There isn't any pink frolic behind this cake and teddy bear and the pink frosting because neither is Aby fond of cakes nor is pink her favourite colour. I've seen her opting for blue oftener! But it was her birthday and we had to remind her that pink is the girl colour ;p and had to bake a cake. I thought of pottering with my grossly handicapped frosting skills. The taste that lingers in my mouth is the rose flavored butter frosting couched in the custard cake; though I remember getting good reviews for the cake alone too.
Custard Cake
All purpose flour/maida-2 cups
Powdered sugar-1 1/4-1 1/2 cups
Milk-1 1/4 cup
Vanilla custard powder-1 tbsp heaped
Eggs-4
Baking powder-1 tsp
Butter-250 gm
Granulated sugar-1 1/2 tbsp
Vanilla essence-1 tsp
Dissolve custard powder in 1/4 cup milk. In a thick bottomed pan boil the custard mix in the rest of the milk adding 1 1/2 tbsp sugar. Once it boils turn it off and set aside to cool. Sieve the flour and baking powder together twice. Keep aside. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat. Add vanilla essence. Pour the cooled custard mix into this. Stir well and add the flour in small portions stirring in between. Stir for a consistent mixture. Pour in the cake tin and bake at 180 C for 45-50 min. (Adapted from Lakshmi Nair's collection of recipes.)
Frosting was done with a cup icing/powdered sugar and half a cup butter. Cream the butter until soft. Gradually beat in the sugar adding some hot water and drops of rose essence (this flavour makes it a superb combo) till you get a smooth spreading consistency.
The only snicker I had for this cake was the measly 1 tbsp custard powder to be used. Something like half a cup would have exhausted my long-stocked custard powder!
And folks Aby turns five coming April. So yes you guessed it right! This was prepared last year....Time flies!!! ;p
