Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients:
Cake:
2 cups Flour
2 cups Sugar
¼ teaspoons Salt
4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
2 sticks Butter
1 cup Boiling Water
½ cups Buttermilk*
2 whole Beaten Eggs
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla
_____
Frosting:
½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
1 & ¾ stick Butter
4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
6 Tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 ½ cups Powdered Sugar

Directions:
Use an 18×13 sheet cake pan/jelly roll pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop pecans finely. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together. Add the pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake. The warmth of the cake should do most of the work for you, causing the frosting to spread on its own.

*to make Buttermilk substitute: pour just under 1/2 cup regular milk into the measuring cup, then add enough regular vinegar to the milk to bring the quantity up to 1/2 cup. Within seconds, it turns into buttermilk and works perfectly.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Ingredients:
For the cake:
1/2 pound dates, pitted and coarsely chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature


For the toffee sauce:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:
For the cake:
Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat 8 (6-ounce) ramekins with butter and flour; set aside. (I used 7 but 3 of my ramekins were slightly larger)
Combine dates, water, and baking soda in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and set aside.
Place salt and flour in a medium bowl, whisk to combine, and set aside. Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer over high heat for a water bath.
Combine butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and airy, about 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add vanilla extract, then beat in eggs one at a time, just until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in date mixture until well combined, then stir in flour mixture until just incorporated (don’t overmix).
Divide batter evenly among prepared ramekins and set them in a roasting pan or baking dish (you will likely need to use both a 13-by-9-inch dish and an 8-by-8-inch dish to fit them all). Pour simmering water into the bottom of the baking dishes until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Very carefully place the baking dishes on the center rack of the oven. Bake until the center of each cake is just set and a cake tester inserted into the middle of each comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the toffee sauce.

For the toffee sauce:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When it foams, add brown sugar and vanilla extract or seeds, stir once, and heat until bubbling and the color of maple syrup, about 5 minutes.
Carefully add cream in a slow stream while stirring, and cook until the sauce bubbles up and increases in volume, about 2 minutes; remove from heat.

To Serve:
When the cakes are finished, remove the ramekins from the oven and place on a cooling rack to come to room temperature. Once the cakes are cool, run a knife around the perimeter of each and invert to remove from the ramekins, then place upright on a serving plate. Serve the cakes at room temperature or slightly warmed, covered in warm toffee sauce.

Gingerbread Cake With Cream Sauce

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups flour
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp saltMix until crumbly.
Reserve 1/2 cup of the above mixture for the streusel topping.
To this, add 1/2 cup chopped pecans, if desired.
To the remainder, mix in
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs

Directions:
Pour batter into a well-greased 13x9 baking pan. sprinkle with the reserved streusel topping. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Watch carefully so you don't overbake. Let cool slightly, and serve warm with Cream Sauce.Cream Sauce1 cup sugar1 cup heavy cream1/2 cup butterdash gingerCombine and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Stir 4 minutes. Serve and warm sauce over gingerbread. Refrigerate any remaining sauce.

Apple Date & Nut Cake

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups diced apples
1 cup chopped dates rolled in flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and cinnamon with a wire whisk and set aside.
Combine sugar and oil using a mixer until blended.
Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Add flour mixture and mix well.
Stir in nuts, dates and apples. The batter will be very thick.
Pour into a greased and floured 9 X 13 pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.
Cool cake and using a skewer, poke holes in cake.
Cook topping ingredients on stove until mixture bubbles.
Pour topping over cake letting some seep into the cake.

Butterscotch Brownie Cake

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) butterscotch chips, divided
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup morsels and nuts. Spread into ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining morsels.BAKE for 30 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Butterscotch Ganache
6 oz. butterscotch morsels

6 Tbsp heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsp unsalted butter
In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
Pour over the butterscotch morsels.
Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.
Pour over brownies.

For chocolate ganache, just replace butterscotch morsels for semi-sweet chocolate morsels.

After the brownie cakes cool, added some yummy butterscotch ganache. Make sure to put some wax paper or foil underneath your cooling rack so you don’t get ganache all over the place.

In these pictures, Bakerella used two 5" pans for the brownie cake and then made a single 6" round.

Yum Yum Rum Cake

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 small package vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup rum (not extract!) --I get this from my co-workers
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease bundt pan and sprinkle with pecans; set aside. Mix all ingredients except the eggs in a large bowl on medium speed; then add the eggs one at a time until incorporated. Pour batter into the bundt pan. Bake for one hour or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Yum Yum Sauce:1/4 cup rum (again, NOT extract!)1 cup sugar1 stick butter1/4 cup water
In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and sugar over medium heat; add the water and stir until you have a smooth liquid. Remove from heat and add the rum. Spoon over cake while still hot in the pan.*I like to take a toothpick and poke holes all over the top of the cake, that way the glaze soaks in better.Invert the cake onto a serving platter, cover with plastic wrap and store at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, separated
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
16 ounces sour cream
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
12 ounces chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar, then mix in the egg yolks and vanilla. Sift flour, baking soda and baking powder together into a separate bowl. Alternately add sour cream and then dry ingredients into butter mixture. Beat eggs whites until stiff, then fold into batter. Mix last 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon together in a separate, small dish.
In a greased 9″x13″ pan, pour in half of the cake batter. Sprinkle the top with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture and half of the chocolate chips. Pour remaining batter on top, sprinkling the top with the remaining cinnamon-sugar and chocolate chips. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.*I halved the recipe and got a nice 9-inch cake; perfect for 2-4.

Hazelnut Cupcakes

Ingredients:
Cupcakes
1 1/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup cocoa
1/8 tsp salt
3 Tbl butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 cup hazelnut coffee creamer

Nutella Buttercream
1 cup butter, softened
3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 Tbl hazelnut coffee creamer
1 cup nutella

Directions:
Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the first 5 ingredients. In separate bowl cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time and stir in vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and creamer. Pour batter into lined cupcake pan and bake for 7-10 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

Nutella Buttercream
Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in nutella and creamer until combined. Add powdered sugar until desired consistency is acquired.

Yogurt-Marmalade Cake

Ingredients:
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
½ teaspoons Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 cup (heaping) Plain, Lowfat Yogurt
1 cup Sugar
3 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 whole Zest Of Lemon
½ cups Canola Oil
_____
ORANGE GLAZE:
½ cups Prepared Orange Marmelade
¼ cups Yogurt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a loaf pan with non-stick baking spray (or grease and flour it if it makes your skirt fly up). Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup of yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and canola oil until just combined. Pour over dry ingredients and mix until just combined; do not over beat.
Pour into a loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Remove from pan. While cake is cooling, pour marmalade into a sauce pan. Heat it on low until melted, stirring occasionally. Add 1/4 cup of yogurt to the pan and turn off heat. Stir to combine, then pour slowly over the top of the cake, allowing icing to pool around the sides.

7-Up Cake

Ingredients:
3 sticks Butter
3 cups Sugar
5 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Butter Flavoring
2 teaspoons Lemon Flavoring
3 cups All-purpose Flour
1 cup Sprite, 7-UP, Or Sierra Mist

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cream butter. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing after each addition. Add butter and lemon extracts and mix well. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add soft drink, then mix together until combined. Scrape sides of bowl, then mix briefly.
Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until the cake is no longer jiggly.
Remove cake from oven and invert pan until cake drops out. Slice and chow down!

Pumpkin and Maple Gingerbread Bundt Cake

Ingredients:
In one bowl, mix:
3 eggs
1 C canned pumpkin
1 C sugar
1/2 C oil
1 T cinnamon
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 C milk
2 C flour
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla

In another bowl, mix:
3 eggs
1 1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C molasses
1/2 C oil
1 T ginger
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 C milk
1 3/4 C flour
1/2 t salt
1 t maple extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat all ingredients together. Pour each batter in rotating layers into a well greased & floured bundt pan. Run a knife through the layers to marble the batters together. Bake bundt for 52-55 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched.

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients:
Cake:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda3
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
2/3 cup mashed (canned) pumpkin
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15 X 10-inch jelly roll pan. Cut wax paper to fit the bottom of the pan and leave an inch overhang on each of the short ends of the pan. Lightly grease the wax paper and sides of the jelly roll pan.Mix the sugar, flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, eggs and pumpkin in a large bowl. Once mixed, pour mixture over the waxed paper. Sprinkle the walnuts, if using, on top of the mixture. Bake for 14-15 minutes until edges pull away from the sides of the pan and center is done.Lay a large dishtowel on the counter top (it is best to use a dishtowel without any texture - a tea towel or similar towel works best). Spread a thick dusting of powdered sugar all over the towel. When the cake comes out of the oven, turn the pan upside down on the powdered sugar-laden towel so the wax paper is on the top. Gently peel off the wax paper, being careful not to tear the roll. Starting at one of the short ends, roll the pumpkin cake up with the towel to cool. While the roll is cooling, mix the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar together until it is light and creamy. Once the roll is cool, unroll and with an offset spatula, carefully spread filling in an even layer over the cake. Roll it up without the towel and place in the refrigerator (covered with plastic wrap or wax paper) for about an hour before serving.

Baby Food Spice Cake

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 cups flour
1 small jar (stage 2 size) baby food carrots
1 small jar (stage 2 size) baby food applesauce
1 small jar (stage 2 size) baby food peaches or apricots
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:
Mix the above ingredients. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 X 13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes.

Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 C butter
4 C powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Sunni: When I make it I usually double it, pour it in a sheet pan that's like 2" thick. I don't use all the batter. This cake rises a ton so be careful. With the leftover batter I make cupcakes. You will definitely want to double the frosting though! It's the BEST cream cheese frosting ever! Play with the baking times. This cake cooks kinda dark so it's hard to judge when it's done.

Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup peeled and chopped baking apple (I used granny smith)
heaping tablespoon of raw sugar (demerara, turbinado or Sugar in the Raw)
extra cinnamon for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside. In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, about two minutes. Add vanilla and egg and beat well. With the mixer set to low speed, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add half the buttermilk and continue beating on low speed until incorporated. Scraping down sides of bowl as necessary, beat in another 1/3 of flour mixture then remaining buttermilk. Finally beat in the last 1/3 of the flour mixture until just combined.
3. Scrape batter into the cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Scatter apple pieces evenly over the top of the cake batter then sprinkle evenly with raw sugar. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
4. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pan for ten minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool until warm. Invert onto a plate.

Top with Salted Caramel Sauce if desired:

1 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
Stir together sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan, place over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Let boil until amber in color, about 3 minutes.
Immediately add butter and stir to incorporate. Remove from heat, add cream and salt, and mix well. Serve immediately or let cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Ingredients:
3 .5 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk, room temperature

Cream Cheese Icing
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp milk
Cream butter and cream cheese. Add sugar and milk until thoroughly combined.Spread on top of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.Sift flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.Using a mixer, cream butter, cream cheesea nd sugar for about 6 minutes.Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.Add vanilla and milk until combined.Add flour mixture until completely combined.Pour into two greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans. Stir in 2-cups hulled and diced strawberries for each loaf if desired. Bake for about 60 minutes or until done.

Banana Cinnamon Chip Cake

Ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas 2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour1 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup cinnamon chips
For topping:
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. In a medium mixing bowl, mash the bananas well with a fork or potato masher. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar. Add ¾ cup of the cinnamon chips, and stir briefly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the batter in the pan, and top with the remaining ¼ cup chips. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Blueberry Lemon Loaf Cake

Ingredients:
1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 C. plain whole-milk yogurt or used low fat sour cream
1 1/3 C. sugar, divided
3 extra-large eggs
2 tsp. grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 C. vegetable oil
3/4 cup fresh blueberries (coated with flour to stop them from sinking)
1/3 C. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Glaze:
1 C. confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the sour cream, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the oil into the batter, making sure it’s all incorporated. Slowly fold in the blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 C. lemon juice and remaining 1/3 C. sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.
When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.
For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Coconut Lime Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup sweetened, flaked coconut, divided

1 stick butter, softened

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon grated lime zest

2 large eggs, at room temperature

3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

5 tablespoons lime juice, divided

1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in the middle. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan, line bottom with a round of parchment paper then butter the parchment paper.
2. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Measure out 1/2 cup of shredded coconut and process in a mini food processor until very finely chopped (you can also finely chop it with a knife). Stir the chopped coconut into the flour mixture and set aside. Combine buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of lime juice; set aside.
3. Beat together butter, sugar, and lime zest with an electric mixer until very fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Turn mixer to low speed, add one third of the flour mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula.
4. Spoon batter into the buttered cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree oven until golden and a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool to warm, then turn out of pan and discard parchment.
5. Whisk together powdered sugar and the remaining three tablespoons of lime juice. Poke top of cake all over with a fork then pour glaze over the cake. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of coconut.

German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
Cake:
2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 T water
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp
1 1/4 C + 1/4 C sugar
4 large eggs, separated
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 C buttermilk, at room temp
1 t vanilla extract

Filling:
1 C evaporated milk
1 C sugar
3 beaten egg yolks
1 stick butter
1 t vanilla extract
1 C pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 1/3 C coconut, toasted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Butter or spray baking pan (9x13 or 2 9" rounds)
Melt both chocolates together with the 6 T water in the microwave. Stir until smooth, then set aside until room temp.
In a mixer, beat the butter, and 1 1/4 C sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 mins. Beat in the melted chocolate, then the egg yolks 1 at a time.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt.
Mix in half of the dry ingredients into mixer, then the buttermilk and vanilla, then the rest of the dry ingredients.
In a separate metal or glass bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold soft, droopy peaks. Beat in the 1/4 C sugar until stiff.
Fold about 1/3 of the egg whites into the cake batter to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites just until there's no trace of egg whites visisible.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, smooth the tops and back for about 45 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake completely.

Mix together the evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla in a saucepan. Heat the mixture and cook, stirring constantly until the it begins to thicken and coats the spoon (170 degrees). Mix in the pecans and coconut. Cool to room temperature (it will thicken).

Makes enough frosting to generously cover a 9x13 cake or 2 on top of each round.

Bakerella's Yellow Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter (room temperature)
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs (room temperature)
3 cups of sifted self-rising flour (White Lily)
1 cup of whole milk (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour (3) 8 inch cake pans.
Using a mixer, cream butter until fluffy.
Add sugar and continue to cream for about 7 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg is added.
Add flour and milk (alternating to creamed mixture), beginning and ending with flour.
Add vanilla and butter flavoring to mix; until just mixed.
Divide batter equally into three cake pans.
Hold each layer about 3 inches above your counter and carefully drop the pans flat onto counter several times to ensure release of any air bubbles. This will help you have a more level cake.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes (depending on your oven) until done.
Cool in pans for 5 - 10 minutes.
Remove and immediately wrap each layer in plastic wrap to seal in moisture. Cool completely on wire racks.
Once cooled, you are ready to assemble your cake. Here's a little trick to add moisture into your layers: Combine 1 cup of sugar and 2 cups of water. Bring to boil and boil for approximately 3 minutes. Let cool. Pour liquid into a spray bottle or pouring bottle.

Cake assembly:
Unwrap first layer and using a serrated knife, level off the top of your cake.
Place layer onto your dish. Take a straw and poke holes into the layer. Using your spray bottle, spray top of layer several times; enough to give it a little moisture. Be careful – don’t add too much.
Add a layer of frosting to your bottom layer. Repeat on second and third layers.
Frost the sides.

Easy Buttercream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1b. box powdered sugar
1-3 teaspoons milk, half and half or cream

Using a mixer, cream softened butter and vanilla until smooth.
Add sugar gradually, allowing butter and sugar to cream together before adding more.
If you want your frosting a little creamier, add a teaspoon of milk at a time and beat on high until you get the right texture.
Then, just use icing colors to tint the frosting the color of your choice.This is usually just enough for a 2-layer cake, so I would recommend doubling this for a three-layer. But, I like a lot of frosting.