Z's 22nd Bicycle Birthday

My first cake of the year coincided with Z's 22nd birthday. He just painted his bike brown this winter, so I decided to add chocolate bicycles to a two-tiered Southern Comfort cake.

Southern Comfort Cake

Recipe:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature, diced
• 1 cup milk
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup Southern Comfort

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease 9x13 inch cake pan.

1. Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in eggs one at a time, until well blended. Add vanilla extract

3. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and pudding mix

4. Add flour mixture, alternating with milk until well blended. Mix in Southern Comfort.

5. Pour into 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean.

Southern Comfort Buttercream

Recipe:

6 tablespoons butter

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup Southern Comfort

2-5 tbsp milk

1. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes.

2. Add vanilla extract and half of the Southern Comfort. Mix until blended.

3. Add confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix until blended smooth.

4. Add rest of Southern Comfort. Frosting may become dry and thick. Add milk 1 tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.