Yummiest Cake Ever

I'm a girl with a sweet tooth. My fella, Mr. B...not so much. So I am always trying to find dessert recipes that will satisfy my craving for sugary delights while not overwhelming those (ahem) who are not quite as addicted to the white stuff. Naturally, when I need some food inspiration, I turn to the Queen of Buttery Goodness, Paula Deen. Because Paula is simply the good-cooking grannie I never had, unapologetic in her use of every single item my health-conscious mom shunned when I was growing up (butter, cream, sugar, salt) and I love her for it! So you have to know I was thrilled to find this recipe for Grapefruit Cake with Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting, which was sufficiently sweet without being cloying and was refreshing to boot! It is now Mr. B's favorite cake. I think I'll make it for his birthday next week.

Grapefruit Cake with Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2008

Show: Paula's Best DishesEpisode: Long Lost Recipes

Total Time:

45 min

Prep

20 min

Cook

25 min

Yield:

8 servings

Level:

Easy

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon grapefruit zest
• 3 tablespoons grapefruit juice
• 3 egg yolks
• 3 eggs whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch cake pan with waxed paper and spray with nonstick oil.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center for dry ingredients. Add water, oil, zest, grapefruit juice and egg yolks. Beat until smooth. Beat egg whites andcream of tartar separately until whites are stiff but not dry. Gradually fold egg whites into flour mixture with a rubber spatula until just blended. Do not stir the mixture.

Pour batter into prepared cake pan.

Bake for 25 minutes or until cake springs back when gently touched with a finger. Invert pan on cake rack to cool. Run spatula around edge of cake. Carefully remove from pan. With a serrated knife, gently cut layer in half.

Grapefruit Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 2 (6-ounce) packages cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
• 1 teaspoon grapefruit zest
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 6 to 8 drops yellow food coloring
• 1 (1-pound) can grapefruit sections, well drained

Let cream cheese soften to room temperature. Beat cheese until fluffy. Add grapefruit juice and zest. Gradually blend in sugar. Mix until well blended. Add food coloring. Crush several grapefruit sections to measure 2 teaspoons.

Blend into frosting. Spread frosting on bottom half of cake. Top with several grapefruit sections. Cover with second layer of cake. Frost top and sides. Garnish with remaining grapefruit sections.