Cake Virgin, help

[babySophieRose]

I would like to make a cake for my DD birthday, but as i never attempted to do one, i don't want to spoil it. Do you think it is achievable for a novice like me. Can you also help me with the measurements, as some of the ingredients are in cups, what cup exactly i should use? The frosting is made with mascarpone and two cups of "heavy cream", is this a double cream or something else? Thanks
www.finecooking.com/recipes/classic-vanilla-layer-cake-vanilla-mascarpone-frosting-rasberries.aspx

Link
www.finecooking.com/recipes/classic-vanilla-layer-cake-vanilla-mascarpone-frosting-rasberries.aspx

If you are new to baking, I would honestly try and find a UK recipe for a cake. One that has been tried and tested and has some good reviews. Baking is a very technical craft and I struggle to get my head around the conversions - I find it more reliable to trust someone to test all the quantities for me.

The BBC website is very good for cakes like this so might be worth having a search.

I agree with mrs - use a UK recipe if you're a beginner. Mary Berry's recipes are reliable - could you get one of her books from the library?
If you really want to use an American recipe you'll need proper measuring cups (240ml I think?) not any old cup.

Thank you all for the advice. I just found that i have a measure cup ( bought for a different purpose). I will try to make the cake as i like it. It has to be made one day in advance, so i will still have time to buy something if i fail.

Just keep all the ingredients and equipment ready.
Then start.
Here some children make a vanilla cake. so simple!

but their cake has egg yolks. At the end when baked they decorate it with blue and purple colours.

It's definitly not the best recipe for a cake novice to attempt. If it's your first cake, why don't you go for a more simpler, all-in-one basic recipe and add the vanilla seeds to it. You could use the same frosting recipe because that looks simple enough.

I'm an experienced baker but I still wouldn't try this recipe for an occasion if I hadn't tried it before. Besides, I hate American conversion recipes. I find them to be so imprecise and hit and miss.

I'd try a Victoria sponge (decorated with pink or blue buttercream and filled same way with jam etc) and you can also add currants.

OR chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream

very simple if you're a total novice.

stick a musical candle and ribbon etc on it and you're done. you could buy a star/heart shaped cake tin if you want it to look extra naice.

Honestly, I wouldn't attempt this as your first cake. I make cakes professionally and use American recipes but they are trickier and much less reliable than a classic Victoria sponge. Also, your recipe calls for "cake flour", which is tricky to get hold of in the UK. I get mine direct from a mill in Gloucester! Plain flour just won't work the same way, as it has a different protein content. It's just not worth the stress and might knock your confidence :-( Also, the ratios of butter:flour:sugar seem off to me (I look at a lot of recipes!).

In any event, best if luck! :-)

also, nothing wrong with cake mix packs- look for Jane Asher ones - eg Waitrose etc.

Hi everyone, i made it! I have spent 3 hours doing it, but it is sitting in my fridge ready for my LO party later today. I have used the American measure cup, and all was well. Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Well done - I hope you all enjoy it loads.
Any chance of a photo to drool over?

baby - take my hat off to you, well done!

We ate almost all of the cake now, it is nice, but if I am to make it again, i will use less flour, as i prefer the cake to be light.