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We can Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake is a precious baby shower theme that is a cuddly way to celebrate the arrival of a baby girl or baby boy.
This cute and playful design theme has become a popular trend in recent years as the color scheme mixes in a lot of neutrals earth-tone colors such as brown, beige, white, and cream allowing for natural and relaxed patterns that are perfect for any baby shower.
The cake is sure to put a smile on the face of any expectant mother and her guests.
We had the opportunity to celebrate the arrival of a new blessing coming to our extended family in May. As no special day is ever complete without desserts.
Setting up the cake table was a ton of fun as I had an amazing time planning the look for the cake. The mom-to-be wanted something that was classic and a bit whimsical to add to the beautiful nature of the theme.
Since this was for her third child, she wanted to ensure that we included three teddy bears on the cake to represent each child.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to create the perfect cake recipe, and keep in mind the tips, tricks, and common mistakes to avoid for the best results.
What is a double barrel cake?
A double barrel is usually cakes that are stacked one on top of the other. You can think of it as a two-tier cake that is the same size. Usually, they are made with four or more layers with each layer being 2 to 3 inches tall.
For this cake, we used a 4-8 inch layered cake that was 2 inches tall. In total, with frosting, the cake was 10 inches tall.
Confetti Cake (2 x)
Ingredients
- 5 cup flour
- 4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp of cornstarch
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2sticks)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
- 1-1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 -1/2 cup of sprinkles
Confetti Buttercream (2x)
- 14 tick (7 cups) salted butter, room temperature unsalted butter
- 64oz 8 cups of powdered sugar (2lb bag)
- 16oz 2 cups pasteurized egg whites, room temperature
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 6 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup of sprinkles
Chocolate Ganache
- 10 oz of heavy whipping cream
- 24 oz of chocolate chips (12 oz semi-sweet and 12 oz milk chocolate)
Decorating Ingredients
Instructions
Confetti Cake (2 x)
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line round pans. Mix together all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch, sugar, and salt) in a stand mixer with a paddle until fully combined. Melt butter and slowly add into the dry mix, on low speed. Continue to mix until no butter remains, and the mixture becomes crumbly. Pour in eggs, one at a time and mix on low until incorporated. 3. Mix in oil and buttermilk in two installments, on low speed. Add in vanilla and mix at low speed until everything is fully incorporated. 4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then beat on medium high for an additional 20-30 seconds. 5. Add sprinkles to your batter and incorporate into batter evenly. 6. Evenly divide that batter between the four round cake pans. If you only have two cake pans pour cake mixture into coated cakes pans and bake your cakes in batches. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. 7. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then run an offset spatula around the perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan. Place cake layers on wire rack to finish cooling. Tip: For a moist and tender cake, avoid overmixing the batter and don't overbake the layers.
Confetti Buttercream (2x)
- 1. While your cakes are cooling, you can work on preparing the frosting. You can also prepare your frosting overnight. 2. Using your whisk attachment, add room temperature eggs and powder sugar into your standing mixer bowl on high for 7-15 minutes, until smooth creating a meringue. You may need to do this in two patches as you are making a large amount of frosting for this cake. 3. While the meringue is mixing add in your vanilla extract. 4. Slowly add in your butter and whip well until it is fully incorporated and fluffy for 10 minutes. 5. Once fully mixed, switch to your paddle and mix on low for about 15 minutes, add your heavy cream at this time. Mix until buttercream is velvety and smooth. 6. Add Sprinkles to your buttercream and incorporate into buttercream evenly. Set it aside to be used for filling your cake.
Chocolate Ganache
- 1. Place chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl. Pour heavy whipping cream evenly over the chocolate. Microwave the chocolate and cream for 1-minute intervals for 3-4 minutes. Using a spoon or silicone spatula stir the ingredients between each interval until it’s well combined. 2. After about one minute in the microwave, you will notice as you are mixing the chocolate and cream the cream will become darker and may not be as melted, you want to keep stirring to get rid of any hot spots. 3. You are going to stick the bowl back in the microwave for another minute, this time you will notice when you take it out. The cream is browner and more of the chocolate has melted, continue to stir the mixture. It takes a little more mixing this time around to make the mixture more combined. It should be a thicker paste and start to look a little smoother. 4. Stick it back into the microwave for another minute, at the end of this minute it should look a little more combined and glosser with some lumps. Continue to mix the chocolate with your spatula so it’s more combined and melted. 5. You will go to 1-2 shorter burst in the microwave for about 30 minutes each burst. During this time stir with a whisk after each interval. 6. Continue the process until chocolate is melted. If chocolate is mostly melted but not quite completely there, continue to microwave in shorter bursts, stirring between bursts. Continue to heat and stir until chocolate pieces and cream are thoroughly mixed. Mix until ganache is smooth and glossy. 7. The ganache will need to be set up before you can use it. Cover with plastic wrap (sprayed with vegetable oil spray). Let ganache cool to the desired consistency before covering the cake. You can also place the ganache in the fridge for 60-120 minutes to make the process go faster.
Decorating Ingredients
- 1. Level and stack the layers: Use a serrated knife or a cake leveler to trim the tops of the cooled cake layers, creating a flat surface. Place your 12 inch cake drum on top of your turntable and add your 8 inch cake board on top of the cake drum. Use some of your buttercream to secure the cake board to the cake drum. 2. Before adding the first layer of cake to the 8 inch cake board spread a small amount of buttercream frosting to the middle of the cake board and add your first layer of cake. This will help you attach the bottom cake to the board, so it doesn’t move around. 3. Using your piping bag add confetti buttercream to your piping bag. You are going to first add a buttercream border around the top edge of the first layer and add buttercream to the middle. Spread evenly over the first layer of cake. 4. Repeat this process until you have stacked 3 cake layers on top of each other, for the last layer you are going to put the serrated cake layer facing down and start smoothing out the sides to get rid of any access frosting. At the end you will have all four layers of cake on top of each other. Remove any excess filling and chill the cake before adding your ganache crumb coat. Place in the fridge for 60 minutes until firm. Common mistake: Avoid using too much frosting between the layers, as it can cause the cake to become unstable. Tips: At this time, you can also insert dowels into the entire cake to keep it secure. To ensure the cake didn’t fall apart during transport, add a chocolate ganache to the cake before adding the final frosting coating. 5. Apply the ganache crumb coat: Spread a layer of the ganache over the cake to seal in any crumbs. This is called a crumb coat. Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting. Tip: Use an offset spatula or a bench scraper to create a smooth, even layer of frosting. 6. Apply the final coat of frosting: Once the crumb coat is set, apply a generous layer of buttercream frosting all over the cake, smoothing it out with your spatula or bench scraper. 7. Please put the cake in fridge for 30-60 minutes to settle before decorating. 8. In a small bowl add gold luster dust and vodka mix together to create a thin -paste. 9. Place un-used toothbrush into gold thin paste mixture once on toothbrush, using your finger you are going to flick the bristle containing the gold paste on to the cake, covering all sides like a splatter. 10. Using the remaining gold paste to create a boarder on the top and bottom of the cake. 11. Decorate the cake: Arrange the plastic bears and balls around the sides and top of the cake gently pressing them into the frosting. Use the reserved buttercream frosting to secure the bears to the top of the cake. 12. Add the finishing touches: If desired, add a message using a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, or a cake topper. Common mistake: Be careful not to press too hard on the decorations, as this can cause them to crack or shift the cake. 13. Refrigerate the cake: Chill the cake for at least an hour to set the decorations before serving. Let the cake sit at room temperature before cutting and serving for the best texture and flavor.
Supplies and Tools for Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake
To create the Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake, you will need several tools and equipment to ensure a beautiful and professional-looking result.
Baking Supplies:
- 4 8-inch round cake layers (confetti)
- Tall Cake Box with Window (Transportation)
- 4 cups buttercream frosting
- 2 1/2 cups of sprinkles
- Four 8-inch round cake pans
- Parchment paper 8-inch round
- Wire rack for cooling
- 2- 12 inch Cake drum
- 2- 8 inch Cake Board
- Serrated knife or cake leveler
- Offset spatula
- Bench scraper
- Piping bags
- Cake turntable
Equipment for Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake:
- Three Teddy Bear Cake Toppers from Amazon
- 1tsp- Gold edible luster dust
- 1/2 tsp Vodka
- Small bowl
- Un-used toothbrush
- Paint brush
- Colorful Balls Cake Décor toppers from Amazon
- Brown Color balls- 4 large and 3 small 6
- Gold Color balls 4 medium
- Khaki Color balls 3 large and 3 small balls
- Pink Color balls 8 medium 3 small
- White Color balls 7 small
Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake Decoration Option
There are numerous decoration options for the Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake, allowing you to customize it according to the theme of the baby shower.
Here are some ideas to make the cake fit the theme and create a memorable centerpiece:
- Color scheme: Adapt the colors of the fondant decorations and buttercream frosting to match the baby shower’s color scheme. For example, if the theme is blue or pink for a baby boy or girl, use shades of blue or pink for the bear decorations, piped details, and additional fondant accents.
- Gender reveal: Incorporate a gender reveal surprise by using colored buttercream or cake layers (pink or blue) inside the cake. As the cake is cut, the gender of the baby will be revealed to the guests.
- Woodland theme: To create a woodland-themed cake, add fondant decorations like trees, leaves, mushrooms, and other forest animals (e.g., foxes, rabbits, or owls) alongside the bear decorations. You can also use a grass piping tip to create a grassy texture on the bottom border of the cake.
- Personalization: Add the baby’s name or initials using letter-shaped fondant cutters, or pipe the name with buttercream frosting on the cake’s top or side. Alternatively, create a banner with the baby’s name using fondant or paper and attach it to the top of the cake using skewers or toothpicks.
- Baby clothes: Create fondant baby clothes, such as onesies, bibs, or hats, and decorate them with the bear motif or other cute patterns. Arrange these fondant decorations around the sides of the cake or on the top.
- Honeycomb pattern: Use a honeycomb stencil or fondant impression mat to create a textured honeycomb pattern on the cake’s sides. This design complements the bear theme, as bears are often associated with honey.
- 3D bear topper: Create a 3D bear figure using fondant or modeling chocolate and place it on top of the cake as a centerpiece. You can have the bear holding a balloon, a baby bottle, or a small sign with a message like “Welcome Baby” or “Bearly Wait.”
- Edible images: Print edible images of cute bear illustrations, patterns, or the baby shower invitation design, and apply them to the cake’s sides or top.
- Balloons and confetti: Incorporate fondant balloons or confetti decorations around the cake or on the top to add a festive touch to the baby shower theme.
- Quilted texture: Create a quilted pattern on the cake’s sides using a quilting tool or by pressing a ruler gently into the buttercream. This cozy design fits well with the bear theme and adds a touch of elegance to the cake.
Related Reading: How to Make a Gender Reveal Cake using M&M’s
Conclusion
Overall, the Bearly Wait Baby Shower Cake is a delightful and adorable centerpiece for any baby shower celebration.
By following the step-by-step instructions, incorporating various decoration options, and being mindful of the tips and common mistakes, you can create a beautiful and delicious cake that perfectly fits the theme of the baby shower.
We encourage you to try this recipe for yourself and explore your creativity with the various decoration ideas provided.
We’d love to hear your own baby shower cake stories and any tips you’ve discovered along the way.
Share your experiences, creations, and decorating ideas with us and inspire others to make their baby shower celebrations even more memorable.
Happy baking and decorating!!
I am truly driven by what I create and bring the knowledge of what I have learned throughout the years to help other bakers turn a hobby into a new venture. I hope you find this blog warm and inviting as my goal is to fill it with delicious treats and awesome recipes.
