Mother's day orange-poppy seed cake

20 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 cup Plus 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 cups Granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Freshly grated orange peel
4 teaspoons Baking powder
½ teaspoon Baking soda
½ teaspoon Salt
4 larges Eggs
¼ cup Poppy seeds
3½ cup All-purpose flour
1⅓ cup Buttermilk or plain low-fat yogurt
½ cup Orange juice
⅓ cup Granulated sugar
½ cup Unsalted butter; softened
16 ounces Cream cheese (not reduced-fat)
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
4 cups Confectioner's sugar
Roses and leaves; directions follow

Directions

CAKE

ORANGE SYRUP

FROSTING

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease and flour two 9x2-inch round cake pans. Tap out excess flour.

2. CAKE: In a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, sugar, orange peel, baking powder, baking soda and salt until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each (batter may look curdled). Beat in poppy seeds until blended. Reduce speed to low and beat in half the flour, all the buttermilk, then the remaining flour just until blended. Divide batter between prepared pans and spread evenly.

3. Bake, switching position of pans halfway through baking, 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes before inverting cakes on rack. Poke holes with a toothpick, about halfway through layers at 1 to 2 inch intervals.

4. SYRUP: Stir orange juice and sugar until sugar dissolves. Spoon a tablespoon at a time over warm layers. Let cool completely.

5. MEANWHILE MAKE FROSTING: Beat butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in a large bowl on medium speed until blended. Reduce speed to low and beat in confectioners' sugar until blended.

6. Place 1 cake layer, smooth side up, on a serving plate. Spread top with 1 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer, smooth side up. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides.

7. Up to 2 hours before serving, decorate cake with the roses and leaves.

Leave at room temperature.

NOTES : Planning Tip: The cake can be baked and frosted up to 3 days ahead. Wrap loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Recipe by: Woman's Day Magazine Posted to EAT-L Digest by "Iris E. Dunaway" <hister@...> on Sep 7, 1997

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