This simple white cake is brightened up with a cranberry filling and an orange-scented buttercream.
Looking for the perfectlayer cakethis holiday season?
This simple white cake is anything but basic.
Credit: Courtney West
A cranberry filling complements orange zest in the cake layers and orange juice in the buttercream.
Add the cranberry filling to the top of the cake and you don’t even have to decorate it.
AChristmas cakedoesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be tasty.
Ingredients
Filling
1(12-oz.)
package cream cheese, softened
1(32-oz.)
Boil, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop.
Transfer 1 cup cranberry mixture to a small bowl, and stir in remaining 12 cup whole cranberries.
(This will be the Cranberry Topping.)
Transfer remaining hot Cranberry Filling mixture to another small bowl.
Cool both mixtures completely (1 hour).
Cover; chill 8 hours.
Prepare White Cake:Preheat oven to 325F.
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric stand mixer until creamy.
Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
Add orange zest and vanilla; beat until blended.
Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form.
Stir about one-third of egg whites into batter; fold in remaining egg whites in 2 batches.
Spoon into 3 greased (with shortening) and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
Bake at 325F for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with orange juice.
Beat at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.
If desired, add 1 to 2 Tbsp.
milk, 1 tsp.
at a time, beating until frosting reaches desired consistency.
Assemble Cake:Place 1 Basic White Cake layer on a serving platter.
Spoon 1 12 cups buttercream into a zip-top plastic freezer bag.
Snip 1 corner of bag to make a small hole.
Pipe a ring of frosting around cake layer just inside the top edge.
Top with second cake layer.
Repeat procedure with frosting and remaining Cranberry Filling (without whole berries).
Top with third layer.
Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake.
Pipe a ring of frosting around top cake layer just inside the top edge.
Spread Cranberry Topping (with whole berries) over top cake layer, spreading to edge of piped frosting.
Tips
Cake layers may be baked in 3 (8-inch) square disposable aluminum foil pans.
Increase bake time to 26 to 30 minutes.
