One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.
* Luciano Pavarotti & William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

December 13, 2008

candy cane bundt cake

as served at richard & erica's Christmas party last night:
idea from hostess with the mostess, white cake recipe from the joy of cooking

CANDY CANE CAKE:
preheat oven to 375
have all ingredients at room temperature
grease & flour 12C bundt pan

sift together twice:
  • 3 1/2 C flour
  • 1 Tb + 1tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
combine:
  • 1 C milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
in a large bowl (kitchenaid mixer bowl), beat until creamy:
  • 2 sticks (1lb) butter
gradually add & beat on high speed until lightened in color & texture, 3-5mins:
  • 1 2/3 C sugar
add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 parts, beating on low speed or stirring with a rubber spatula until smooth & scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. (this will be really really thick.) in another large bowl, beat on medium until soft peaks form:
  • 8 egg whites (YES EIGHT)
  • 3/8 tsp cream of tartar
gradually add, beating on high speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form:
  • 1/3 C sugar
use a rubber scraper to fold in 1/4 of egg whites into the butter mixture (have fun, this is not fun), then fold in the remaining whites.

take 3/4C batter out of the bowl. add to it:
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1/2 tsp red food coloring
pour 1/2 of the regular batter into prepared pan. carefully pour red/peppermint batter over white batter in pan. top with remaining white batter. bake until a toothpick comes out clean - about 40-60minutes. let cool for 10mins in pan & then remove from pan onto cooling rack & let cool completely (about an hour).

FROSTING:
1 C powdered sugar
1 Tb milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
whisk together until smooth & runny-ish. drizzle over cooled cake & top with (2) crushed candy canes.

p.s. for a much faster/easier version of this cake, you can cheat like hostess with the mostess & use a white cake mix instead!

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