heavy large saucepan. Sprinkle with sugar. Let stand 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Bring berries to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is reduced to about 2½ cups, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Strain berries through a medium-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing and scraping until all that remains in the strainer are seeds. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.
    6. For frosting:

  6. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Cool chocolate until just slightly warm.

  7. Using stand mixer, beat butter until light. Gradually add cream cheese, beating until just combined. Beat in both extracts, add sugar and beat just until smooth. Add melted chocolate and beat until just combined. Stir in sour cream. Chill frosting until spreadable.

    8. To assemble:
  8. Using serrated knife or, more easily a layer cake cutter tool, cut each cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom 12-inch cake layer on 11-inch cardboard round. Spread with ⅔ cup berry filling, leaving ½-inch border uncovered. Carefully spread 2 cups frosting over entire layer. Top with ⅔ cup berry filling, leaving ½-inch border uncovered. Carefully spread 2 cups frosting over entire layer. Top with top 12-inch cake layer. Chill cakes to set frosting (at least 2 hours). Spread a very light layer of frosting over the entire cake. The cake should not be completely covered. Chill again to set frosting (1 hour, or more). Spread 3 cups frosting over top and sides of cake.

  9. Place bottom 8-inch cake layer on 7-inch cardboard round. Spread with¼ cup berry filling, leaving ½ inch border uncovered. Carefully spread ¾ cup frosting over entire layer. Top with ¼ cup berry filling, leaving ½-inch border uncovered. Carefully spread ¾ cups frosting over entire layer. Top with top 8-inch cake layer. Chill cakes to set frosting (at least 2 hours) Spread a very light layer of frosting over the entire cake. The cake should not be completely covered. Chill again to set frosting (1 hour, or more). Spread 2 cups frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill both cakes for at least 3 hours.

  10. Place 12-inch cake on platter. Press skewer into center of cake. Mark skewer ⅛ inch above top of cake. Remove and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut remaining skewers to same length. Carefully press skewers into bottom cake tier 3½ to 4 inches in from cake edges, spacing evenly. Gently place 8-inch cake on cardboard atop bottom cake tier, centering carefully, with cake resting on skewers.

  11. Cut one 3-foot, 4-inch-long piece of ribbon and wrap around base of 12-inch cake. Press gently onto sides to adhere. Cut one 2-foot, 3-inch-long piece of ribbon and wrap around base of 8-inch cake. Press gently onto sides to adhere. Spoon remaining frosting into pastry bag fitted with small round tip. Pipe dots of frosting on top edge of both cakes. Refrigerate until frosting sets, about 1 hour. Arrange flowers atop cake. Serve cake cold or at room temperature.

Cook's Notes
Advance Prep
Cakes can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic and store at room temperature.
Berry filling can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
Cake can be completed, except for flower decoration, up to 2 days ahead of time, covered loosely with plastic and chilled.
Special Equipment
1 8-inch-diameter cake pan with straight 2-inch-high sides
1 12-inch-diameter cake pan with straight 2-inch-high sides
Stand mixer
High Altitude (7,000 feet) Adjustments
Leavening -56% (baking soda to a scant 1½ teaspoon)
Flour +9% (flour to 11 ounces)
Eggs +1.25% (add about 1¾ eggs)
Oven temp +25 degrees (turn it down after the cake looks like it has some structure)
Source
Bon Appétit magazine from over 30 years ago, I think