Big Top Barron

A different red velvet recipe and our first attempt at using the "Big Top" giant cupcake mold ... prepared for Leslee and Troy Schader, named in honor of their newborn, Barron.



Always on the lookout for a good red velvet (RV) recipe, the ladies tried one of Paula Deen's takes on the cake.

Instead of a simple layer cake, however, we tried out the latest baking utensil added to our business ... the Big Top Cupcake (as seen on TV)! It's supposed to be a giant cupcake, but ours turned out looking like a beehive. Perhaps it was because we saved some of the batter for our sample cake, which is okay when we're making a layer or sheet cake, but we now know this is definitely not advisable when baking in the Big Top.

The recipe turned out, but it wasn't the home run we've been hoping for when it comes to RV recipes.

Update: Katie attempted an RV cake away from the Cake Brigade for her dad and brother's birthdays. She used a recipe from America's Test Kitchen and said it--and the accompanying frosting recipe--topped each of the recipes we've tried. We'll have to give that one a go next time we need an RV fix.

Here is Katie's cake and our inspiration for future RV attempts:

The Double Header

Red Velvet Cake prepared with love for the PSU women's basketball team.




Ever since embracing her inner Southern woman as a temporary Texan (red velvet is a Southern thing, right?), Kate has been infatuated with red velvet cake. After polling a few players on the women's basketball team at Portland State, she found out many of the ladies shared her taste in cake. As a congratulations for finishing pre-season training, the ladies of the Brigade decided to dedicate this cake to the team.

They called it "The Double Header" as it was one-of-two cakes baked that night.

The cake turned out well, although the color was a little off - the amount of food coloring added was incorrect. Also, in wanting to add a bit of decoration to the top, sifted cocoa powder was added. This was a good thought, but the actual action did not equate to a pretty design. From now on, red velvet cakes will remain simple and flair-less.