Birthday Cake fit for a queen?

I am responsible for dessert for my friends 40th – dinner party for 30. I proposed creme frache ice cream with home-preserved peaches and spiced candied pecans, and lemon cornmeal cake with blueberry sauce (also from my home preserves). Got the green light for the sundaes, but not the cake. She wants something that's going to look great on a cake stand (the cormeal cake it too rustic). Any ideas of something I can work into my ice cream presentation for service? Or simply something great and not too incongruous?

threefresheggs
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9 Comments

MaddyBelle
MaddyBelle March 2, 2013
This is my favorite chocolate cake. It is not the easiest recipe ever but it is really an elevated chocolate cake and oh so beautiful. It is so rich that I think it would work well with the creme frache ice cream and fruit to cut some of the sweetness. The only change I make is adding one tablespoon of instant espresso to the wet ingredients of the cake. cake: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/moms-chocolate-cake frosting: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/moms-chocolate-cake-chocolate-frosting
 
LLStone
LLStone February 26, 2013
I've made this, and it's great and great-looking. You could sub in other flavors for the raspberry by using your preserves.
http://food52.com/recipes/13085-marie-antoinette-s-birthday-cake
 
ATG117
ATG117 February 26, 2013
A coconut or pistachio layer cake could be nice.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cake-recipe/index.html
 
creamtea
creamtea February 26, 2013
sdebrango's Kahlua Boston Cream Pie is delicious, and based on her wonderful Tender Yellow Cake: http://food52.com/recipes/12124-boston-cream-pie-with-kahlua-ganache
 
ChefJune
ChefJune February 26, 2013
what about the "Grown Up Birthday Cake" that's on this site?
 
minibakersupreme
minibakersupreme February 26, 2013
You could make a lovely Charlotte or Bavarian using your preserves, although they are kind of old-fashioned.
 
Heather P.
Heather P. February 26, 2013
Swedish Princess cake, layered sponge with jam, custard and whipped cream, covered in (usually pale green) marzipan. Spectacular and delicious.
 
drbabs
drbabs February 26, 2013
For some reason, I can't get to the link-- I keep getting an error message-- but there is a spectacular lemon birthday cake on this site -- it's tall and beautiful, and I think it would be delicious with your ice cream. (Although I personally would love the cornmeal cake! Oh well...)
 
drbabs
drbabs February 26, 2013
Here it is: http://food52.com/recipes/143-lemon-birthday-cake
 
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