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Winter Solstice Cake

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 50 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling YIELD: 16 servings.
Bring some rays of sunshine to your table with this Winter Solstice Cake. The dessert will brighten up any dreary winter's night. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (16 ounces each) Betty Crocker pound cake mix
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 2/3 cup thawed lemonade concentrate
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • CANDY:
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon yellow food coloring
  • LEMON FILLING:
  • 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon curd
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup lemon curd
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups confectioners' sugar
  • Yellow edible glitter

Directions

  • 1. In a large bowl, beat the cake mixes, eggs, water, lemonade concentrate, butter and lemon zest. Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  • 2. Meanwhile, line 3 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans with parchment; set aside.
  • 3. In a large heavy saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. Uncover and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage).
  • 4. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon extract and food coloring (keep face away from mixture as flavoring is very strong). Immediately pour into prepared pans forming small zigzag shapes. Let cool completely.
  • 5. For filling, beat cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form; set aside. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, lemon curd and lemon peel. Fold in whipped cream.
  • 6. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup filling. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer.
  • 7. For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, lemon curd, vanilla and salt until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Frost top and sides of cake. Break candy into shards; insert into frosting forming rays of sunlight. Sprinkle cake with edible glitter. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 888 calories, 41g fat (20g saturated fat), 172mg cholesterol, 472mg sodium, 126g carbohydrate (98g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.

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