Birthday Cake

Name: Birthday Cake
Ingredients: 55 g butter, at room temperature [4 tablespoons (1/2 stick)]; 60 g vegetable shortening (1/3 cup); 250 g granulated sugar (1 1/4 cups); 50 g light brown sugar (3 tablespoons tightly packed); 3 eggs; 110 g buttermilk (1/2 cup); 65 g grapeseed oil (1/3 cup); 8 g clear vanilla extract (see page 21) (2 teaspoons); 245 g cake flour (2 cups); 6 g baking powder (1 1/2 teaspoons); 3 g kosher salt (3/4 teaspoon); 50 g rainbow sprinkles (1/4 cup); Pam or other nonstick cooking spray (optional); 25 g rainbow sprinkles (2 tablespoons)

14 ingredients

22 steps

Ingredients

55 g butter, at room temperature [4 tablespoons (1/2 stick)]
60 g vegetable shortening (1/3 cup)
250 g granulated sugar (1 1/4 cups)
50 g light brown sugar (3 tablespoons tightly packed)
3 eggs
110 g buttermilk (1/2 cup)
65 g grapeseed oil (1/3 cup)
8 g clear vanilla extract (see page 21) (2 teaspoons)
245 g cake flour (2 cups)
6 g baking powder (1 1/2 teaspoons)
3 g kosher salt (3/4 teaspoon)
50 g rainbow sprinkles (1/4 cup)
Pam or other nonstick cooking spray (optional)
25 g rainbow sprinkles (2 tablespoons)

Directions

1

Heat the oven to 350F.
2

Combine the butter, shortening, and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes.
3

Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the eggs, and mix on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes.
4

Scrape down the sides of the bowl once more.
5

On low speed, stream in the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
6

Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and paddle for 4 to 6 minutes, until the mixture is practically white, twice the size of your original fluffy butter-and-sugar mixture, and completely homogenous.
7

Dont rush the process.
8

Youre basically forcing too much liquid into an already fatty mixture that doesnt want to make room for the liquid.
9

There should be no streaks of fat or liquid.
10

Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
11

On very low speed, add the cake flour, baking powder, salt, and the 50g (1/4 cup) rainbow sprinkles.
12

Mix for 45 to 60 seconds, just until your batter comes together.
13

Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
14

Pam-spray a quarter sheet pan and line it with parchment, or just line the pan with a Silpat.
15

Using a spatula, spread the cake batter in an even layer in the pan.
16

Sprinkle the remaining 25g (2 tablespoons) rainbow sprinkles evenly on top of the batter.
17

Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes.
18

The cake will rise and puff, doubling in size, but will remain slightly buttery and dense.
19

At 30 minutes, gently poke the edge of the cake with your finger: the cake should bounce back slightly and the center should no longer be jiggly.
20

Leave the cake in the oven for an extra 3 to 5 minutes if it doesnt pass these tests.
21

Take the cake out of the oven and cool on a wire rack or, in a pinch, in the fridge or freezer (dont worry, its not cheating).
22

The cooled cake can be stored in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 5 days.