White Butter Cake
Ingredients
2 large eggs, separated (36 grams egg yolks and 65 grams egg whites)
1 3/4 cups (175 grams) sifted cake flour
2 teaspoons (8 grams) baking powder
1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) salt
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 grams) milk, at room temperature
1/8 teaspoon (1 gram) cream of tartar
Filling:
1/4 cup (75 grams) jam or preserves (homemade or store bought)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup (113 grams) butter, at room temperature
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) full fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups (360 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
zest of 1 lemon or orange (outer skin of lemon or orange) (optional)
Method
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place your oven rack in the center of the oven.
Butter and flour two - 8 inch (20 cm) round cake pans.
Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
Separate your eggs while they are still cold, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl.
Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).
In a mixing bowl sift the flour with the baking powder and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until soft.
Add 3/4 cup (150 grams) of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture (in three additions) and the milk (in two additions), beginning and ending with the flour.
In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy.
Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup (50 grams) of sugar and continue to beat (on high speed) until stiff and shiny peaks form.
With a rubber spatula gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then fold in the remaining whites (in two additions) until combined.
Do not over mix the batter or it will deflate.
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans (about 340 grams of batter in each pan) and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (the cakes will spring back if lightly touched in their centers and you will notice that the cakes are just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan).
Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
Place a wire rack on top of each cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan and gently peeling off the parchment paper.
Re-invert each cake onto a greased wire rack.
Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and place the cake layers in the refrigerator or freezer for about 30 minutes. (This is done to make filling and frosting the cakes easier.)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
In your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together until nice and smooth with no lumps.
Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until well combined.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the zest (if using) and vanilla extract and beat on high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Assemble:
Place one of the cake layers onto your serving platter. Spread the cake layer with your favorite jam.
Next, spread about 3/4 cup of the frosting on top of the jam.
Place the next cake layer, top of the cake facing up, onto the filling.
Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
If you like you can pipe a border around the outside of the cake.
Cover and refrigerate until serving time. If desired, garnish the top of the cake with fresh berries.
Serves about 10 - 12 people.