Layered Princess Cake

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in water.
2. 2

   Pour into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. 3

   For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, salt and enough milk to reach desired consistency; remove 1-1/2 cups frosting and set aside. Tint remaining frosting with pink gel food coloring until desired color is reached; tint reserved frosting a lighter shade of pink.
4. 4

   If cake layers have rounded tops, trim with a serrated knife to make level. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 2/3 cup frosting. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake.
5. 5

   For decoration, place melted candy coating in piping bag fitted with a small round tip; pipe star shapes onto waxed paper. Let stand until set. If desired, coat star shapes with edible gold spray paint or edible gold paint; sprinkle with edible gold glitter. Top cake with assorted sprinkles. Place light pink frosting in piping bag fitted with large star tip; pipe onto top of cake. Just before serving, gently stand 1 star on top of cake. Adhere remaining stars to sides of cake by gently pressing into frosting.