For a truly eye-catching presentation, dress up individual-sized Cranberry Lime Petite Cakes with tiny DIY wreaths.
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- ½ cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 2 egg whites, beaten until stiff
- Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
- Garnish: white edible glitter, Miniature Thyme Wreaths (see instructions, below)
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour 4 (4x2-inch) round cake pans; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, and lime zest at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add cranberry sauce and vanilla, beating to mix well.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in egg whites in thirds. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes.
- Remove cake layers from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cakes. Garnish with edible glitter and Miniature Thyme Wreaths, if desired
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth.
Get instructions for our Miniature Thyme Wreath on the next page.
Step-by-Step Miniature Thyme Wreath Tutorial
Step 1
To create the base for the wreath, purchase a roll of kraft brown fiber rush—used to weave chair seats or baskets—from your local crafts store. Cut a length to the desired wreath size.
Step 2
With ends slightly overlapped, twist green floral wire to secure the rush into a circle shape, leaving plenty of wire to fasten thyme sprigs.
Step 3
Snip single-stem sprigs of fresh thyme. Secure one sprig to the circle with floral wire, then continue wrapping the circle with thyme, overlapping each sprig slightly, until entire wreath is covered.
Step 4
Affix a ribbon bow and fresh currants to the wreath. Finish the look with a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar for a snow-dusted look.
Don’t miss our delicious recipes, party ideas for every occasion, and seasonally themed special issues! Subscribe to Southern Lady today!
SaveSave