Batman Theme Cake Recipe: A Dark Knight Delight

 This recipe will guide you through creating a visually striking and delicious Batman-themed cake, perfect for any Caped Crusader fan! We'll focus on a design that's achievable for bakers of all skill levels, emphasizing the iconic bat symbol.

Yields: 12-15 servings Prep time: 1 hour Bake time: 30-35 minutes Decorating time: 2-3 hours

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Black food coloring gel (gel is recommended for intense color)

For the Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Yellow food coloring gel

For the Decoration:

• Black fondant
• White fondant (optional, for highlights)
• Batman symbol template (easily found online)
• Edible silver spray (optional, for a shimmery effect)

Instructions:

1. Bake the Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in milk and vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
• Divide the batter equally between the two cake pans. Add black food coloring gel, a few drops at a time, mixing until you achieve a deep, even black color. Gel food coloring is highly concentrated, so start small and add more until you reach your desired shade.  
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.  

2. Make the Frosting:

• In a large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy.
• Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined.
• Add milk and vanilla extract, then beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Divide the frosting into two bowls. Leave one bowl white. To the other, add yellow food coloring gel until you achieve a bright yellow.

3. Assemble and Decorate:

• Level the tops of the cooled cakes with a serrated knife for even frosting.
• Place one cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Frost the top with a layer of yellow frosting.
• Place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with a thin crumb coat of yellow frosting. Chill the cake for 30 minutes to set the crumb coat.
• Apply a final layer of yellow frosting to the entire cake, smoothing it out with a spatula.
• Roll out black fondant and cut out your Batman symbol using a template. You can also create highlights with small pieces of white fondant.
• Carefully place the Batman symbol onto the top of the cake.
• (Optional) Lightly spray the cake with edible silver spray for a touch of shimmer.

Tips and Variations:

• For a richer chocolate flavor, add 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
• You can use different extracts, like almond or peppermint, for a unique twist.
• Instead of fondant, you can pipe the Batman symbol onto the cake using black frosting.
• Consider adding a layer of chocolate ganache between the cake layers for extra decadence.
• Get creative with the background! You can use edible glitter, sprinkles, or even create a cityscape out of fondant.

Enjoy your Dark Knight Delight! Share your creations on your blog and let me know how they turn out!