Recipes: Shades of Love Cake and Buttercream Frosting

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Makes about 7 cups.

Note: You will need a candy thermometer for this frosting. Vanilla bean paste is a liquid available in larger grocery stores and specialty shops; it has tiny vanilla seeds which will be visible in the cake and frosting. Vanilla extract can be substituted. Raw eggs are used in the frosting. With a 6-inch cake, you will have leftover frosting. From Ross Sveback, www.RossSveback.com.

Step 1:

• 2 c. granulated sugar

• 1/2 c. water

• 2 whole eggs plus 2 egg whites

• 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 3/4 c. (3/4 stick) shortening, such as Crisco

• 11/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract (see Note)

Step 3:

• 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature

• 1 lb. (33/4 c.) powdered sugar

• 11/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste (see Note)

Directions

Step 1: Stir together granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until a candy thermometer reaches the softball stage (235 to 240 degrees). Remove from heat and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat whole eggs with egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Slowly dribble in the hot syrup. Once all the syrup is added, beat for 10 minutes. (You might want to set a timer.) Pour the syrup into a clear container or bowl and let chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Step 2: Place 2 sticks butter and shortening in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on high speed, stopping several times to scrape the bowl and beater, until the mixture is light in color with a whipped texture. Reduce speed to low and add 11/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste. Slowly pour in the syrup. When all the syrup is added, increase speed to medium and beat until well-mixed and fluffy. Scrape mixture into a bowl and set aside.

Step 3: Place cream cheese and 1 stick butter in mixing bowl. Using a paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until well-combined. Reduce speed and slowly add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, then increase speed and beat until there are no visible lumps. Add 11/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste and mix thoroughly.

Scrape the mixture from Step 2 into the mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until thoroughly combined.

The frosting should be at room temperature to frost the cake, but may be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. Let thaw at room temperature for several hours before using.

To color the frosting, see the directions for the cake (below).

Serves 8 decadently, 12 to 16 reasonably.

Note: You can use either liquid or gel food coloring. The recipe calls for 6-inch round cake pans, but 8-inch pans work, too; the layers will be thinner. If you don't have 4 pans, bake 2 layers at a time (or even singly.) The cake and frosting also looks lovely in shades of yellow, for spring celebrations. From Ross Sveback, www.RossSveback.com.

• 2 c. cake flour

•11/2 tsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 3/4 c. granulated sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 c. buttermilk

• 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract (see Note with frosting)

• About 5 to 51/2 c. Buttercream Frosting (see recipe)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and move oven rack to center. Prepare cake pans with baking spray or shortening, then dust with flour. Trace a pan's outline on parchment paper and cut four rounds that fit inside the pans. (See Note about baking with fewer than 4 pans.)

In a small bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed and add eggs, one at a time, then add the buttermilk. Add vanilla bean paste and beat until well-combined.

To color the layers: Measure 1 cup of batter each into three bowls, leaving 1 cup of batter in the mixing bowl.

In the first bowl, add a very small amount -- only a drop -- of red food coloring and stir until no streaks remain. In the second bowl, add a bit more food coloring to make the second layer slightly darker, and mix well. Repeat with the third bowl, adding enough food coloring to make it darker than the last. The colors for all 3 layers should be distinctively different shades. Keep tweaking until you like the look. The layer in the mixing bowl should stay its natural color.

Scrape batter into pans and smooth with a spatula.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Invert cakes onto a wire rack and peel off parchment paper.

When cool, wrap each layer in plastic wrap and refrigerate to chill completely, about an hour.

On a cake plate, dab a bit of frosting to anchor the bottom cake layer, the one most deeply colored. Spread with 1/3 cup of white frosting. Top with the layer in the next shade and spread with 1/3 cup of frosting. Top with the last colored layer and spread with 1/3 cup of frosting. Top with the last layer -- the uncolored one. Using about 1 cup of frosting, spread a thin coating over the top and sides of the cake. Place cake in the refrigerator while preparing the colored frosting.

To color the frosting: Measure 3/4 cup of frosting into each of three small bowls, and 11/2 cups into a larger bowl. Add a very small amount of red food coloring to the bowl with the 11/2 cups for frosting and mix well. Add gradually more color to each of the remaining bowls, mixing until you have 4 distinctive shades of pink. Don't be shy; the deepest colored frosting should be a little dramatic.

The frosting rosettes need a Wilton 1M frosting tip. You can use a pastry bag to pipe the frosting, or you can use 4 plastic sandwich bags. Cut off a 1/4-inch tip off one corner, then place the frosting tip in the hole, pressing it halfway through. To fill with frosting, place the bag in a glass, folding the edge over the rim, then fill.