Sunshine Cake, #SundaySupper

NinjaBaker — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 07:26:59 +0000

Ninja Baker Philosophy 101: S-t-r-e-t-c-h. Get creative with those Easter / Passover / Sunday Supper leftovers. But don’t skimp on dessert! Especially if it’s a Sunshine Cake. (Scroll down for the easy peasy recipe.)

Sunshine Cake

Bring on the heaps of whipped cream, chocolate, cookies and cupcakes! That’s what I’d like to do…One tiny complication; this Ninja Baker is doomed to diabetic consequences if dessert is not consumed responsibly. So, whilst walking the tightrope of balancing sugar levels, I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen. Good news: I’ve got sunny reports from efforts in the Ninja Baker kitchen. This post features the stellar Sunshine Cake.

Enjoy Sunshine Cake with Matcha Cream Pejoy Chopsticks! Or a fork

Serendipitously, my Sunshine Cake recipe is adapted from Averie Sunshine’s Easy Yellow Cake with Buttercream Frosting. Averie gives the option of substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream. Greek yogurt is especially excellent for those of us with sugar issues. Why? Besides all those B6s and B12s, Greek yogurt has tons of protein. If you are going to eat dessert, per the nutrition experts, it is always best to precede the fabulous event with protein.

Yes, I’ve become quite savvy at nuking slices of turkey bacon so I can sink my teeth into Sprinkles Cupcakes. Sprinkles Cupcakes were oh, so en vogue about a decade ago with celebrities. I don’t know about the tastes of starlets today but enthusiasm for the Beverly Hills Sprinkles store has yet to wane. There is always a line. (It’s rumored, too, that Sprinkles Cupcakes are heading to Tokyo.)

Organic apricot spread slathered atop buttercream frosting
between layers of Sunshine Cake adds a terrific tang.

Which favorite fruit jam would you use?

Back to the subject of Sunshine Cake…I was talking about the need to balance sugar with protein. Well, drum roll please, I’ve discovered a stevia, sugar blend called Sweet ‘n Lite. It looks, tastes and acts like granulated sugar when baking cake! (More good news, I found it in a “regular” market. It’s also available online.) The sponge of my Sunshine Cake was moist and had a dense homemade birthday cake feel. For the buttercream frosting, I used a dairy-free non-GMO butter substitute. Given all the good news about butter these days, though, it’s safe to say you’ll have delicious results any way you choose to frost your Sunshine Cake! (Also, a bit of apricot spread atop the buttercream in between layers of cake adds a tangy contrast to the sweet frosting.)

P.s. My sunshine garnish is made from a single Vanilla Oreo and Matcha Pejoy. How would you create sunshine on your cake?

Sunshine Cake

A slice of sunshine cake is like having Mom’s moist, dense homemade birthday cake with fluffy frosting. Perfect for a snack or Sunday supper dessert!

The Pejoy biscuit sticks and Oreo sunshine add a welcome crunch. The cookie and biscuits are also marvelous contrast to the tangy apricot spread in between layers of cake and buttercream.

Adapted from Averie Sunshine's recipe for Easy Yellow Cake with Buttercream Frosting.

Ingredients:

Sunshine Cake:

2 cups flour
1½ cups (½ sugar, ½ stevia) Sweet & Lite
(You could also try ½ Erythritol - another healthy granulated sugar substitute with regular sugar.)
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup Greek yogurt
6 tablespoons canola oil
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Drops of yellow food coloring

Sunshine Buttercream Frosting:

1½ Earth Balance (or similar non-dairy, non-GMO butter substitute) or butter
6 teaspoons vanilla powder
Pinches of salt
4 cups of powdered sugar
Drops of yellow food coloring

Optional Filling:

2 to 3 tablespoons of organic apricot jam or your favorite jam (to spread on top of the buttercream in the middle - between the two layers of cake.)

Create your own sunshine centerpiece:

I used a Vanilla Oreo and Matcha Pejoy. (Pejoy is an inside out Pocky.)

Directions:

Sunshine Cake:

Line two 8 x 8 pans with non-stick aluminum foil. Spray with coconut oil. Place on cookie sheet (to protect from any splish-splashing in the oven.) Set oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in one big bowl.

In a smaller bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Gently whisk in the buttermilk, Greek yogurt, canola oil, vanilla and drops of sunshine yellow food coloring. Pour the mixture into the flour bowl. Stir with a spatula or big spoon until all ingredients are combined. No worries if you still see lumps.

Divide the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 34 to 38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Frost with sunshine buttercream frosting.

Sunshine Buttercream Frosting:

In a kitchen stand mixer, beat the butter (or Earth Balance), vanilla powder and pinch of salt together. Add the yellow food coloring along with a cup of powdered sugar. Blend well. Gradually add the rest of the powdered sugar. For the frosting you do want a smooth consistency so put the mixer to work! Once smooth, frost your cake. For the middle filling, spread a bit of apricot spread or your favorite jam atop buttercream frosting.

Create your own sunshine centerpiece: I used a Vanilla Oreo and Matcha Pejoy. (Pejoy is an inside out Pocky.)

Today’s #SundaySupper at Twitter (scroll down for your invite) is all about getting creative with Easter and Passover leftovers. A dynamic duo, Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake and Stacy of Food Lust, People Love host this #SundaySupper. Both are gourmet cooks and international travelers! Stacy lives in Abu Dhabi…Home to yet another Sprinkles Cupcake shop!

Appetizers

Bacon and Sriracha Deviled Eggs by Casa de Crews
Buffalo Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Jalapeño Cilantro Deviled Eggs by Our Good Life
Rissole by Brunch with Joy
Savory Basque Tart by Food Lust People Love

Breakfast and Brunch

Breakfast Burritos by Sew You Think You Can Cook
Breakfast Enchiladas by Curious Cuisiniere
Gluten-Free Ham Spinach & Gruyère Quiche by Amee's Savory Dish
Ham and Egg Hash by Whole Food | Real Families
Matzo Brei Pancakes by Take A Bite Out of Boca
Savory Ham and Scallion Corn Cakes by The Weekend Gourmet

Main Dishes

Black Pepper Fried Brown Rice with Ham by Food Done Light
Cajun Hambalaya by Palatable Pastime
Cal-Mex Avocado and Egg Salad by eating in instead
Chunky Healthy Egg Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
Ham Fried Rice by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Kimchi Fried Rice by Wallflower Girl
Pan-Fried Ham with Okra and Red-Eye Gravy by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Salmon, Asparagus and Capers Panini by Family Foodie

Soups and Salads

Ham and Corn Chowder by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Southern Ham Macaroni Salad by Magnolia Days
Split Pea and Ham Slowcooker Soup by Jane's Adventures in Dinner

Desserts

Apple Blueberry Flip Flop by Recipe for Perfection
Brownies with Kentucky Bourbon and Chocolate Mint Ganache by Lifestyle Food Artistry
Cadbury Egg Stuffed Croissants by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Cheese and Pineapple Bread Pudding by Basic N Delicious
Easter Candy Bark by Pies and Plots
Easter Candy Brownie Cookies by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Peanut Butter Brownie No Bake Cheesecake by Recipes, Food and Cooking
Peanut Butter Chocolate Matzo S'mores by Desserts Required
Sunshine Cake by The Ninja Baker

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Wishing you sunshine and cake on days that look cloudy.

The Ninja Baker

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

Follow Ninja Baker @NinjaBaking's board NinjaBaker.com Sweets on Pinterest.

Tags:

#easy #cake #recipe #Sprinkles #SundaySupper

The Ninja Baker - #easy #cake #recipe #Sprinkles #SundaySupper

Sunshine Cake, #SundaySupper