The Crafter's Cake Block

Step by step

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) square baking pan. For extra sharp corners, line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to lift the cake out easily.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This is your dry ingredient 'chest'.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This is the foundation of your block.

4. 4

   Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

5. 5

   Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.

6. 6

   Pour the batter into your prepared square pan and spread evenly. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. 7

   While the cake cools, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until combined, then increase speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes until smooth.

8. 8

   Add the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of milk. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. If it's too thick, add another tablespoon of milk.

9. 9

   Transfer about one-third of the white frosting to a separate, smaller bowl. Add a few drops of red food coloring and mix until you achieve a vibrant, 'Redstone' red. Place the red frosting in a piping bag with a small round or square tip (or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off).

10. 10

    Once the cake is completely cool, apply a smooth, even layer of the white frosting over the top and sides, making it as 'block-like' as possible. To create the pixelated topping, use a knife to gently score a 3x3 grid on the white frosting. Fill the four corner squares and the center square of your grid with the red frosting to replicate the classic Minecraft cake look. Enjoy your delicious piece of the Overworld!