Mary Poppins Chocolate Zodiac Cake

Directions

1Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease the cake pan with butter and flour it. Shake out the excess flour. You can also use non-stick cooking spray if you’d prefer.


2Melt the chocolate in a small bowl standing in hot water. This can also be done in the microwave by heating the chocolate in 15-second intervals, stirring in between.


3Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.


4In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar till well combined.

5Add the egg yolk and beat harder.


6Add the melted chocolate and ground nuts and mix until just combined.


7Stir the vanilla into the milk.

8Add some of the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture.

9Pour in some of the milk mixture, a little more flour and then some more milk, till both have been used up. Beat very thoroughly.


10Beat very thoroughly.

11In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg white till stiff.

12Fold gently into the batter.


13Pour batter into prepared pan.

14Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not over-bake or it will become dry.

Chocolate Frosting

1In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, set aside. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth, then beat in the cream cheese. Blend in vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with milk, starting with 3½ tablespoons of milk. Beat until light, fluffy and spreadable. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar (I usually use about 4 tablespoons milk).

2Once your cake has had time to cool, you can frost it. Start by placing the frosting onto the center of the cake and spreading evenly outward using a spatula or butter knife.

3Once your cake has been frosted, it's time to decorate! Mary Poppins decorates this cake with silver stars. I did this by using a star cookie cutter and some silver sprinkles. Set the cookie cutter onto the frosting, wherever you'd like. Then fill in by spooning in the sprinkles with a small measuring spoon. Gently lift the cookie cutter away and you'll be left with a perfect silver star shape. Decorate your cake with as many stars as you'd like.


4Serve with tea or coffee. Due to the milk and cream cheese in the frosting, if you do not plan to eat your cake within 3 hours, refrigerate to prevent spoilage.