Who decorates a cake like a credit card? Dave Ramsey fans, of course.
Last night Chris and I wrapped up our Financial Peace University Class with a potluck beans and rice dinner and this lovely cake, tremblingly prepared by yours truly.
When I originally suggested this cake idea to Chris, I didn’t think through what decorating a cake would entail – you know, things like frosting the cake. Which I don’t enjoy. Mostly because the would-be perfectionist in me is ready to put a blender through the cake by the time I’m done meticulously frosting it. And the creative free spirit in me thinks messy frosting is the most attractive look anyway.
So I present to you my free-spirit-credit-card-freedom cake:
(Note: the use of the word “Cheetah” is kind of an inside joke, so go here if you wish to be in the loop. And as another note, I don’t mean anything personal against Visa.)
If I had thought to bake the cake before 3 hours before FPU class, I would’ve used this yellow cake recipe – which makes fantastic cupcakes, by the way. However, since it was 1:30 and we had to leave around 4, Pillsbury came to my rescue, and for the first time the smell of boxed cake wafted through my kitchen. I tried not to feel like a turn coat.
Our butter cream frosting, however, was completely homemade (not an easy feat when you don’t own a mixer, haha). And I of course used this recipe, because it is simple, basic, and so delicious.
At least, our FPU peeps thought as much, because this is what we brought home after the party:
That’ll make any novice cake decorator happy. 
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
I know most of us periodically make culinary and health exceptions for the sake of time. So if you were in a time crunch, which would you choose to make homemade – the cake or the frosting? Why or why not?
Interested to hear your opinions,
13 comments
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Cate
11/01/2010 at 3:58 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Definitely the frosting! Storebought frosting often tastes like chemicals to me, but storebought cake mixes don’t. I LOVE my mother-in-law’s carrot cake and once asked her for the recipe. She thought for a moment and said, “Well, I start with a box of Duncan Hines…” and then cracked up laughing. But frosting? I can always tell.
Lovely cake by the way!
Sara @ ThrivingMama
11/01/2010 at 5:08 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Frosting – all the way! I can tolerate a box cake but there’s something about homemade buttercream or chocolate buttercream that is just so much yummier in my opinion!
Rebecca Burgener
11/01/2010 at 6:12 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
THAT IS AWESOME!
I’m going to do a cake like that when we are debt free! Mine will say CitiFinancial instead of Visa, but that’s kinda irrelevant. Debt is bad.
Yes, homemade frosting is much better, but I really don’t feel extremely guilty either way. Then again, we almost never eat cake.
Steph
11/01/2010 at 8:12 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Rebecca – Haha, cool. Be sure to snap a picture and share it with us!
FishMama
11/01/2010 at 8:26 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Very cool!
Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs
11/01/2010 at 8:33 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Love the cake! Yeah, I agree with Rebecca. I don’t feel guilty either way, but if I had to choose, I’d make the frosting. The store stuff really does taste funny to me, and how difficult is butter cream frosting anyway!?! NOT at all!
The Lass
11/02/2010 at 2:22 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You know what, it’s never occurred to me to buy a box cake. When I need to make something superquickly, I just go for my cake recipes that don’t require a lot of fuss – throw everything into a bowl, mix, bake. Frosting’s always home made, too. Although, I have opted against frosting in the past and just finished with a sprinkling of powdered sugar when I was pressed for time.
Deanna
11/02/2010 at 5:26 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
that is awesome! I may have to do this in the beginning of Dec when we complete our FPU small group. Lord willing, that will be about the time we can yell, “Freedom!” too! Loved the cake…oh and I would make the frosting. I agree that you can taste the difference…plus it is the easier of the two to make. :O)
SusieBee
11/02/2010 at 11:17 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
How amazing that cake is-well done!
I agree with The Lass, I’d make the cake and sprinkle something on top because I’d have all the ingredients for cake in the house but no cake mix.
Rhonda
11/02/2010 at 6:09 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We-my family-are on the Feingold Diet, so I would have to say I would use box cake and homemade icing.
Linda Myers
11/04/2010 at 5:28 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Gotta be homemade frosting!! That cake is awesome!!I am definately going to make this for our class regardless of time issues at our last class. You have to submitt the idea on coordinators ideas.
Steph
11/04/2010 at 6:44 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Linda – Good idea!
Ruth
11/05/2010 at 1:47 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It would definitely be the frosting. We dis a Debt Free American Excess cake for our FPU Graduation.