Special Occasion White Cake Recipes

SPECIAL-OCCASION CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water; set aside to cool completely. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cocoa mixture, beating well after each addition. , Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For ganache, place chocolate in a bowl. In a small heavy saucepan over low heat, bring cream and sugar to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk gently until smooth. Allow to cool until it reaches a spreadable consistency, stirring occasionally., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla; beat until smooth., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second layer and 1 cup ganache; sprinkle with 1/2 cup almonds. Top with third layer; frost top and sides of cake. Warm ganache until pourable; pour over cake, allowing some to drape down the sides. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Refrigerate until serving.

SPECIAL-OCCASION WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Beat in extracts.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with water.
• Beat just until combined.
• In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
• Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch round baking pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• In large mixing bowl, beat shortening, confectioners' sugar, extracts and salt until light and fluffy.
• Add enough milk to achieve frosting consistency.
• Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting.
• Top with remaining cake.
• Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.

WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, vegetable oil and sugar together until light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
• Add egg whites in three batches, mixing until well combined after each. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
• Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until well combined. Add the milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
• Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for about 20-23 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
• To make the frosting, beat the butter until smooth.
• Slowly add half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• Add the vanilla extract, 4 tablespoons of cream and salt and mix until smooth.
• Slowly add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Add additional cream, as needed to get the right consistency of frosting.
• Mix on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes to whip the frosting.
• To put the cake together, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes so that they're flat. These cakes don't have a large dome, but I like to make sure they're completely flat.
• Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round. Spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly on top of the cake. Add the second layer of cake and another cup of frosting.
• Top the cake with the remaining layer and frost the outside of the cake. Refer to my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed.
• Pipe shells of frosting around the bottom edge of the cake, then pipe rosettes or desired design on top. I used Ateco tip 844 for my piping.
• Store cake in an airtight container.

SPECIAL-OCCASION WHITE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with water. Beat just until combined. In another bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat shortening, confectioners' sugar, extracts and salt until light and fluffy. Add enough milk to achieve frosting consistency. , Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake. Tint 2 cups frosting with lilac food coloring; spread over top and sides of cake. , Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #10 tip and fill with remaining white frosting. Pipe a border of "pearls" around bottom and top of cake. With #3 tip, pipe smaller "pearls" on sides of cake. Garnish with pansies.