We love the idea of surprises in cakes, especially cakes that talk back like this typography cake. With Father’s Day coming up, what better way to show your appreciation by baking DAD a treat with a message?
This cake is a major baking project. You’re going to need a good chunk of time to make it, but it looks pretty awesome and we think it’s worth the effort. You can create your own message too so it doesn’t have to be a cake just for Father’s Day. Want to know how to create your own personalized message cake? Let’s get down to business and do some serious cake talk.
First, make your message with cookie dough. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface. Using letter cookie cutters, create the message you want.
One really tricky thing about letter cookie cutters is that there are small and tough corners that the dough can get stuck in. Our tip? Use a chopstick or the flat end of a skewer to help get the cookie dough out of the letter cookie cutters.
Once you’ve baked the cookies, lay out the message that you want to share. Make sure you have enough cookies for the pan because they need to be set tightly in front of each other lengthwise in the pan.
Now it’s time to bake the message into the cake. Prep two 8×4-inch loaf pans by lining with parchment paper and greasing with shortening. One loaf pan will be for the top of your message (“DAD” in our example) and one for the bottom layer (we used a heart!).
Spread 1/2 cup cake batter in the bottom of each pan. Place the cookie letters in the middle of pan so they are standing up in the batter. Continue to place letters in bottom of pan lining them up lengthwise down the pan until you can’t fit anymore cookies in the rows; this will help hold the cookies upright.
Carefully pour one cup of the remaining cake batter on top of the cookie letters in each pan being careful to not tip them over.
Bake the cakes 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Once the cake layers are cooled and chilled, it’s time frost the cake. Before frosting, be sure to mark the serving platter to identify the front end of the cake so you know which end to cut slices from. That way, when you cut the cake the message won’t read backwards!
Here’s the frosted cake topped with shaved chocolate.
Ta-Da!
Message Cake
Ingredients
Cookies
1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
Cake
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist yellow cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
2 cups of your favorite chocolate frosting
Shaved chocolate for garnish
Directions
To make the message:
Heat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, stir together cookie mix and baking cocoa until well combined. Add in butter and egg and mix until dough forms.
Roll dough on floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 3/4- to 1-inch letter cookie cutters and place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. (Use a chopstick or the flat end of a skewer to help get the cookie dough out of the letter cookie cutters.) Cut out about 30 of each character in your message. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet. Cool completely.
To bake the message into the cake:
Meanwhile, generously grease bottom and sides of two 8×4-inch loaf pans with shortening. Place a rectangle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, grease paper with shortening.
Make cake batter as directed on package. Spread 1/2 cup batter in bottom of each pan. Place cookie letters in middle of pan standing up in the batter. Continue to place letters in bottom of pan lining them up lengthwise down the pan until you can’t fit anymore cookies in the rows; this will help hold the cookies upright. Carefully pour 1 cup of the remaining cake batter on top of the cookie letters in each pan being careful to not tip them over. Mark the pan to identify the front of the cake layer. (*Leftover cake batter can be used to make cupcakes.)
Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake loaf pans 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cakes 10 minutes in pan. Run a thin metal spatula or knife around the edges of the loaf pans. Turn out onto cooling rack, remove parchment paper and cool completely, about 1 hour.
To decorate the cake:
Place cooled cakes in the freezer for 15 minutes to set the crumbs. Place one cake layer on serving platter, mark the platter to identify the front end of the cake once frosted. Spread about 1/4 cup frosting over top of cake, place remaining cake layer on frosting. Add a crumb coat by spreading a thin layer of frosting over cake to seal in crumbs. Freeze an additional 15 minutes.
For the final layer of frosting spread remaining frosting over cake; smooth with offset spatula. Top with shaved chocolate.
To serve, cut cake into slices starting at front end as identified by mark on platter to reveal the message.
Prep Time: All Day | Servings: 12
*Leftover cake batter can be baked into a few cupcakes. Follow package directions to fill paper liners about 2/3 full and bake. Frost with additional frosting and top with shaved chocolate.
