Old Fashioned Vanilla Cake Food

VANILLA BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH OLD-FASHIONED VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cut two 8-inch rounds of parchment paper and line the bottom of each pan; spray the paper with nonstick spray. (To measure the parchment paper, just trace the bottom of the pan.)
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until very soft and light. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and milk by hand in a medium bowl until just combined.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in one-quarter of the flour mixture, then one-third of the milk mixture, stopping and scraping down the bowl and beater after each addition. Beat in another quarter of the flour, then another third of the milk mixture. Scrape again. Repeat with another quarter of the flour and the remaining milk mixture; scrape. Finally, beat in the remaining flour mixture.
• Scrape the bowl with a large rubber spatula. Don't worry if the the batter looks a little grainy. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
• Bake the cakes for 30-35 minutes, until they are well risen and firm and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Cool the cakes in the pans on rack for 5 minutes, then unmold onto rack to finish cooling right side up (keep parchment paper underneath cake layers so they don't stick to rack). When cake layers are completely cool, transfer to cake plate and frost with vanilla buttercream. (I always flip the bottom layer of the cake so that the domed side is facing down and touching the plate. That way, the surface that you're icing is flat and will minimize any separating between the two layers when you put the other layer on top of it.)
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese until creamy and well combined.
• Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat in the vanilla and salt. If the frosting is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen, without frosting, for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop and then frost before serving.

OLD-FASHIONED VANILLA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch cake pan; line bottom with parchment paper. Sift together flours and baking powder; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add salt and vanilla, beating until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add egg whites, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add reserved flour mixture in 2 parts, alternating with the milk, and scraping down sides of bowl between each addition. Mix until combined. Increase speed to medium-high for 20 seconds. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

OLD-FASHIONED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Set a rack at the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Sift flour, baking soda and salt, once then set aside. With an electric mixer set at medium speed, beat butter until soft and light. Add sugar and continue beating until very light, about 5 minutes. Beat in chocolate, then eggs, 1 at a time. Continue beating until light and smooth.
• Beat in half the sour cream, then half the flour mixture, scraping bowl and beater(s). Repeat with remaining sour cream and flour mixture, scraping again. Combine vanilla and boiling water and gently beat into batter. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until firm and well risen. Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes, then unmold and cool on a rack. For the frosting, combine all ingredients in bowl of mixer. Whisk to combine then place over a pan of simmering water, gently whisking until mixture is hot and sugar is dissolved. Use electric mixer on medium speed to beat until cooled, but not dry. To finish, cover top and side of cake with frosting, swirling it from the center outward.

GRANNY'S OLD FASHIONED PUDDING CAKE VIGILANTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the cake: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs, lemon zest and lemon and lime juices. Whisk well, or beat with a hand mixer, until the batter is combined and smooth.
• Pour the batter into a 9-by-13-inch nonstick baking pan, or use a regular pan coated with cooking spray. Bake until the cake is baked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven.
• For the glaze: Combine the powdered sugar, butter, buttermilk, lemon and lime zests and lemon juice in a saucepan and whisk well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat. Remove from the heat.
• Slice the cake into even pieces and drizzle the glaze over the top.
• This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

OLD FASHIONED HARRISON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F and grease/flour two 8x4" loaf pans.
• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Dredge fruits in flour mixture; set to the side.
• Cream shortening and sugar together; add eggs.
• Combine molasses and milk; add to batter alternatively with dry ingredients.
• Beat well and fold in fruits.
• Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for an hour; increase heat to 350F and continue to bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until cake tests done.
• Let cool in pans for ten minutes; turn out onto cooling racks to complete cooling.

OLD FASHIONED POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter. Add sugar to butter and beat until real creamy. Add egg yolks, one at a time. Add flour, salt, baking powder and vanilla. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Blend egg whites into batter.
• Bake in 325F oven for 1 hour.

VANILLA CAKE WITH CREME FRAICHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-3-inch cake pans. In the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment on medium speed, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla seeds until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Sift together flour and baking powder. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients, alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour; scrape down sides twice. Transfer batter to a large bowl.
• In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites with pinch of salt on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to high, and continue to whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk one-third of the beaten whites into the batter to lighten the mixture. Using a large rubber spatula, fold remaining whites into the lightened batter. Divide the batter equally among the prepared pans. Bake until golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the cakes comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the pans to a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the wire rack to cool completely.
• If cakes are not level, use a serrated knife to trim tops off. Carefully slice each cake horizontally into two equal layers, about 3/4 inch thick. (You will have four layers.) To assemble, place one sliced layer on an 8-inch cardboard cake round. Spread with 1/4-inch of frosting. Repeat with remaining layers, placing the final layer bottom-side up. Lightly coat the assembled cake with a thin layer of frosting to protect against crumbs in the frosting. Finish with remaining frosting. Garnish with candied lemon zest. Serve immediately, or keep refrigerated until ready to serve.