Bring some rays of sunshine to your table with this Winter Solstice Cake. The dessert will brighten up any dreary winter's night. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ingredients
- 2 packages (16 ounces each) Betty Crocker pound cake mix
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup thawed lemonade concentrate
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- candy:
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 1/8 teaspoon yellow food coloring
- lemon filling:
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon curd
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- cream cheese frosting:
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup lemon curd
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 cups confectioners' sugar
- Yellow edible glitter
Directions
- In a large bowl, beat the cake mixes, eggs, water, lemonade concentrate, butter and lemon zest. Transfer to 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, line 3 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans with parchment; set aside.
- In a large heavy saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. Uncover and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage).
- Remove from the heat; stir in lemon extract and food coloring (keep face away from mixture as flavoring is very strong). Immediately pour into prepared pans forming small zigzag shapes. Let cool completely.
- For filling, beat cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form; set aside. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, lemon curd and lemon peel. Fold in whipped cream.
- Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup filling. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer.
- For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, lemon curd, vanilla and salt until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Frost top and sides of cake. Break candy into shards; insert into frosting forming rays of sunlight. Sprinkle cake with edible glitter. Refrigerate leftovers.
Holiday Favorites
Loading Popular in the Community
Loading Reviews