Prep Time: 1 hour, 0 minute
Cook Time: 0 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1-3/4 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 cup ground walnuts
- 1-1/2 cups whipping cream
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 3 eggs
- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 12 oz. jar seedless raspberry preserves
Preparation:
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and ground walnuts. Stir well with wire whisk to mix. In a small bowl, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside. In large bowl, using same beaters, beat together sugar, vanilla and eggs for 5 minutes at highest speed, until light and fluffy.
Alternately fold dry ingredients and the whipped cream into the egg mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture, and treat the batter very carefully.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when touched, and cake layers begin to pull away from edges of pan. Cool 15 minutes, then remove layers from pans, and cool completely.
In large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1/8 tsp. salt and 2 tsp. vanilla until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl often. You may need to add a bit more powdered sugar or cream as needed to get a light and fluffy frosting consistency.
Now split each layer of the cake in half. To do this, place toothpicks around each layer, sticking out around the edge, to mark the halfway point. Using a serrated knife, carefully cut the cake layers in half. You will then have four layers. Here´s a new trick I learned from Martha (you know who I mean!). To transfer the delicate layers, carefully slide a very thin cookie sheet, without edges, in between the cut layers. Then slide it onto the serving plate.
Place the bottom half of one layer on the serving place and spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with top half of that cake layer and spread with 1/2 cup raspberry preserves. Repeat with third and four layers, topping with frosting and raspberry preserves, respectively, reassembling the layers back in their original form. Then frost the sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. If you like, you can pipe frosting in a decorative pattern on top of the preserves that top the cake. Store in refrigerator.
Note:
Okay, now that you are thoroughly threatened by this recipe, there is an easier way! Don´t cut the cake layers in half. Simply put the two layers together with about 1/2 cup of raspberry preserves, then frost top and sides with the cream cheese frosting - pile it on. You'll still have a wonderful cake, with less work.
Or, you can make a two-layer white cake using any white cake mix. Let the layers cool completely, then slice the layers in half and layer as directed, or simply fill and frost the two layers.
