-CAKE LAYERS-
7 1/2 c Unbleached all purpose flour
3 tb Baking powder
2 ts Salt
2 3/4 c Unsalted butter; room
-temperature (5
; 1/2 sticks)
5 2/3 c Sugar
2 1/2 tb Vanilla extract
2 ts Almond extract
3 3/4 c Whole milk; (do not use
-low-fat
; or nonfat)
18 lg Egg whites; (about 2 1/3
-cups),
; room temperature
SOAKING SYRUP
2 c Kahlua or other coffee
-liqueur
1 1/2 c Water
1/2 c Plus 1 tablespoon instant
-espresso powder
; or coffee powder
FROSTING
14 pk Cream cheese; room
-temperature
; (8-ounce)
7 c Powdered sugar
2 1/3 c Chilled whipping cream
7 tb Sweet Marsala
3 1/2 tb Vanilla extract
ASSEMBLY
12 oz Semisweet chocolate; chopped
1 Cardboard cake round;
-(6-inch-diameter)
1 Cardboard cake round;
-(9-inch-diameter)
1 Cardboard cake round;
-(12-inch-diameter)
1 Revolving cake stand;
-(optional)
; (11-inch-diameter)
9 Wood dowels; (12-inch-long,
; 1/4-inch-diameter)
4 1/2 c Assorted berries; (such as
; raspberries,
; blueberries,
; blackberries and
; strawberries)
Fresh mint sprigs
SERVING
12 c Mixed berries; (such as
; raspberries,
; blueberries,
; blackberries and
; hulled, quartered
; strawberries)
6 tb Sugar
Cake Layers:
Position racks in top and bottom thirds of oven and preheat to 350F. Butter
one 12-inch-diameter cake pan with 3-inch-high sides, one 9-inch-diameter
cake pan with 3-inch-high sides and one 6-inch-diameter cake pan with
3-inch-high sides.* Line bottoms with parchment. Sift flour, baking powder
and salt into medium bowl. Using handheld electric mixer, beat butter in
12-quart bowl on medium-high speed until light. Gradually add sugar and
beat until well blended. Beat in extracts. On medium-low speed, beat in dry
ingredients alternately with milk in 3 additions each, beating just until
combined (batter will be thick).
Using electric mixer fitted with clean dry beaters, beat whites in another
large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of whites into batter to
lighten. Fold in remaining whites. Spoon batter into prepared pans so that
depth of batter is the same in each pan; smooth tops. Bake until tops are
deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55
minutes for 6-inch cake, about 1 hour 5 minutes for 9-inch cake and about 1
hour 20 minutes for 12-inch cake. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes.
Run knife around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn out cakes onto racks and
peel off parchment. Cool cakes completely.
Soaking Syrup:
Mix all ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat
until mixture is reduced to 2 2/3 cups, stirring occasionally, about 10
minutes. Cool syrup completely.
Frosting:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until light.
Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add cream, Marsala and vanilla
and beat until well blended. Cover and let stand at room temperature up to
1 hour.
continued in part 2
Yields
1 servings