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Up Inspired Anniversary Cake

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This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

Last year around this time a few things were different. I hadn’t quite lived in Michigan for 6 months, the weather was cooler, and one of my best friends was getting married. They had a beautiful backyard wedding surrounded by friends and family with all the delicious cupcakes you could fit in your face. I may or may not have taste tested every flavor… As far as weddings go it was pretty dreamy. {Sorry mom I’m still eloping.}

But this year they’ll be out of town for a funeral so I decided to help them celebrate their one year anniversary a little early. Because Nicole has PCOS and has always been really open about her infertility journey I know that their favorite Disney Pixar movie is UP. I mean how can you not love that sweet love story that plays out in the first 10 minutes between Ellie and Carl who can’t have the kids they always wanted but decided to make the most of it and live a life of fun and adventure. It’s so sweet!

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

So in a nod to this movie I wanted to create a cake that would remind them of their favorite movie while celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Since they didn’t have a traditional wedding cake at their wedding they didn’t have the usual top tier to save for their anniversary. So I took my favorite white cake recipe and modified it slightly so it was reminiscent of that traditional 6″ tier.

This little guy is just 3 perfect layers and decorated with royal icing transfers. Smart people would probably use fondant for more uniform and flexible shapes but I didn’t for a few reasons.

  1. Fondant is expensive.
  2. Homemade marshmallow fondant is time consuming and messy {and I already had to wash our one mixing bowl three times to make this recipe…so basically I’m lazy}
  3. I love using leftover royal icing transfers as sprinkles and leftover royal icing {there’s always a ton leftover amIright?} to decorate cookies

So royal icing transfers it is! These are time consuming but stupid simple. Especially if your printer is working and you don’t have to super carefully trace these by hand on your computer screen terrified you’re going to ruin your screen while simultaneously being impressed by your awesome idea to use your computer as a backlit tracing table.

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

Just make the transfers the night before so they have plenty of time to dry completely and then store any leftovers in an airtight container for snacking or to use as extra sprinkles. I recommend 20-25 second consistency royal icing for these so they hold their shape but also finish with a smooth surface. I’m not including a link to the silhouette transfer I used because I just found it on Google. So google your favorite couple silhouette and get to piping! And celebrating!

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

Meaghan

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

Up Inspired Anniversary Cake

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the Royal Icing Transfers:

  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tbs water
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • Gel food coloring
  • More water for thinning
  • 1 Tbs vanilla extract
  • 8 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 1/2 Tbs meringue powder

For the Cake:

  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar

For the Frosting:

  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
  • 1 Tbs milk

Instructions

  1. For the Royal Icing Transfers:
  2. In a clean mixing bowl with the paddle attachment mix water, cream of tartar, and meringue powder until foamy.
  3. Add all the powdered sugar at one time, cover the bowl with a towel, and start mixing on a low speed until combined. Increase speed and mix until soft peaks form then add vanilla and mix until stiff peaks.
  4. To thin royal icing to pipeable consistency add water 1/2 tsp at a time stirring thoroughly until a line drawn through the icing disappears after 20-25 seconds.
  5. Color with your preferred colors. I used black, red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple.
  6. Place a sheet of wax paper over your template, pipe hearts (I made 40 hearts of each color) and silhouette and allow to dry overnight.
  7. Store leftover royal icing in an airtight container in the fridge. Allow to come to room temperature before using again.
  8. For the Cake:
  9. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together vegetable oil, egg, vanilla, and milk.
  10. With the mixer on low slowly add in milk mixture and mix until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl.
  11. Divide batter evenly between 3 lined and prepared 6" cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  12. Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 5 minutes before turning them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
  13. For the Frosting:
  14. In a stand mixer cream room temperature butter until pale and fluffy.
  15. Add powdered sugar 1/2 a cup at a time until completely combined. Add vanilla.
  16. Add milk if needed to thin frosting to your preferred consistency.
  17. To Assemble:
  18. Level each cake and set first layer on your cake board, cake plate, or turntable. Add 1/4 cup of frosting and smooth into an even layer and repeat with the second and third layers.
  19. Crumb coat the cake and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  20. Frost the cake using the remaining frosting and while the icing is still soft decorate it with your royal icing transfers*.

Notes

*When choosing a couple silhouette be mindful of how many intricate pieces it has because you'll be sticking it to the side of a round cake. I had to reattach a hand that broke off because it was very fragile.

This UP themed anniversary cake is perfect for two and such a great way to celebrate your first year of marriage!

Mary (The Godmother @ Goodie Godmother)

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

This cake turned out so cute! I like the little heart balloons... so perfect for an anniversary.

Meaghan

Monday 3rd of October 2016

This cake was super fun. Time consuming but fun!

~Meaghan

Elena @ Giftaholic World

Monday 12th of September 2016

I made this cake yesterday for my in-laws' 35th anniversary and it went over very well! One guest thought it was the best cake she's ever had. Great!

Meaghan

Wednesday 14th of September 2016

I'm so happy it was such a hit! This cake is perfect for celebrating!

~Meaghan

Byron Thomas

Saturday 10th of September 2016

You're so talented! I love the silhouette idea; that could work for any themed cake! I would be all over this, but I royal icing and myself, well, we don't play nicely together. :)

Meaghan

Wednesday 14th of September 2016

I used to think that about royal icing, too. It definitely takes practice and patience! And watching lots of decorating videos on YouTube ;)

~Meaghan

Nicole @Little Blog on the Homestead

Thursday 8th of September 2016

Have I mentioned how much I love you girl?! This cake was so incredibly sweet and perfect and delicious!! Thank you so much for making me cry!!

Meaghan

Friday 9th of September 2016

You're welcome! I'm so glad that you liked it <3

~Meaghan

Jennifer Meyering

Tuesday 6th of September 2016

Ugh I am so jealous of your cake decorating skills! This is so cute!

Meaghan

Wednesday 7th of September 2016

That's how I feel about Mary :P Thanks girl! This one was super fun and I think turned out really cute!

~Meaghan