Coolest Strawberry Short Cake 30

by Carol Norman

Strawberry Short Cake

I had vintage Strawberry Shortcake miniature dolls from when my daughter was young, plus I bought some of the newer version dolls from Kmart. I created a candy pathway with smarties and green sprinkles, and scattered icing flowers and tiny scatters around the cake for effect.

I used a two tier effect, so I made double the recipe (using a square tin, and a small round which I cut in half for the top tier), and kept the other half for serving.

I piped pink icing around the base of each cake, and then put a Strawberry Shortcake design on the top of the cake, held up by tooth picks at the rear. The contrast of bright lollies & dolls against the chocolate icing was very spectacular. My grand-daughter and daughter loved it.

Here is the recipe for the Chocolate & Orange Cake:

INGREDIENTS:
62g unsalted butter
1 C Castor sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1tsp Bi-carb Soda
1tsp Baking Powder
rind of 2 oranges (grated)
2 eggs
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1 3/4 cup Plain Flour
250mls Orange Juice
100g grated chocolate
An extra 50g of grated chocolate for the top of the cake (after baking)

Method:
Cream butter and castor sugar & grated orange peel. Add the rest of the ingredients (apart from the chocolate) and mix well.

Fold in chocolate with a spatula. Grease a spring tin and spread mixture into it. Bake for 75 mins at 175 degrees Celsius.

Remove from oven & sprinkle the rest of the grated chocolate on top while the cake is still hot (straight from the oven).