ICE CREAM CAKE
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sifted flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sifted cornstarch
1 cup milk
1 tsp. almond or vanilla extract
5 stiffly beaten egg whites
Cream sugar and butter together. Sift the flour, baking powder and cornstarch together. Alternate adding these to creamed mixture along with milk. Beat until very smooth. Add vanilla and then fold in egg whites that have been beaten until stiff. Bake in 2 greased and floured 8" round cake pans for 25 to 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

I bake in a standard jelly roll pan lined with buttered parchment. Don't over bake....just until the center is baked....
Linda C

Several years ago I was working with a friend who is a party planner for childrens parties. We did a LOT of Princess Tea Parties, with me doing the food. Here is an article I saved that gave me lots of inspiration. I used a standard pound cake recipe baked in 9" square cake pans (watch the timing) or when really pressed for time, I even bought the pound cake and sliced it as needed.

Alexa

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Petit Fours
Now to bake the cake, no special cake pans are required; a 9 inch round or square pan will work just fine. When the cake has completely cooled, cut it in half horizontally. A serrated knife works well for this; gently saw your way through. Brush the liqueur over the cut sides, and then fill with a thin layer of jelly. Heat the jelly until warm; this will make it easier to spread. A creamy filling sprinkled with chopped nuts is also good. Try:
Almond Filling
Chocolate Meringue Frosting
French Buttercream
Lemon Jelly Filling
Chocolate Fudge Buttercream Frosting
Mint Buttercream with Dark Chocolate Glaze
The simplest decorating technique for petits fours is to glaze the top of the whole cake, and then cut it into shapes. A white chocolate glaze or fondant frosting works well for this purpose. Both will dry to a smooth surface. Score the top into squares or diamonds, and decorate. Cut the cake only when ready to serve; since the sides are left uncovered, the little cakes can dry and become stale in a very short time. To cut, dip a serrated knife in hot water and then dry it. A hot knife will cut through the glaze more smoothly. Cookie cutters with simple shapes, such as rosettes or rounds, as well as petit four cutters can also be used to cut the cake. These should be used on the unglazed cake. Each cake is then decorated individually. It is important to completely cover the exposed surfaces with glaze or fondant to prevent drying.
Quick Pour Fondant Icing
Quick Pour Chocolate Fondant
There are innumerable ways to decorate a petit four. One way is to simply pipe designs with melted chocolate or tinted decorator frosting. But don't limit yourself. Candied citrus zest, crystallized edible flowers and leaves, and fresh berries are all excellent decorations. You can also use miniature cookie cutters to shape marzipan or rolled fondant. Add these finishing touches before the glaze or fondant sets.
Decorator Frosting
Best White Icing Ever
To get you started on your petits fours adventure, try some of these combinations of cakes, fillings, glazes, and decorations. Before you know it you'll be the host with the most.
• White cake, strawberry jam, poured fondant, and tinted marzipan animal cutouts for a children's tea.
• Genoise, amaretto liqueur, almond filling and a sprinkling of chopped almonds, white chocolate glaze, finished with almond slices and piped melted chocolate for an elegant ladies and gentlemen's luncheon.
• Pound cake, maraschino liqueur, cream filling, poured fondant, and small pastille candies for decoration to serve at the bridal or baby shower.
There's a combination for every taste and occasion. So have some fun and plan an elegant gathering to show all your newfound tastes.
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Ann T's Buttermilk Brownies/Texas Sheet Cake recipe (well it's not hers..but she brought it to our attention)...makes a great "finger" cake..so it would work very well for petit four base too..

Tiny tarts are lovely too. Tiny biscuits..... doesn't have to be cake-based.

Thanks. Last night I did the fondant, brownies, red velvet cake and today I will make Linda's cake and start the decorating. It's my daughter's 9th bday tomorrow. I still have to make an ice cream cake as a back up plan.