My 31st birthday, a cake, and two frosting recipes

July 16, 2012 was my 31st birthday. Time marches on. So I might as well make my cake and eat it too!

I wanted to do something sourdough because, well... I love my sourdough.

I settled on this recipe from the GNOWFGLINS blog for Sourdough Spice Cake. I mostly followed the instructions. Can't help myself... must. alter. directions.

Instead of 1 cup of Rapadura/Sucanat (a "healthier" granulated sugar), I used about 2/3 - 3/4 cup of honey.

I love making layer cakes, so that's how I wanted to make this one. I have two 9-inch round cake pans, instead of the suggested 8-inch rounds for making a layered cake. It didn't make that much of a difference, thankfully.

I didn't make the suggested frosting, since I didn't have any coconut butter. Instead, I used a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, "Healthy Choices" put out by Keepers at Home. It was a nice frosting that presented well, but only for short term. It didn't have any real staying power.

Honey Frosting

• 1/3 c. honey
• 2-4 egg whites
• dash of cream of tartar
• 1 tsp. flavoring (vanilla, almond, anise or lemon)
• salt to taste

1. Beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form.
2. Gradually add honey and flavoring.
3. Use to frost 9x13 cake or 2 layer cake.

A frosting that I would use if I made this cake again, is a cream cheese frosting from the same cookbook. I didn't take the initiative and drain the whey off of some yogurt, so I didn't have any cream cheese on hand. You could also use cream cheese from the store.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• cinnamon
• honey

1. Soften cream cheese.
2. Beat with potato masher until smooth.
3. Add enough honey to make creamy and add cinnamon to taste. Use food processor if you have one.
4. Spread on cooled cake.

It was a tasty cake, one that I will probably make in the future. I'd maybe try making it in a bundt pan next time, just to make it a little fancier than in a 9x13.

Here I am with Andrew and Judah. Enoch was too tired to make it for the picture.

Boys are excited at prospect of eating birthday cake.