Directions (continued)
- container to store before use.
- CAKE: Line two greased 12-in. round baking pans with parchment or
- waxed paper; grease and flour paper and set aside. In a bowl, cream
- shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after
- each. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed
- mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in additional cake
- ingredients based on the desired cake flavor. Pour into prepared
- pans. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick
- inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before
- removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- FROSTING: In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and
- confectioners' sugar until well combined. Beat in milk, vanilla and
- salt until mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- ASSEMBLING: Split each cooled cake into two horizontal layers. Place
- bottom layer on serving plate; spread with a thin layer of frosting.
- Top with 3/4 cup filling of your choice. Spread a thin later of
- frosting over the bottom of next layer; place cake, frosted side
- down, over filling. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake
- layer.
- Set aside 3 cups frosting. Tint remaining frosting with color of your
- choice; set aside 1/2 cup. Spread remaining tinted frosting over top
- and sides of cake. Place reserved tinted frosting in a pastry or
- plastic bag with round tip #4. Pipe lettering and outlines over cake
- topper. Let dry.
- FINISHING: Place reserved white frosting in a pastry bag with star
- tip #21. Pipe eight vertical columns around sides of cake. With the
- same tip, pipe a shell border around top and bottom of cake.
- Just before serving, use small dabs of frosting to attach numerals
- between columns and roses at top of columns. Stand cake topper up in
- center of cake; continue to hold while piping two large dollops of
- frosting on either side of cake topper. Using leaf tip #69, pipe
- leaves around cluster of roses. (Dried decorations will collapse
- upon refrigeration. Remove to save.) Yield: 25-30 servings.
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 piece) equals 774 calories, 29 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 81 mg cholesterol, 454 mg sodium, 123 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.