Black and White Birthday Cakes

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 350F and prepare the 5 small cake pans.Prepare your cake mix as directed. Set aside 12 oz of the cake batter and color it black. You'll need about 20 drops of Wilton color right black. Fill three of the cake pans with vanilla and two with the black batter.
2. 2
   Bake for 25 minutes and cool completely.Make your frosting. Whip the softened butter and shortening together until smooth and combined, about 5 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar and milk along with the extract until your desired consistency is reached.
3. 3
   Layer the cake alternating the white and black and crumb coat the cake. When you are ready to decorate the cake with the ribbon, place the cake on the serving platter you are going to use and place that platter on to a turntable.Mark to inch increments around the cake with a knife or flat blade. Fill a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 104 tip (petal tip).
4. 4
   Place your piping bag parallel to the cake side with the larger part of the teardrop closest to the cake base and the smaller opening of the petal tip away from the cake. The tip will be pointed down at the cake platter the entire time you are piping the ribbons. Using the marks made around the cake, make a back and forth motion while moving upward from the cake platter to the top of the cake. Continue to go around the cake covering the perimeter.For the top ribbon, hold the piping bag with the larger end of the teardrop toward the center of the cake and the smaller end facing to the edge. Go around the cake making "M" shapes. Using a turntable makes this easier as you turn the cake under you while piping the petals. It's the same technique to make flowers. Continue to go around the top of the cake until it is covered.Decorate with fun sprinkles.
5. 5
   Serve with some Sparkling Wine and enjoy!