wendells birthday cake (a) aka easy coffee cake

So, it was my dads birthday this week (which was the reason I came back from europe early)

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY PAPPY!!!!

On wednesday, I realised that we were going out for dinner, and although mum had made a cake for dad to take to work (under the Rio Tinto cake act) she actually hadnt made one for his birthday. So, I resolved to bake a cake that afternoon. At first, I thought it would be easy...we had plenty of beer, pistachios and lemons. But soon I realised we didnt have much else, so I had to ride to the shops and get essentials like baking powder and flour. Turned out I managed to whip up this awesomely super easy moist cake, and although I made a coffee one, you could easily expand on ideas and make it with coco, lemons, or mint...any flavour really. In fact, thinking about it, it was really a recipe for a giant sized cupcake. HAHAHAHA :) so, please ensure you have the essentials in your cupboard, and try...

Wendells Birthday Cake


Ingredients:
170g butter (its supposed to be half butter and half margarine but i dont like using marg to cook)
3/4 c loosely packed brown sugar
1 1/4 c SR flour
1/2 tspn baking powder
3 eggs
3 tbspn coffee (stronger the better for more flavour)

Icing
3/4 c icing sugar
40g softened butter
1 tbspn coffee
1 tbspn milk

Preheat oven to 180 celcius and prepare a round baking tin.
Whip butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, baking powder, eggs and coffee and mix well.


Pour mixture into prepared tin and bake for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the icing by combining all ingredients and mixing until light and fluffy.

Once cake is cooked, remove and leave it to cool. Once cool, spread the icing over the top. Decorate with almonds or walnuts.



Tips
Add the juice of half a lemon, or 2 tbspns of cocoa instead of coffee to make a different flavoured cake.
Use vanilla essence, mint essence or lemon juice in the icing to make all sorts of yummy flavours
If you're feeling really adventurous, slice the cake in half once cooled, and fill with cream or extra icing.

p. my dads name isnt actually wendell, thats just what we call him. love you dad xox