Basketball Cake

If it's a birthday or a playoffs party, this cake always gets a high score. Use a yellow cake recipe and watch your little dribblers go to town with the orange frosting.

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Ingredients

• 4 1/4 cups sifted flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 eggs
• 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups milk

Supplies

• Two 10x2-in. baking pans

Directions

1. Step 1

   First, let's make the simple yellow-cake recipe. Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Kids can help butter two 10- by 2-inch baking pans. Flour the pans and tap the pans over the sink to remove the excess. Have kids help measure out the flour, baking powder and salt. Place the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, mix together with a fork or wooden spoon and set aside.

2. Step 2

   Kids can help cut up the butter by placing it on a cutting board and using a plastic knife. Combine the butter with the sugar in a large bowl. Beat together with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Let kids crack the eggs into a small bowl and then add them to the butter mixture, one at a time, beating well after each. Let kids add the vanilla extract and mix in. They can also carefully add half the flour mixture at a time and mix until just blended. Next, they can measure out the milk and also mix that in until well combined. They'll probably need your help to make it all come together.

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, until the cake is springy to the touch. Let cake cool.

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