Do you know what today is? It's September 28th — McCormick's 125th birthday!
I don't know about you, but McCormick pure vanilla extract has been used by my family for generations. I recall both my grandmother and mom using it in all of their baked goods when I was a child. The iconic red, white and blue packaging sticks out in my mind to this day because I still use McCormick extracts in my kitchen. There's just something special about McCormick vanilla extract that makes every cupcake, cake or batch of cookies that much better.
This year, in honor of its own 125th birthday in September, McCormick has released a brand new version to experience Vanilla Extract. Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract is a new product that is 25% stronger than the classic vanilla & is a perfect balance between sweet caramel and bourbon-rummy flavors.
To celebrate McCormick's 125th birthday, I thought I would test my —completely novice— baking skills by making a special tie-dye cake (also known as a zebra cake) in the colors of the brand's logo with homemade buttercream frosting using McCormick Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract. I should also mention that this was my first attempt at a two-layer cake, so please be gentle with my results.
Tie Dye Layer Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 box white cake mix with required ingredients OR
- 1-¼ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ stick butter, melted
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon McCormick® Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1-½ teaspoons baking powder
Also needed:
- 2 8" cake pans
- red & blue food coloring gel
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Prepare boxed cake mix according to instructions and divide into 2 equal portions (skip to step 4) OR
- Beat all ingredients in a large bowl with mixer on low speed to moisten. Increase to medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide cake batter into 2 equal portions.
- Use food coloring gel to color ½ of cake batter red, and the other half blue. This will take a minimum of 15 drops of each coloring (Note: Use extra red coloring - my final cake came out more pink than red).
- Prepare cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. Starting with red cake batter, scoop ¼ cup into the center of each cake pan, alternating with ¼ cup of blue cake batter. The cake batter with spread on its own.
- Bake according to box directions OR for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs.
- Let cakes cool completely on wire rack.
- Trim tops of each cake to make flat surfaces.
Homemade Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1-½ sticks butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons McCormick® Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 4 to 5 teaspoons milk
Directions:
- Beat butter and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk until light and fluffy.
- Evenly frost the first layer of cake with buttercream. Place the second layer of cake on top and continue to frost with remaining buttercream. Enjoy!
Not bad for a first attempt, right!? The great thing about this cake, besides it being moist & delicious, is that you can use it for birthday's, anniversaries, or any special occasion and mix up the colors depending on the theme. You could easily make a rainbow cake by alternating 3 or more colors of food dye. It's a fun and unique way to celebrate!
Speaking of celebrations: McCormick is igniting a conversation around birthdays this month and asking people around the globe to share their favorite birthday flavor story with the hashtag #flavorstory. {Learn more on FlavorofTogether.com}.
I had to think long and hard about my favorite birthday celebration. Besides the obvious, my daughter's first birthday, or any thereafter, I had to go way back to my 10th birthday, which included a party at my childhood home with all my school friends. What made this birthday stand out was the fact that I was finally 10 years old, and I was excited with the idea that I had one birthday for each of my fingers. I also remember wishing for a pony when I blew out the birthday candles on my cake. Let's just say that wish never came true!
This post is brought to you by McCormick. All opinions are my own.
Stephanie Phelps
I personally think your cake come out looking every nice and pretty. My unique flavor is using my McCormick seasoning and making what I call goulash because there is nothing I know of that is a recipe it comes out great every-time even though there is no recipe because of those wonderful McCormick spices #flavorStory
Cynthia C
My favorite birthday flavor memory is of the strawberry and pineapple stuffed angel food cakes my mom always baked for my birthday. They remain my favorite.
Virginia Rowell
Well, I baked my Dad a chocolate cake of Wonder Woman and her boobs were filled with bavarian cream.
Stefanie Fauquet
LOL That is awesome!
beth shepherd
My favorite memory is when I made a cake for my daughter and let her decorate her castle cake. She had 10x more sugar on the outside than was on the inside. It was covered and uneatable..But it was cute 🙂
Jennifer Finn
A chocolate and cherry cake my grandmother always made us
Amy Tebow
Favorite birthday memory is my surprise 30th party
Amy Tebow
#flavorstory my favorite memory is my surprise 30th party!!
Danielle N
For my daughter's 3rd bday this summer, both kids had hand foot mouth. It was awful! We had to cancel all plans & I ended up making an ice cream cake since it was all they could eat. It has turned into my son's favorite cake if all time! #flavorstory
Mendy Dinsmore
It was at our reception. It was a caramel chocolate flavored cake with M&Ms covered.
Mendy Dinsmore
#flavorStory It was at our reception. It was a caramel chocolate flavored cake with M&Ms covered.
mary mcmenamy
#flavorstoryIt was my sons first bday we made a orange crush cake and he loved it
rachel
I made my husband's ice cream cake and used McCormick's vanilla extract to make homemade ice cream! He loooooved it. This year? It's Oreo ice cream! #flavorstory
Nicole Flynn
I remember my 9th birthday, it was at the local McDonalds. I thought that was the best place in the whole world to ever have a birthday party. I remember having a McDonalds birthday cake too with Ronald on it.
raquel perez
My favorite cake memory was when I made my first borns cake all by myself it was an Elmo cake but looked more like Animal from the muppets 😀 It looked horrible but tasted great! chocolate with strawberries 😀
kyl neusch
delicious ice ream cake!
Erica B.
#flavorstory My favorite birthday was going to the movies and having a cake made by my husband.
Jill Myrick
When i was six my birthday fell on Easter Sunday so my mom baked me a big bunny cake. It was white and covered in coconut fur with big ears, a pink nose and black jellybean eyes.
Around the platter was coconut dyed green for grass with various colored jellybeans hidden like eggs. #flavorStory
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
tina reynolds
#Flavorstory the last cake I made a blueberry birthday cake for my boys decorated in a skylander theme it was quite the hit with all the kids
Cori Westphal
I make a mean family favorite that's a bit off the wall. I take wonton wrappers, stuff them with shredded chicken, peas, carrots and some McCormick sage. Then I steam them with some chicken broth. They're like mini chicken noodle soup wontons, but not messy!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Laura Ari
I love the flavors of strawberry and whipped cream.
ANNETTE FRENCH
My mom making my cake every year
shannon wilkovich
I recently made a yellow with pink (cherry) icing cake in the shape of a breast cancer ribbon and my kids said it looked like a fish!! lolol :/
shannon wilkovich
I recently made a yellow with pink (cherry) icing cake in the shape of a breast cancer ribbon and my kids said it looked like a fish!! lolol :/ #flavorstory ......forgot hashtag on other comment!
Carol N
It looks delish!
Peggy Rydzewski
I really dot have a good story but my grandson wanteda a several layer cake with all colors.
Brittney House
#flavorstory My mother makes me different kind of surprise cakes every year with different flavors, and fillings because she know how much I love cake.
April Farley
From childhood my most memorable B-day was my 13th . My Mother made me a vanilla bean cake, which I still adore. She took me to the movies and surprised me with a bunch of friends. I did not think we were having a party. It was such a great B-day!
April Farley
#flavorStory
amanda whitley
i have always had very traditional cakes.. the most unique cake i had was with strawberry topping and whipped cream.#flavorStory
Laurie Emerson
My son was due a week before my birthday and I still craved pickles and strawberries. My husband came up with a butter cream frosting using the juice of both of them. I think I ate the cake all by myself#flavorStory
Marnie G (Derrick Todd)
For my 13th birthday, my 11 year old sister made me a cake, frosted it, decorated it with sprinkles and a flower from our garden. We didn't have a lot of money, so she used her savings and rode her bike to the store to buy what she needed to make it It was very special to me.
Nicole Millheim
It was my daughters bday and she just loves hello Kitty...I did all the characters on top of the cake and made the inside of the cake, pink , black and white!!! She loved it #flavorStory
Michelle D
For my son's best friends 7th birthday, his mom made the cake. But she accidentally used salt instead of sugar. It was not a big hit....
Michelle D
Whoops forgot the #flavorStory!
susan smoaks
i am a beginner baker. last time i baked a cake i used a mix and it came out delicious. i am very excited to learn to bake from scratch. #flavorStory
Amy M
My dad's birthday was in the middle of summer, and he loved strawberry shortcake. I remember learning to whip cream when I was a little kid, and I haven't been able to abide the canned stuff ever. It's a fun memory of being in the kitchen with my mom. #flavorStory
melissa Resnick
helping the kids make a cake for there dad from scratch ,kitchen looked like a bomb went off but it was worth it #flavorStory
Pamela McReynolds
would love
Crissie Woolard
I MAKE VINEGAR MAYS AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL
Sand
My most memorable birthday was when I turned six. I just remember that party for some reason. #flavorStory