Bridal Shower Cakes

Bridal showers have remained popular for generations. Although, the basic rituals of a bridal shower party have not changed, there is the possibility of having many variations and options in a bridal shower. A bridal shower basically, is a gift giving party for the bride. This is time one requires constant planning as throwing a bridal shower can be exciting as well as tiring for some. Basically, for any bridal shower, the friends and the relatives gather together to bless the bride. Apart from blessings, the well-wishers also shower gifts that range from household necessities to clothing. With the changing times, the gifts ideas are now getting far more lavish and even creative as compared to the traditional gift items.

Bridal showers need to have specific themes that could range from simple to creative. This largely depends on the budget and the space that is available. The highlight of any bridal shower is the bridal shower cake. Bridal shower cakes are themselves themed or decorative and there are many options available in the market. From romantic to wacky, bridal shower cakes can be bought off the shelf or you can prepare it with your own hands. There is nothing like a cake baked by ones own friends or family members. Heart shaped bridal shower cakes are one of the most popular kinds. Let us take a look at some bridal shower cake recipes.

Bridal Shower Cakes:

Heart Shaped Vanilla Cake:
What you will need:

• All-purpose flour (1 1/4 cups)
• Vanilla (1 1/2 teaspoons)
• Vegetable oil (1/3 cup)
• Baking powder (1 1/2 teaspoons)
• Granulated sugar (1 cup)
• Milk (3/4 cup)
• Egg (1)
• Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
• Strawberry Icing
• Tube icing –any color
• Heart Cookie Cutter- look in any craft stores (1)
• Spatula /flat knife

Preparation:
You need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then, take a baking pan and combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. You need to whisk the eggs and vanilla in a small bowl.

Then you have to make two hollow spaces in the flour mixture. Pour oil in one and the egg and vanilla mixture in the other. Add some milk to this. Stir the entire combination and mix it well. Now, stir in the pecans as well. Bake this at 350 degrees for around 40 minutes.

Once the cake has cooled down, you need to place it on a large cutting board. Spread the icing on the bridal shower cake with the help of a spatula. Once you are done with the first layer of the icing the crumbs of the cake will mix with it. Do not worry about this; this is the crumb layer of the cake. Once this crumb-layer is formed, chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. Once chilled, place the second coat of icing on the cake and keep it back in the freezer for another 20 minutes. This is done so that you can have clean edges for the bridal shower cake; which will be convenient while cutting it into a heart shape. Avoid over-freezing the cake as it will be difficult to use the cutter in such cases. Place the cake on a serving platter before you start giving it the heart shape using the heart cookie cutter.

Once you are through with the heart shape, you need to add the final icing layer to the cake. Use the spatula and this time, place a thick coating of icing on the cake. The icing will be easy to smoothen because of the crumb layer, which is already there on the cake. Now you can use the icing tube to add some decorative flowers and patterns onto this cake. Ensure you use colors that go well with the cake. You can even personalize it with a message of your choice. This personalized bridal shower cake is bound to delight your friend.

White Bridal Shower Cake:
A white cake is a favorite at most bridal showers and here is one such recipe you can try at home.

Ingredients:

• Butter (3/4 cup)
• White sugar (2 cups)
• Sifted cake flour (3 cups)
• Baking powder (3 teaspoons)
• Milk (1 cup)
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
• Egg whites (5)
• Salt (1/2 teaspoon)

Preparation:
First, you will need to grease two 8 inch round cake pans. You also need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Then, you have to mix the butter and the sugar. Blend it till it fluffs up. Now, you need to sift the cake flour with some baking powder. Add some salt to this as well. Add this to the butter and sugar mixture and stir in the vanilla. Use a large mixing bowl to beat the egg whites and add 1/3 of this mixture to the batter. You need to divide the batter into 2 cake pans. Bake this mixture for 25 minutes. Now, use white butter icing to decorate this cake.

Bridal showers are one of the most important rituals of wedding festivities. Adding a personal touch to this in any form would always be cherished forever.