5 large egg whites
3/4 cup unsalted butter -- softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
WHITE SILK FROSTING and CHOCOLATE
AMARETTO FILLING
1 pound cream cheese -- softened
6 tablespoons unsalted butter -- softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 pounds confectioners sugar
3 squares semisweet chocolate -- melted, cooled
1 tablespoon Amaretto
White and Dark chocolate leaves -- for garnish
Preheat oven to 350F and arrange rack to the center position. Grease and
flour three, 8-inch round cake pans. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not
dry and set aside briefly. In a separate bowl, beat the butter with the
sugar until light and fluffy, then add the vanilla and almond extracts.
Blend smooth. Whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt and add
alternately to the batter with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry
mixture. Fold egg whites into the batter and divide mixture evenly between
the two prepared pans. Bake about 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted
in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool layers in their pans 10
minutes, then loosen and turn out onto a rack to complete cooling.
YIELD: Three 8-inch layers
Beat cream cheese with butter until smooth. Blend in vanilla and almond
extracts. Gradually beat in confectioners sugar until smooth. Remove 1 cup
of frosting and blend with the chocolate and Amaretto. Reserve the remaining
white frosting and set aside. Spread 1/2 of the chocolate frosting evenly
over bottom layer of cake. Arrange the second cake layer over the first,
then repeat, using the remaining chocolate frosting. Use the served white
frosting to cover the sides and top of the cake. Decorate the top of the
cake with an assortment of white and dark chocolate leaves.
YIELD: One 8-inch cake
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