Pink Snowball Cake

If you are a regular visitor here, you may already be aware of my love for pink coconut confections.  When I saw a box-mix version of this cake (in white) on the Kraft Foods site, I knew I was surely destined to figure out a scratch-made version in pink.  It took a bit of trial and error, but I've worked out all the kinks.  I hope you love this cake as much as I do!

How do I love thee, Snowball Cake?  Let me count the ways.  You are:

1. Nostalgic - like a Hostess Snoball snack cake.
2. Pretty - dressed in frilly pink coconut.
3. Delicious - with scratch-made Devil's Food cake inside.
4. Quirky - baked in a bowl!
5. Easy to make - with marshmallow frosting that doesn't require a thermometer.

Before I get to the specifics of this cake, I would like to share some good news! Last Wednesday I received an email with the words "finalist" and "Saveur Magazine" and "Best Food Blog Awards".  After I figured out I wasn't being punked and that they hadn't confused me with someone else, I shouted "SHUT UP!" so loudly it sent my snoring pugs into a barking frenzy.  I was surprised to say the least!

Then I got a second email.  I'm a finalist twice?  Pinch me!

So, if you find me worthy, I'd love to have your vote for Saveur Magazine's Best Baking and Desserts Blog and/or Best Original Baking and Desserts Recipe.

To vote, click here or click the banner at the top right hand corner of my blog. You'll need to register if you're not already a Saveur online user. Anyone in the world can vote, but you must choose the United States as the country of residency due to a glitch the site is experiencing. They are currently working to resolve this issue.

Thank you bunches!

Pink Snowball Cake
serves 8-10                                                                                                                        [click to print]

Cake:

6 tbsp. cocoa

6 tbsp hot water

1 ½ cups flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (12 tbsp)

1 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

½ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 2 quart heat-proof bowl (stainless or pyrex) with shortening and lightly flour. Set aside.
Whisk together cocoa and hot water.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Melt butter with sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and pour mixture into a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer until mixture has cooled enough to add the eggs without scrambling them.

Add eggs, vanilla, and then cocoa mixture.  Beat until well combined.  Reduce mixer speed and add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream.

Pour into greased bowl and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick tester comes out clean.  Let cool slightly. Run a knife around the edge of the cake, then turn out onto a cake stand or serving tray lined with wax paper strips. Let cool completely.  Cut the dome of the cake off about 1/3 of the way down from the top.  With your fingers, press to make an indentation in the middle of the base of the cake.  This will make room for the marshmallow filling without wasting any cake.

Filling/Frosting

1 lb unsalted butter, softened
1 16 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 generous cup sweetened flaked coconut (I like Baker's Angel Flake)
Americolor pink soft gel food color

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy.  Add marshmallow cream and beat again, scraping down the sides and bottom of bowl as needed.  When thoroughly combined, remove 1 cup of the white mixture and place in the center of the cut cake.  Place the top of the cake over the marshmallow center and line up the edges as best as possible.

Add the 1 cup of confectioners' sugar to the remaining frosting.  Mix well. Use a small dab of pink food coloring to tint the frosting pastel pink.  Make sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl so no white streaks remain.  Frost cake with an offset spatula. 

In a medium bowl, tint coconut with a drop of pink gel food coloring.  Mix well - you can use a fork but I found my fingers did a much better job.  Coat frosted cake with pink coconut.  Remove wax paper strips from underneath the cake and tidy up the serving plate edges if coconut remnants are present.

• You must use a 2 quart (8 cup) bowl for this recipe.  The batter is approx. 4 cups and needs plenty of room to rise while baking. 
• Wire-pick butterflies can be found in the floral department at most craft stores.