Garden Patch Cake

Name: Garden Patch Cake
Ingredients: 1 cup canola oil; 3 large eggs; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup finely shredded carrots; 1 cup finely shredded zucchini; 1/2 cup finely shredded beets; 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 6 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar; 3/4 cup shortening; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; Pinch salt; 3 to 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 7 wooden craft or Popsicle sticks (4-1/2 inches); 1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa; Red, yellow, orange and green liquid or paste food coloring; Pastry tips - #5 and #10 round, #67 leaf and #20 star; 5 pastry bags or small heavy-duty resealable plastic bags

27 ingredients

9 steps

Ingredients

1 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1 cup finely shredded zucchini
1/2 cup finely shredded beets
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pinch salt
3 to 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
7 wooden craft or Popsicle sticks (4-1/2 inches)
1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa
Red, yellow, orange and green liquid or paste food coloring
Pastry tips - #5 and #10 round, #67 leaf and #20 star
5 pastry bags or small heavy-duty resealable plastic bags

Directions

1

In a large bowl, beat oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in vegetables. Add chips and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured
2

. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
3

For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cake. Store in refrigerator.
4

See below for decorating frosting recipe and directions.
5

GARDEN PATCH CAKE DECORATING:
6

In a bowl, cream shortening, extracts and salt. Gradually beat in sugar alternately with milk until smooth and stiff. Cover with a wet paper towel and plastic wrap until ready to use.
7

Lay 5 craft or Popsicle sticks on a sheet of waxed paper with 1/4 in between bottom of sticks (ends that are inserted into cake) and 1/2 in. between tops. Spread back side of remaining sticks with frosting; position across the 5 sticks 1 in. and 2 in. down from the top. Allow to dry, about 1 hour. Press bottom of sticks into upper left corner of cake.
8

Using a toothpick, mark a 5-1/2x3-1/2-in. patch in lower right corner. Lightly sprinkle with cocoa and gently press into cake.
9

Cut a small hole in corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #10 round tip. Combine 1/4 cup frosting and red food coloring; fill bag. Holding bag straight up and down, form 8-10 tomatoes in front of the trellis. Prepare another bag, inserting #5 round tip. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and yellow food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form rows of small dots to create kernel of 8-10 ears of corn in upper right corner. Wash #10 tip and insert into a third bag. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and orange food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form 3 rows of 4 carrots on the garden patch. Add green food coloring to remaining frosting. Prepare a fourth bag, inserting leaf tip; fill with some of the frosting. Form husks on edges of ears of corn; add stems and leaves to tomatoes and carrots. Add vines to trellis. Prepare a fifth bag, inserting the star tip; fill with remaining green frosting. Form a border around base and upper edge of cake.