The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-26
THE SlRTHDAY CAKE.
Something That Brings Intense and Last.
ing Delight to Many Children.

oobhcttnbS brings lutonSe ana Last
ing Delight to Many Children.
The custom of having a special cake,
round and frosted, for the birthday gives q
pleasure to the smaller children of a fam
lily, and sometimes to older ones, which,
once begun, no amount of toys or costly
gifts can take the place Of The cake need
not be rich or difficult to make, for the
fact that it is specially prepared gives the
plalnest loaf flavor not commonly tasted
1t must, however, be frosted and deco
rated, and cut by the happy child's own
hand in order to secure this mysterious
sweetness. In nearly every home one kind
of cake wins favor above all others, and
this rs the one par excellence for the birth
day cake, although for wee little ones
hardly out of bsbyhood simple sponge or
angel cake is the least harmful of all the
toothsome species. But though the cake
may be familiar, the frosting and decking
may be varied to please the fancy and ex-
cite the curiosity on every recurring birth
day.
Besides the we'll known frosting made of
whites of eggs and sugar there are several
other kinds more economical or less
troublesome to make. A frosting of gran
ulated sugar and boiling water, in the pro-
portions OF one teacup of sugar to five
taolespoonfuis of water, is satisfactory and
Is quickly made. A certain knack in man
lpulation Is needed to do it easily, which
comes largely with repeated making. The
sugar and water should boil briskly for
four minutes, and should be stirred only
enough to keep it from burning
If the ire Is hot, placing the saucepan Of
boiling sugar in basin of hot water
making n sort Of double boiler-is pre-
ventive from scorching. At the end of
four minutes the sugar viii thread slight
ly If dropped from the tip of a spoon. Then
take it and placing the saucepan in dish
of cold water stir till the frosting cools and
thickens. Spread it on the cake rapidly,
as 1t hardens fast, dipping a broad knife in
hot water to smooth over the loaf. This
frosting is not to be stirred as long as I'M
cooked frosting, for it will harden beyond
spreading. A steel palette knife or spatula
Is most convenient for spreading the frost
ing.
This same frosting can be made into
chocolate icing by adding three tablespoon
fuls of grated chocolate TO the boiling
sugar. Delicate pink or straw colored
frosting is particularly attractive to child
spoonful of colored sugar, sold by confec-
TONERS, in the same way the chocolate Is
added. If eggs are plentiful, the white of
one added to the boiling frosting makes it
of finer grain and easier to spread. The
white of egg should be beaten to stiff
froth, and then the sugar poured upon it
gradually after having boiled four minutes,
and the whole then well beaten. Frosting
made or maple sugar is delicious, and is
particularly well suited to spiced cakes. 1t
Is made by the same method as the white
sugar frosting, but requires one minute
longer boiling. Milk frosting IS another
favorite with children, and is prettiest TO
look at when spread on soft yellow cake.
Boil together a teacup of sugar and half a
one of milk, with a teaspoonful of butter,
until little dropped in cold water will
thicken. Then beat it thoroughly and fla
vor with vanilla. Long beating makes the
frosting white and creamy.
Surrounding cakes with candies, one for
each year, is a German custom The can
dies are melted slightly at the ends. and
then stuck upon the edge of stiff white
paper which Is put between the cake and
its plate, and is cut two inches larger than
the loaf. Tiny little flags, whose sticks
viii run easily down into the cake and
float the stars and stripes during the birth
day feast, are liked by both girls and boys
The plate Is concealed by fringe of red,
white and blue tissue paper. The paper ir
folded in stripes, and then cut like fringa,
and the circular form given it by lacking
little plaits in IL with needle and thread.
The fringe is laid on the plate first and the
cake nestled in it.
Pink sugar hearts on white frosting,
with fluffy PINK paper fringe, delight 8 |
little girl, and make an apt st. Valentines |
cake. Favorite flowers arranged in ferns |
fronds, smilaX or their own LEAKAGE neve, |
fail to please. while candy stars and mot |
toes crafty a child who has Just learned |
10 read. The name aud date spelled out |
with colored Sugaved csraway seeds, how |
ever awkward tue lettering, give salts |
faction far greater than the effort expend /
ed. Candy rabbits ana little sugar Cupids /
VIII bring 4 shout of JOY from the younger |
while Santa Claus. with MS spris 1
Of Christmas tree. will he voted lust |
right for a December baby.-Agnes B. |
Ormsbee in Hsrper's Bazar