Daring Baker's March Challenge - Perfect Party Cake

I was thrilled to discover the Daring Baker's site. Thinking of all the cakes and breads to be made and shared. Each month they give you a challenge, complete with a recipe and rules to follow. Everyone makes the same recipe, the same way and we all post on the same day. Too fun! And it has been very interesting to see the other entries. This month's challenge was given by Morven at Food Art and Random Thoughts. It is Dorie Greenspan's The Perfect Party Cake.
I have to admit when I signed up for this I was feeling confident in my cooking/baking skills. Believe me, I was challenged and even doubted myself a little as this cake took on a life of it's own. We were able to play around with the flavorings. I stuck to the recipe for both the cake batter and buttercream icing. The filling was black raspberry. I did not cover the cake in coconut, because the family doesn't like it. Here are pictures of the production:

The cake batter coming together

Oven ready

The two cakes in their different pans must have schemed together while in the oven. For only one of them rose enough for me to feel comfortable cutting it in half.

Making the buttercream was scary to me, not because it was necessarily hard, but because I had never made a buttercream before. And while it all began well enough, it never seemed to want to stay together. After beating what seemed like a lifetime, I began icing the cake. It iced well enough, but the consistency was not what I would have liked to do any extra decorating.

Then the stacking commenced

Here is the finished product of my first challenge!

It was very tasty, despite the flaws ;)

Thanks to the Daring Baker's for letting me participate!
For more cake entries, go HERE. You will not be disappointed, just inspired!

HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO!