Boysenberry Carnation Cake
Makes a 10cm diameter cake. Double quantities if you're making a larger cake.
- 85g/3ozs. butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 50g/1.7oz. white chocolate buttons
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups plain all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Boysenberry or blackberry flavouring
- Purple food colouring
For icing
- 125g/4ozs. butter, softened
- 3-4 cups icing sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Vanilla extract
For flowers
- 100g white gum paste or fondant (gum paste dried quicker)
- Dark purple food colouring
- Small brush
- Set of round cutters
- Foam rolling mat
- Balling tool
- Water pen
Step 1 - Make the flower first as it will need time to dry. Preheat oven to 150C/300F. Line a 10cm/4inch tin on the base and sides with parchment making sure to extend the sides up an inch above the rim as the cake rises while baking and then settles.
Step 2 - Place a small saucepan on low to medium heat and place butter, sugar, water and chocolate and melt the chocolate and butter. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Beat in the egg and then add the flour and baking powder gradually until you get a smooth mix. Whisk in the flavouring and colouring and pour into the prepared tin. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes until the centre is done. Cool completely in the tin.
Step 3 - To make the buttercream, beat the butter, sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add some milk if necessary.
To make the flower
Step 3 - Dust a tray with smooth depressions (as shown) with some cornflour. Roll the gum paste until fairly thin, petals are usually quite thin. Cut out three petals in the three smallest circle cutters.
Step 4 - Place each circle onto the foam mat and gently pull the small end of the balling tool towards the outside to thin the edges. Place into the prepared tray to dry. Repeat with all of the circles of gum paste.
Step 5 - Dip the small brush into the purple food colouring and brush lightly - I find this best to practice this on some spare rolled fondant to see how much colouring you need on the brush. Repeat with all of the petals and allow to dry enough so that they keep their curved shape.
Step 6 - Start with the smallest petals and attach each petal together to form a flower using the water pen to adhere the gum paste until you form a flower. Set it on top of the cake.