Here’s something to bring you peace! An edible zen garden!! It’s Chocolate cake that’s covered with fondant, gravel sugar cookies and cake balls for the rocks. Take a deep breath and ooommm…..
All of this month’s cake has been really fun to make!! This was a unique cake to make because when I was looking for inspiration for 9×13 cake, I happen to be visiting a zen garden. My family was visiting the Fort Worth Arboretum and there was a Japanese Garden that was very serene. It was a beautiful place to visit and very serene. Maybe a little to quiet for me. I’m more of a beach girl but it was still really nice to visit.
Now some of the key elements of Japanese garden are rocks, trees and gravels. I was going to use trees, but I was already loving the rocks that I made so gravel and rocks it is. I added the mini rakes for effects. You really can customize it to whatever you like, but I personally like the minimalist looks of this garden.
After the cake is cooled and crumb coated, cover the cake with black fondant. And make the sides so the gravel won’t fall to the sides.
Prepare the top part of the zen garden. I made crushed up sugar cookies for the gravel and cake pops that looks like stones.
Pour the sugar cookie gravel on the cake and start sweeping it to cover all the surface. Here’s where you practice your skills with your mini rake!
Before you put in the rocks, make your design on the side on a plate first. That way you don’t have to disturb the gravel when you changed your mind.
And that’s pretty much it!! Do you have your own zen garden? Or do you like this edible one even more? Whichever one you choose, may you find peace in your life. And some sweetness too!
Happy Baking!!
| Servings |
12 servings
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- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp heavy cream
- Sugar cookie pulverized to resemble gravel
- Cake Balls rock
- Mini zen garden rake
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
Vanilla Buttercream
Acessories
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 baking dish with aluminum foil.
- In a stand mixer, mix together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, milk, and oil and combine.
- Add the boiling water and put the mixer on low until everything is combined.
- Scrape the bottom of the bowl with a spatula and mix everything together. The batter will look thin and this is normal.
- Pour the batter into the greased baking dish. Bake for about 30-35 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack. Invert out of the cake pan.
- Cut the cake to the desired size of the garden. Crumb coat with vanilla buttercream.
- Cover the cake with black fondant. Make the sides to resemble a box.
- Spread sugar cookie gravel on the surface. Add cake pop rocks.
- Beat butter on a medium speed for 30 seconds until smooth.
- Mix in vanilla extract and salt on a low speed.
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Half way through add in 1 Tbsp of heavy cream or milk to make it easier to mix.
- Mix on low until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the desired consistency is reached.
- If the frosting is too thick, add in 1 tbsp of cream. If the frosting is too thin, add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.
