Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sweet Summer Sandcastles



For Sunday dinner with the family, I thought I'd make Cream Cheese Poundcake into something fun for the little ones.  Surprise - the big ones liked it in sandcastle form too.  My neighbor Barb gave this to me recipe to me when I lived in Wisconsin.  I received the castle pan as a present one year for
Mother's Day, I thought it was Nordic Ware but it isn't marked.  I received another castle pan from my daughter in law that is Nordic Ware, so I don't know who makes this one. The pretty pitcher and mini cake stand were finds from TJ Maxx this year.  Yes, I am a Maxxinista! 

 

The sand for the sandcastle is raw sugar.  I glazed the cake with a simple glaze and sprinkled
raw sugar on it.  My grown kids were slicing those crusty, sweet, glazed parts off.
This is one of those dangerous cakes to make, because you just can't get enough.


I have one lonely peony bush that doesn't get enough sun, but this year it was beautiful.


I had to make some chocolate seashells to go along with the centerpiece theme.
The grandkids grabbed those first - without even asking!




Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 1/2 C. butter, softened
 1 - 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
3 c. sugar
1 T. vanilla
1 tsp. almond
6 eggs
2 3/4 C. all-purpose flour

Preheat your oven to 325.  Using Pam made for baking (with flour in it) or any other baking spray oil with flour, generously spray your castle pan (or any other desired pan, i.e. a 10 C. bundt pan).  I have had no problems getting these complicated cakes from NordicWare out of the pan when I have used the spray with flour. 

Cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light.  Stir in the vanilla and the almond flavorings.  Add the flour and the eggs alternately in about thirds, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the bowl after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pans, filling about 2/3 to 3/4 full.  The castle pan did not use all of the batter, so I baked the extra in a small loaf pan. (That made it so we could snack without ruining the cake!)

Bake for 1 hour, or until toothpick comes out clean.  If you use a full 10 C. bundt pan you will bake it for 1hour and 15 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan.  I usually make sure no edges are sticking by sliding a knife around the top edge.

Glaze:
1 C. powdered sugar
3-4 T. water
1 T. melted butter
Mix the above together until a thin glaze forms.

Paint the cooled castle with glaze using a pastry brush.  I love my silicone one.  It never stays greasy after washing.  Quickly sprinkle the raw sugar on the castle while still wet.  It dries fairly quickly.  If it has dried, paint some more on and try again.


Sprinkle lots of raw sugar on serving plate around the bottom to make it look like sand.  Garnish with real or chocolate shells and little flags made from toothpicks and paper or foil.

We served this sliced with sweetened fresh strawberries and Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream.  Click here to find the recipe for the ice cream.

I am posting this with Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesdays.


Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

14 comments:

  1. I can't wait to try the cake with that ice cream. Sounds (and looks) heavenly. I'm loving your blog!

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  2. Jacqueline: Your cake looks sooo good. I love the chocolate sea stars too...what a great presentation! Yes, we did like the flan...flans are eggy but good. Joni

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  3. You are way to much fun!! I want to live in your world:)

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  4. What a fun idea. I have a castle pan I got at a yard sale (Nordic ware) and I love it but a sand castle...perfect!

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  5. its all so beautiful, like going back to the beach~

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  6. Thank you for your very kind words on my blog. You made my day! :D
    Your pics make me hungry! Love the beach-theme.

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  7. Everything looks like fun, I'm sure everyone enjoyed it!

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  8. WOW! What an amazing cake and beautiful chocolates! Did you make those too? What a fun idea to make a sandcastle cake!! I am dying to try it. Thanks for linking up. I am still thinking about your cabo pics!! The hubby and I have been talking about going back in the fall. :)
    Karin

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  9. Oh, what a delightful cake! I love this idea, and I also love your chocolate starfish! Amazing!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  10. I love the sandcastle! It is so creative and unique, and I'm sure the little ones did love it!

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  11. That is soo, so cute!!! Love it:) The flowers are gorgeous too-every year I say I'm going to get a peony bush...

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  12. Yes, I made the chocolate shells. Some were white and some had a little white drizzled across them before the milk chocolate was put in. We used to have a wonderful cake decorating shop here in town, but alas, one of their employees stole from them and they had to go out of business. I bought the molds there. You can probably find them online.

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  13. Hi Jacqueline ...I just found your blog and "I love it" ...I will be back tonight with a lil' glass of wine so I can read every single thing .. I had such a big smile on my face while I was looking at your posts .."until" ..I got to the picture of your beautiufl peonies ... My husband just chopped mine down to the ground yesterday... He of couse was trying to help ..but he does not know a flower from a weed if there is no bloom on it ...I actually cried a little. ..I'm sure you understand how sad I was .. I've only had one flower on it last year before he chopped it down last year...lol ..I guess it's funny now.
    Anyway, I love everything you do ..I'll be back.
    Hugz ..Betty

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  14. I just love visiting you Jacqueline as your ideas and recipes are so original and fun. This is brilliant!

    Bets wishes,
    Natasha.

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