"Ode To Joy" Winter White Cake

It's a new year full of promise and possibilities. I think it's a perfect time to start out with a classic white cake.
White is the palette of the season. But there's no rules that state I can't add a color burst of WOW. So I decorated the white frosted cake with the prettiest shimmering sugar I could find, lustrous amethyst. I've taken the ordinary to extraordinary.

Ingredients:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1-1/2 cups half-and-half
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Whipped Cream Frosting
Amethyst shimmer sugar, for decoration

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 3 (8-inch) pans with baking spray with flour; line with parchment paper, and spray again; set aside.

2. In a large bowl and using a mixer at medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down bowl as necessary.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together half-and-half, sour cream, and vanilla extract; set aside.

4. In a separate large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on lowest speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with half-and-half mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

6. Spread Whipped Cream Frosting evenly between bottom and middle layers. Spread frosting evenly over middle layer. Add top layer, and spread a smooth frosting layer on top and sides of cake. Place remaining frosting in pastry bag and pipe decorations, if desired.


A Winter's Poem by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

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