Purse Cake ~ Simple White Cake

We celebrated my youngest granddaughter's fifth birthday last week, and I came up with a simple birthday cake that suited her just fine! She had pointed out a pink purse that she really liked several weeks ago...and so it became part of her birthday gift.  A 'pink purse cake' seemed the appropriate choice and was easy to put together.
 
Purse Cake

• 1 9-inch round cake layer (Simple White Cake recipe posted below or use your favorite)
• 1 recipe buttercream frosting (recipe below)
• food coloured for icing
• red licorice straws (for handles and purse opening)
• 4 ring-shaped fruit flavoured gummies (for handle grommets)
• white jelly beans for purse clasp

1. Using a serrated knife, cut cake layer in half crosswise, making two half-circles. Use a small amount of the white frosting to sandwich the two half-circles together. Place cake, cut sides down, on a serving platter.
2. Tint the remaining white frosting with food coloring. Spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake. Then frost cake generously, either swirling with an offset spatula or piping frosting onto purse using a star tip . 
3. Place licorice pieces down center of cake where the two half-circles meet.
4. Place white jelly beans in center of cake to form clasp. 
5. For purse handles, place two jelly ring candies on each licorice twist. Insert handles into top of cake. 

 

Simple White Cake

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9" inch round pan...or line with parchment.
2. In mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. 
3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
4.  Add vanilla. 
5.  Combine flour and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk and mix until better is smooth.
6. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
7. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven.  (Until toothpick inserted in center come out clean.)

 Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups icing sugar (more if needed)
• 1/4 cup whipping cream

1. In mixing bowl, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy. 
2. Add salt and vanilla; beat. 
3. Gradually add the icing sugar alternately with the cream, beating well.  Add a little more icing sugar if needed to reach a spreading consistency. Makes about 3 cups.