Tangled Birthday Cake

My sister asked me to make a Birthday cake for her baby girl, Illianna, who turned three this month.  She is currently into the movie "Tangled" and watches it all the time.

Here is my Tangled Birthday Cake.  A chocolate chocolate cake with fondant.

Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups Sugar
• 1/2 cup Shortening
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 4 oz Unsweetened Chocolate, melted and cooled
• 2 cups of Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 3/4 cup Water
• 3/4 cup Buttermilk
• Cream together sugar and shortening.  Add eggs, vanilla, and chocolate.  If the chocolate is still warm it seizes up and turns into chocolate chunks and is difficult to mix in.  Mix the dry ingredients together.  Mix water and buttermilk together.  Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients, starting and ending with wet until it is all incorporated.  Bake 350 degrees for about 30 min.
• Note:  Omit salt, baking soda, and baking powder if using 2 cups of Self Rising Flour instead.

She was so excited for her birthday cake.

She just wanted to pick at it so much.

Chocolate Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 4 cups Powdered Sugar
• 3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
• 2 - 4 Tbs Whipping Cream
• Whip together shortening, butter, and vanilla.  Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until incorporated.  Add Cocoa Powder and whipping cream until you get the right consistency.  In the center I sprinkled a few chocolate chips to give it a crunch.

Now to open presents.

I love taking pictures of people taking pictures.  I find it amusing.  She got a wooden block train.  Good luck ever putting that back together.

She has mastered the art of unwrapping at Christmas.  It was her favorite part.

Here is her daddy, Steve, putting together her new baby doll stroller.  Apparently she loved the last one to death.

Since they are expecting a new baby brother in April they decided to get Illianna a double baby doll stroller to get used to the idea of having two babies.

Two mini mouse dolls going for their first stroller ride.

So cute.  I am sure she will make an amazing big sister.