Prego Reveal Cake

More About This Recipe

• There's nothing more exciting than telling loved ones that there’s a baby on the way, so make the event even more special by sharing this amazing cake.
  
  When you set this unassuming dessert on the table, no one will suspect what's hiding inside. They’ll get so much more than a piece of cake when the surprise is revealed!
  
  Now, this cake is going to take quite a bit of time to create, but the effect is so worth it. Each time I slice into a reveal cake, I'm blown away by the reaction I get. People are in awe of the cake, and even more excited about the news being announced!
  
  Give yourself an entire day, or better yet, two days to make this large dessert. I know that seems like a crazy amount of work, but most of that time is spent waiting for cakes to bake, cool and freeze.
  
  The finished cake is dense yet super moist and wonderfully flavorful. It slices easily which makes the reveal quick and fun!
  
  This cake is made in stages, starting with baking and cutting the pound cake letters.
  
  It's important to prep your pans before you make these (very heavy) cakes. Cut strips of non-stick tin foil or parchment paper and line the pans. This will ensure the cakes are easy to remove. It's vital that you use 8x3-inch deep pans. (The batter will overflow a more common 2-inch deep pan.)
  
  Make 3 Betty Crocker™ Pound Cake mixes according to the package instructions. If you have a 6-quart stand mixer, you can make them all together in one bowl. Once you have the mixes made, divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 65-70 minutes, until a thin wood skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  
  Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then remove cakes, set on a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
  
  Trim off the domed top and about an inch from the sides of each cake.
  
  Cut cakes into 8 slices, about an inch thick. I found it easiest to cut the cake in half, then cut each half in half, then those in half again.
  
  Lay the slices flat on non-stick tin foil or a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. If you have a side-by-side freezer and need to use small pans, you can layer the slices, just put non-stick foil in-between each layer. Cover and place in the freezer for at least an hour.
  
  Remove two slices of cake from the freezer at a time and use small alphabet cookie cutters to cut out the letters needed to spell out "We R Prego". I cut "W" "E" "R" and "G" out of one slice…
  
   …and "P" "R" "E" "O" out of the other slice.
  
  You’ll find that the cake letters don't just fall out of the cookie cutters—you have to push them out. You may be able to push them out if you have thin fingers. If not, then use a wood dowel to push the cake out of the cutters. This process takes quite a bit of time, so get comfy, put on your favorite movie, and start cutting.  Once you get the first two slices of cake cut, you can grab two more from the freezer. If the cakes thaw too much, they’ll break when pushed out of the cookie cutter. So the colder, the better.
  
  Once the letters are all cut, line them up on a non-stick tin foil-lined pan and pop them back in the freezer for another hour. They need to be very firm before they’re arranged in the pink and blue cake batter.
  
  Now you’re ready to create the pink and blue cake layers. I suggest making one cake at a time unless you have two ovens.
  
  Follow the recipe to make the pink cake batter.
  
  Once again, it's best to line the cake pans with non-stick tin foil or parchment paper. If using parchment paper you might even want to create a double layer. These will be very heavy cakes to remove from the pans.
  
  It is vitally important to mark the front of each cake layer by cutting or marking the foil or parchment paper. You always need to know which direction the letters are facing!
  
  Spread or pipe about 1 1/2 cups of the pink batter in a thin layer on the bottom of one of the pans.
  
  Lay the letters "WE R" flat on a non-stick tin foil-lined pan. Fill a pastry bag with pink batter and pipe batter in all the openings of the letters, filling them 2/3 full.
  
  Be sure to fill in all the openings. If you leave any unfilled, the letters might collapse while baking and you wont be able to read them.
  
  Set the letters “WE R” down into the pink cake batter in a row about 1/2 inch from the front of the pan. Set the same letters just behind the first in the pan.
  
  Pipe batter in between and around the letters as you go.
  
  If you arrange the letters and pipe batter as you go it will be easier to keep them upright and spaced correctly.
  
  Pipe all the remaining pink batter over top of the letters and smooth it out.
  
  Place this cake in a 350ºF oven and allow it to bake for about 1 hour and 25 minutes. The top will get really deep brow...