babycakes

Sweet little mini vanilla cakes with whipped cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any celebration. Even if the celebration is just you...at home...eatin cake by yourself...on a Thursday. Celebrate it, people.

Mixing the cake batter.

Mixed to its full fluffiness.

the final cakes.

GOLDEN LAYER CAKE

(courtesy of How to Cook Everything)

1 and 1/4 sticks butter, softened

2 cups cake or all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

4 eggs or 8 yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract OR 1 tablespoon grated or minced orange zest

1/4 teaspoon almond extract (if you are shy about almond extract, leave it out. tasty both ways.)

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

For cupcakes, preheat oven to 350. Place your cupcake papers in the muffin tin.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth, then gradually add the sugar. Beat until light, 3 or 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs or the yolks (I used eggs) one at a time, then the vanilla or orange zest, and the almond extract.

Combine the flour, baking powder and salt and add to the egg mixture a bit at a time, stirring in milk as needed. Stir until just smooth.

Fill the cupcake papers, each with about 2 large spoonfuls of batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a rack. Frost and serve without the paper.

FLUFFY WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon food coloring (optional)

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Add food coloring, if desired. Whip in a stand mixer at high speed, about 4 minutes until airy and fluffy.