Birthday Cake and Royal Icing Sugar Cookies

It was my sister's birthday this weekend, I won't mention her age, but it was a big one! 

Happy Birthday Teeny!

Oh...but you might see it on some of the cookies, sorry sis!

Like I told you in the last post, she does not like chocolate, but she loves white cake. Yes, like wedding cake. So I made her a cake and brushed up on my cake stacking/icing/piping skills a bit as well. 

I used the white cake recipe from the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook I got for Christmas. I am not giving the recipe, because honestly it wasn't my favorite. It was a little dry for my taste and they actually leave out a step in the directions, luckily I have made a few cakes in my days to know better! I want to say that I have eaten there many times in the past and have loved it, just not this recipe. If anyone has a favorite white cake recipe, let me know!

I will tell you that I thought the Vanilla-Bean icing I used was awesome, you can find that over at BrownEyedBaker. I was a little worried because it is such a fluffy frosting, I added an extra 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Also, unless you have clear vanilla flavoring I would add some Americolor White coloring if you want the frosting a bright white instead of an off-white color. I didn't have any on hand, but will in the future!

I also made cookies, you know in case the cake fell apart on the drive to her house (I worry too much), and also as a little party favor for her friends! I love curly ribbon. I secretly think working in the gift wrapping department at Macy's would be awesome!!

I used the same recipe as I did when making the Halloween Cookies and learned my lesson on thinning out the flood icing too much. This time I think I got it juuuust right. Now if I could stop shaking when I need to draw a straight line and write letters, we'll be in business!

If you were curious, the cake and cookies made the drive from Houston to Dallas with no breaks, cracks, or bumps. I was thrilled!

Happy Baking!