Red, White and Blue Cake

Okay, to wrap up the 4th of July celebration, I thought I'd share with you this Red, White and Blue Cake that I made for a party. I think it's the right mix of wow and delicious. Plus, it went over really well with everyone and Kevin loved it, the almond flavor is his favorite!

Red, White and Blue Cake

Nonstick cooking spray
3 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening
5 large egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 tbs red food coloring
1 tbs blue food coloring
Fresh strawberries and blueberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting
2 cups butter, softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening, beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

Pour one-third of batter into one of the prepared pans. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls and stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

While cakes are cooling, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract then stir in marshmallow cream, until well blended.

Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired. Enjoy!

source: Unusual 2 Tasty, originally from White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Happy 4th of July!