Sixlets Cake for a Blog Birthday

One year ago I was baking up a scratch-made confetti cake for this blog’s first birthday.  Not only was it fun to make – in a fling-sprinkles-everywhere kind of way – it was incredibly well received.  Many of you made your own version and sent me pictures of the happiest faces behind lit candles, which makes me more than a little teary as I type this. Words can’t express how special those emails are.  They are a gift to me.

Here we are at year two!  I wanted this year’s cake to be just as special and sprinkle-filled as the last, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about doing that – until I discovered Sixlets.

Have you heard of Sixlets?  They’re like sprinkles, only bigger, and instead of solid candy they are a mixture of chocolate and carob wrapped in a candy shell.  A little like M&M candies but different, round.  They are sold by the pound in solid colors, metallics and color assortments.  I’m tellin’ you,  it’s a sprinkle lover’s dream come true!  I stacked them high to the tippy-top of this cake for ultimate sprinkle-coverage!

The inside of the cake holds a birthday-blue sprinkle swirl, just like my favorite birthday cake ice cream.

This recipe makes a lot of cake batter – about 14 cups, and you’ll need a stand mixer to make it…

…so I’m giving one away!

Rules:To enter, kindly subscribe to Sprinkle Bakes, either via email or Google friend connect (right side-bar).  If you are already a subscriber, then you’re good to go!  Just leave a comment telling me about the best birthday gift you have ever received.  It could even be a gift from yourself to yourself ( like my cotton candy machine), or it could be a gift that you really, really want and haven’t gotten yet.

US. and Canadian residents are eligible. Contest ends October 7th.  Winner will be chosen by utilizing Random.org, a random number generator.

 

Again, to clarify:

1. Subscribe

2. Leave a comment about your best birthday gift.

That’s it!



Contest is now closed, thanks for entering!

Here’s a few more details about the cake. 

If you’ve been sticking around here for a while, then you know I love a good scratch-made cake, so you may be surprised to know that this cake is not completely scratch-made.  It’s Rebecca Sutterby’s famous White Almond Sour Cream cake (WASC, as it has come to be known) – and it’s the absolute best cake for creating beautiful consistent color.  I knew my blue swirl would really stand out in this batter!  It’s also a great choice for a pristine white wedding cake sans food coloring.  It is moist, delicious and feeds a crowd!

Edit: Beautiful Sixlets cakes are showing up in my email and on my Facebook page!  Check out these gorgeous color combinations!!

Left to right: 

Orange, blue and white Sixlets cake by Amy Rasmussan Fontana.

Silver, blue and Lavender Sixlets cake by Chantell Lindner of This Lil Piece of Heaven.

Lime, blue and purple Sixlets cake by Rebecca Nebel.  Just, beautiful!!

And check out this Halloween version by Jacque Mclean of Major Cakes.

The Sprinkle Bakes Sixlets Cake

Cake portion adapted from Rebecca Sutterby’s WASC                                               [click for printable version]

Cake:

2
boxes white cake mix

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 ½ tsp salt

2 2/3 cups water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp real vanilla

2 tsp almond extract

2 cups (16 oz) sour cream

8 large egg whites 

½ tsp Wilton sky blue food
coloring

¾ cup multicolored jimmies (the kind
you find in the ice cream section of the grocery store will hold up well in the
batter)

2 lbs. Sixlets candies

Various and sundry sprinkles of
your choosing for the top of the cake

  1. Preheat
    oven to 325 degrees. 
  2. Grease
    five 7-inch cake pans and line with parchment. 
    You may also choose to use four 9” cake pans.
  3. Place all dry ingredients in a large mixing
    bowl and stir together with a wire whisk. Add the remaining ingredients and beat
    on a low speed for 2 minutes until smooth. 
  4. Remove 6 cups of batter and tint with the sky
    blue food coloring.  Add the multicolored
    jimmies to the blue batter and fold gently to combine. 
  5. Pour batter in pans, alternating blue and white
    batters.  Pull a knife or skewer through
    the batter to create a swirl.  Bake cakes
    for 40 -50 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed in the middle.

Icing:

8 egg whites

1
cup sugar

Pinch
of salt

32
tbsp. (1 lb. or 4 US sticks) unsalted butter, cubed

2
tsp. clear vanilla extract

  1. Set a saucepan filled 1/3 full of water over
    medium high heat and bring to a simmer.
  2. Whisk together egg whites, sugar and salt in a
    heat-proof bowl.  Set over simmering
    water and whisk until mixture is hot and sugar has dissolved.
  3. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted
    with the whisk attachment.
  4. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes, then
    increasing to medium-high until stiff peaks are formed.
  5. Continue beating at medium-high speed until
    mixture is fluffy and has cooled.
  6. Remove whisk attachment and replace with paddle
    attachment
  7. Decrease mixer speed and add butter, a little
    at a time, beating until well incorporated before the next addition.
  8. Add vanilla extract.
  9. Beat until icing is smooth.  Increase speed if icing is slow to firm.

Assembly

  1. Ice cakes and stack them, making
    sure the edges are as even as possible. 
    Apply an even coating of icing to the outside of the stacked cakes using
    an off-set spatula, filling any gaps and crevices.
  2. Starting at the bottom of the cake,
    gently push sixlets into the icing. Create a line of alternating colors (or use
    a solid color, your choice!)  To achieve
    the graduated swirl, use colors in the same order on the second line, but move
    the first color over one space to the right.  Continue this pattern all the way up the
    cake.  By the time you’re done,
    (about  1 hour 20 minutes) you’ll be in a
    hypnotic state from applying sixlets sprinkles. 
    This process is very meditative – enjoy the zen!
  3. Sprinkle the top of the cake with
    various and sundry.  Add a sparkler if
    you’re into pyrotechnics…which I certainly am!
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Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

Wow, stunning! That cake is just mindblowingly beautiful.

Happy blog Anniversary and to many more!

Cheers,

Rosa

Carol
Carol
12 years ago

I get to go first! I've had 51 birthdays and a good many of them I don't really remember. But I remember this year's birthday. I took myself to a small town in Mexico and drank Margaritas. I went with my 18 year old so she could try surfing. She is spending a year finding herself and so far hasn't had much luck. We both needed to go far away and forget life's serious business for a week. I always wanted a pony or a horse for my birthday so on my actual birth day, my daughter insisted we go… Read more »

Jayanthy Kumaran
Jayanthy Kumaran
12 years ago

wow…Congrats on your blog b'day..Many more happy returns..!!
Cake looks divine..awesome preparation with inviting cliks..
love to participate in the giveaway..
Am your google follower for months from now..!
My best B day gift is the DSLR camera my hubby gifted me last year..:)
have a great day..
luv
Jay
Tasty Appetite

Divya Kudua
Divya Kudua
12 years ago

Subscribed+Like'd on Fb.

last year hubby got me a copy of Dorie Greenspan's Baking from My home to yours,that was a pleasant surprise!

Carol
Carol
12 years ago

oops I am no longer first 🙁 Fast typists got there before me.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Oh wow. That cake is insane! I don't understand how people make such tall cakes so straight. It's amazing.

I'm a Google Reader subscriber. The best birthday present I ever got was for my last birthday. A pasta machine. It's fantastic. 🙂

Scrappy Jackie
Scrappy Jackie
12 years ago

Your beautiful cake looks amazing! Great job! What a great way to celebrate your blogaversary or anniversary. The best birthday present I ever got was finding out I was having twins for my 23rd! I was in shock and totally excited… Also scared! But they are now almost 15 and wonderful boys! Thanks for all of your sharing and inspiration in your blog! Jackie

Johnny
Johnny
12 years ago

I know I'm too far away to win this, but I'll comment anyway to say Happy Anniversary! As always the cake looks deliciously happy!!! xx Mon

1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Corinthians 10:31
12 years ago

My best birthday gift was actually this year. I received news that I got my dream job as a PASTRY CHEF at the high end cake shop that I wanted to work at sooooo badly. 🙂

<3
Tiffany

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
12 years ago

This may be my dream cake! Absolutely GORGEOUS and bright and lovely. Happy one year! 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Happy Anniversary!
This cake is awesome. I love the fact that you made it tall too, I love tall cakes.

I'm a follower here and on FB

Everyday mom
Everyday mom
12 years ago

Congratulations on a beautiful blog! What a great cake so fun and festive! My best birthday present was received 12 years ago when my husband proposed.

Marla
Marla
12 years ago

I've used so many of your recipes–beautiful cake! I've had too many birthdays to remember my best gift-but my most memorable was my 48th being on my honeymoon and driving the golf cart for my new hubby chasing alligators in Florida–fun!

cgalsweets
cgalsweets
12 years ago

Best gift ever year is my cake, and this will be the cake this year…..so pretty:)

Rachel
Rachel
12 years ago

Best b-day gift: A trip to London. But this mixer would make a perfect half birthday gift.

Jill P
Jill P
12 years ago

Happy happy birthday!! This blog is a huge source of inspiration for me and I a huge fan. Wishing you many more years of sweet treats 🙂

My best birthday gift was when someone ELSE made me a cake since I usually do all the baking. Love the mixer!!

Abeer e
Abeer e
12 years ago

the best gift I have gotten is a painting by my dad signed to me for my 10th birthday, it is one of the scenes he is known for painting and it is cool knowing i actually own a painting:)

The narrator
The narrator
12 years ago

When I turned 18 my mum bought me a turquoise and white vintage bicycle with a cane basket in which she packed a picnic from my favourite book (Mickey and Minnie's Picnic) and then we rode down to the beach in front of our house and ate it! (best birthday present ever!)

Kali
Kali
12 years ago

My best present was a HUGE bottle of Veuve Cliquot when I turned 21. It started my love affair with champagne!

I'm a Google Friend Connect subscriber!

Kristen
Kristen
12 years ago

The best birthday gift I ever received was an elephant painting, as in, a picture painted by an elephant at the Nashville Zoo in Nashville, TN!

CMS
CMS
12 years ago

Love the cake! The best birthday gift I've ever received was the dollhouse my father made for me when I was 8! So awesome!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

My best birthday gift was a laptop computer from my hubby so now I can go on sprinkle bakes any time I want :o)

Emily
Emily
12 years ago

I'm a google reader subscriber too. When I turned 7 my older sister gave me a Pound Puppy poodle doll for my birthday. I slept with her next to me almost every night for 22 years (until her place was usurped by my pregnancy pillow!), and still keep her next to my bed. She's needed a few repairs and restuffings over the years, but held up suprsingly well after so many years of being so well loved.

Pâtisserie Paris
Pâtisserie Paris
12 years ago

I signed up via Google Friend Connect!

My favorite birthday gift was a necklace given to me by my husband. I wear it everyday!

What a great giveaway 🙂 thanks!

Abby
Abby
12 years ago

Beautiful cake and blog! My best birthday present was my older brother surprising me with concert tickets to my absolute favorite band.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

MY DYSON!!

Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
12 years ago

The best birthday gift I ever got was having my birthday on my rehearsal dinner day…the day before I married the love of my life. I was a very happy girl. Thank you for the giveaway! And happy Blogiversary! 🙂

Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips
Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips
12 years ago

favorite birthday gift……

I'd been eyeing a pink and white gold cupcake necklace from Tiffany and Co. My bf at the time knew it, and surprised me with it. I love wearing it when I bake. One day when I have my bakery it will be my perfect "everyday accessory".

lovemyspy
lovemyspy
12 years ago

Beautiful Cake!!!

My best gift ever was a keychain of a Broadway show ticket that my parents gave me on my 16th birthday! Still use it to this day!!

Amanda
Amanda
12 years ago

What a fun cake! My favorite birthday gift is my Nespresso machine!

Shelby N.
Shelby N.
12 years ago

Happy anniversary! What an amazing cake…I love it!

Best gift? hmmm..that's tough to choose. It'd be easier to say what I always wanted and never got — When I was little I always told my parents I wanted a snow cone machine. I never got it…:( lol

Shelby(dot)Neuzil(@)gmail(dot)com

Rachel Y.
Rachel Y.
12 years ago

When I turned 15, my mom picked me up from figure skating lessons and instead of taking me home, she took me to Guitar Center to pick out my first guitar. I didn't have many friends at the time so that guitar became my best friend. When I turned 18, she did the same thing, but bought me the guitar I had been saving all my money for. I'm 22 and I still play these guitars ever day. 🙂

Mmm... is for Mommy
Mmm... is for Mommy
12 years ago

Happy Second Birthday! It was YOU who made my daughter's second birthday extra special since her Blue Velvet Cookie Monster cupcakes were based on your recipe 🙂 My favorite birthday was the first one my little girl could run to me with a huge hug and a homemade card.

Heather

mmmisformommy (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Happy Bloganniversary! That's exciting 🙂 My best birthday gift was my Nikon DSLR a couple years ago.

Renee
Renee
12 years ago

Wow that cake is beautiful!!!
My most favorite birthday gift has to be a ring I got from my husband. It's beautiful, and I had wanted it for a while! I guess he picked up on my hints because he surprised me with it on my birthday!!

Renee D

Sweet June
Sweet June
12 years ago

Congratulations for your B-Blog-Day!

My best birthday gift was from my boyfriend, he gave me a mini muffin maker because in my former flat I didn´t have an oven and I was really bored of not baking anything.

Greetings from Spain 🙂

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
12 years ago

I'm a reader subscriber. My best birthday present was when my family surprised me and came to visit.

That cake is amazing, happy blog birthday!!

Julie
Julie
12 years ago

Awesome cake!

Best birthday gift ever.. another year to celebrate with friends and family 🙂

Bunny
Bunny
12 years ago

Love, love, love the cake!!!
My favorite birthday was when I turned 60. My daughter and her hubby were coming for dinner but my son drove 21/2 hours after work to go to dinner with us and then drove back!! Really special!!

JMcKie
JMcKie
12 years ago

That cake is AMAZING!!! My best birthday gift was the HUGE party my husband threw for me. 🙂

Brandy
Brandy
12 years ago

My best birthday gift was the surprise party my friends through for me on my 23rd birthday! I had no idea and was totally shocked!

Jacquline
Jacquline
12 years ago

I am a subscriber… and the best birthday gift I have ever gotten was going skydiving on my 22nd birthday. It was truly unforgettable! Awesome giveaway!

E
E
12 years ago

First. I just gotta say that this cake reminds me of a pretty pretty princess party that my friend had in college. It is epic. Second, the best birthday gift I ever received was probably a toaster oven. I'm living in Korea and it wasn't until my birthday 2 months ago that I could bake! My world has improved tremendously!

Kim
Kim
12 years ago

The best gift I've ever had… I think it's my mini oven when I was 8. I was so trill to finally get to bake some mini cakes for my parents… I think that is was at this moment that I fell in live with baking!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Heather, what a feat! All of those candies around the sides must have taken such a long time. Happy bloganniversary to you! You were one of the first blogs I started to follow last year and what a ride it has been! Best Birthday? Probably the year we travelled to Barcelona and the dates happen to fall on my birthday.

Megan
Megan
12 years ago

My best birthday gift was a picture of a calla lily from my husband. He knows how much the flowers symbolize and mean to me!

syx
syx
12 years ago

woh, amazing cake! not sure about favorite bday present… but in HS my friends my friends elaborately decorated the gigantic cardboard box that my gift went into, and that was pretty awesome.
(i am already a subscriber)

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

My best birthday present was graduating college the day after my birthday! Four years of working hard to finally get my degree was the best present I could give myself!

Tamara
Tamara
12 years ago

beautifiul colorful cake

jennifer
jennifer
12 years ago

Yay, happy bloggiversary to you! The cake looks spectacular. I subscribe on bloglovin', hope that counts! It's difficult to choose a best birthday present, but I guess it would be a couple years ago: my lovely boyfriend gave me this bag full of chocolates and beautifully bound books and several slices of different cakes and sweet things he'd baked himself (he's a wonderful baker). It was overwhelming. No one had shown such care and generosity in giving me something before.

Thank you for the giveaway!