Vanilla Backyard Bugs And/Or Sweet Rides Cakelets

Ingredients

VANILLA CAKE

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (360g)
• 1 3/4 cups sugar (440g)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks/250g)
• 1 cup sour cream (250g)
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

OPTIONAL GLAZE

• 1/4 cup water (60ml)
• 1/4 cup sugar (60ml)
• 1 tablespoon sugar (ADDITIONAL)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DECORATIONS

• colored crystal sugar (or non-perils)

Directions

1. 1

   Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position rack in the lower third of oven and preheat to 350F for Sweet Rides car cakelet pan, or preheat to 375F for Backyard Bugs cakelet pan. Brush pan with unsalted vegetable shortening and lightly flour; tap out excess flour ~ or brush with vegetable shortening AND then spray with baking spray that contains flour!

2. 2

   Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of electric mixer.

3. 3

   In a separate bowl whisk together the melted butter, sour cream, eggs and vanilla until combined.

4. 4

   Pour butter mixture into flour mixture and beat with electric mixer on the loweest speed until the dry ingredients are moistened (15-20 seconds). Scrap down the sides of the bowl, increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds.

5. 5

   Spoon HALF THE BATTER into the prepared pans, dividing evenly and filling each well to within 1/2 inch of the rim ~ DO NOT OVERFILL! Tap the pan firmly on the counter top to release any air bubbles.

6. 6

   To ensure good detail on the cakes, spread the batter so it is slightly lower in the center of the wells.

7. 7

   For the Backyard Bugs cakelet pan, bake in a preheated oven at 375F for about 18 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes then invert pan onto rack and cool at least an hour before decorating. REPEAT with remaining batter if you only have the Backyard Bugs pan ~ one recipe makes 16 cakelets!

8. 8

   For the Sweet Rides cakelet pan, bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes then invert pan onto rack and cool at least an hour before decorating. REPEAT with remaining batter if you only have the Sweet Rides pan ~ one recipe makes 16 cakelets!

9. 9

   OPTIONAL GLAZE: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar and heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Using a pastry brush, brush cooled cakes with the glaze ~

10. 10

    DECORATIONS: Be creative and use piped frosting on cakelet edge details, dust with powdered sugar, or sprinkle cakes with colored sugar and/or non-perils while glaze is wet.