Baseball Cake

Hit one out of the park with this unique cake. Surprise Dad on his birthday or Father's Day or wow little sports fans at your child's baseball-themed birthday party.

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Ingredients

• 4 1/4 cups sifted flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 sticks unsalted butter
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 eggs
• 4 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups milk (plus 6-8 tbsp. for frosting)
• 3 sticks butter
• 6 cups confectioners' sugar (sifted)
• 1 tube red decorating icing
• 1 package plastic icing tips for decorating

Supplies

• 10x2-in. cake pan

Directions

1. Step 1

   First, let's make the simple yellow-cake recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 10- by 2-inch baking pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and set aside.

2. Step 2

   Beat together the unsalted butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Then add 2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Add half the flour mixture and mix at low speed until just blended. Next, add 1 1/2 cups of milk, mixing until well combined.

3. Step 3

   Divide the batter into the prepared pans, making sure the surface is smooth.

4. Step 4

   Bake about 35 to 40 minutes in the middle of the oven until the cake is springy to the touch and a tester (a toothpick or a fork) comes out clean. Let cake cool.

5. Step 5

   Now let's make the frosting. Beat the 3 sticks of regular butter with an electric or handheld mixer until soft. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and the 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Then gradually add the confectioners' sugar one cup at a time.

6. Step 6

   Add the 6 to 8 tablespoons of milk and beat until light and fluffy. If the frosting seems too thick, add more milk until it becomes spreadable.

7. Step 7

   Now let's decorate the cake. Place one of the cake layers upside down on a cake plate and spread a generous layer of frosting on it.

8. Step 8

   Place the second layer of the cake right-side up on top of the frosted layer. Then frost the top and the sides of the cake with a straight-edge spatula, for a smooth finish.

9. Step 9

   Using the red decorating icing and a straight-writing icing tip, draw a red semicircle at the top and bottom of the cake. Be sure to apply steady pressure with your hand while decorating.

10. Step 10

    To make the stitches on the baseball, draw little arrowhead shapes all across the semicircle.

11. Step 11

    For a nice clean finish, attach the star tip to the red icing tube and make a shell border around the base of the cake. Hold the tube at a 45-degree angle. Squeeze hard, letting the icing fan out a bit. Gradually relax the pressure and pull the tip away, making a small tail. Repeat all around the base of the cake.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 810
• Total Fat: 37g
• Saturated Fat: 23g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 173mg
• Sodium: 451mg
• Total Carbs: 114g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 87g
• Protein: 7g