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Play Ball Cake

You won't need any fancy pans for this sporting dessert. The kids always want the pieces that have the red licorice "lacing!" I have found that fresh, pliable licorice works the best for forming the laces on the curved ball cake. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

8-10 ServingsPrep: 30 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
FROSTING:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons milk, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Dash salt
1/4 cup baking cocoa
Shoestring red licorice

Directions

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk
to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour 1-1/2
cups batter into a greased and floured 3-cup ovenproof bowl.

2 of 2

Play Ball Cake (continued)

Directions (continued)

Pour remaining batter into a greased and floured 9-in. round baking
pan. Bake both cakes at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10
minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the shortening, butter and
confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in 3 tablespoons milk,
extracts and salt until smooth. Set aside 1 cup.
To remaining frosting, beat in cocoa and remaining milk. Cut a 3-in.
x 1-in. oval for the thumb opening from an edge of the 9-in. cake.
Place cake on a 11-in. covered board. Frost with chocolate frosting.
With four pieces of licorice, form two crosses over thumb opening for
laces in mitt. Frost the rounded cake with white frosting. Use
licorice pieces to form laces of ball. Place on mitt cake opposite
the thumb opening. Yield: 8-10 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 piece) equals 678 calories, 31 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 71 mg cholesterol, 334 mg sodium, 95 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 6 g protein.