Simple Spice Cake With A Hint Of Grapefruit Food

SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease an 8x8-inch pan.
• In a large bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl whisk eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined for about a minute. Add oil and whisk until combined. Add applesauce, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Pour the mixture into the flour mixture and mix as little as possible, just until combined and smooth.
• Pour the batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely.
• Make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes. Add 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, and beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then on high speed for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. If you want a thicker frosting, add 1/2 cup more powdered sugar. Frost cake with the frosting.
• Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cake is best served at room temperature.

GRAPEFRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients then add egg yolks, oil, water, zest, and vanilla and mix well. When incorporated, fold in egg whites. Bake for an hour. When cake is cooled, slice in half and frost in between layers, on top and around sides.
• Beat cream cheese with lemon juice until fluffy. Mash 6 grapefruit sections into small pieces. Add sugar to cheese mixture along with food coloring, fruit zest and blend will. Add remaining grapefruit.

GRAPEFRUIT UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put 4 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch round baking pan. Place the pan in the oven just long enough to melt the butter. Remove pan from oven; scatter 1/2 cup brown sugar evenly over the melted butter.
• With a sharp knife, peel the grapefruit, removing all pith, and slice. Arrange the slices to cover the bottom of the pan.
• In a bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, and allspice. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat remaining 6 tablespoons butter until creamy. Add granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar; beat until well combined. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• Pour batter over grapefruit in pan. Bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; turn cake out onto serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature, with whipped cream if desired.

FRESH GRAPEFRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in zest and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with grapefruit juice. Beat just until combined. Stir in milk. , Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, combine the sugar, egg whites, corn syrup and salt in a large heavy saucepan over low heat or double boiler over simmering water. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160°, about 8-10 minutes. , Pour into the bowl of a heavy-duty stand bowl; gradually add the grapefruit juice, zest and vanilla. Beat on high until frosting forms stiff peaks, about 7 minutes. Spread between layers and frost entire cake.