Friday, March 16, 2012

Lemonade Layer Cake

Cake





  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

    • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
    • 3 tablespoons thawed lemonade concentrate
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • large eggs 
    • large egg whites 
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk 
    • Cooking spray 
    • Frosting:
    • 2 tablespoons butter, softened 
    • 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind 
    • 2 teaspoons thawed lemonade concentrate 
    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 8 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 
    • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

    Preparation

    1. Preheat oven to 350°.
    2. To prepare cake, place first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat well after each addition.
    3. Pour batter into 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray; sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.
    4. To prepare frosting, place 2 tablespoons butter and the next 4 ingredients (2 tablespoons butter through cream cheese) in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, and beat at low speed just until blended (do not overbeat). Chill 1 hour.
    5. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator.