Pink Lemonade Layer Cake

Although spring has arrived – the weather in Boston has barely made it out of the 30s and my winter jacket still holds a prominent place in my closet. It might be my optimistic thinking as I flip through friends’ pictures from their winter vacations, but I went in search of a delicious spring recipe that will be perfect for any outside party. However, until it warms up enough to venture outside for a BBQ or picnic, I guess I will have to settle for eating this cake indoors!

Pink Lemonade Layer Cake

From Paula Dean on Food Network

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more, for coating pans
• 1 (18 1/4-ounce) box white cake mix
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons sweetened pink lemonade drink powder
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
• 5 tablespoons frozen pink lemonade concentrate
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper or waxed paper.
3. Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions.
4. To the batter, stir in the lemon zest, vanilla, and pink lemonade powder.
5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
6. Place in oven and bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
8. Carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
9. While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting by beating together the confectioners’ sugar and remaining 1 cup butter until fluffy.
10. Beat in the remaining frosting ingredients until combined.
11. Transfer one cake to a cake stand or large platter.
12. Using an offset spatula, spread the top of the cake with a layer of frosting.
13. Place the second cake on top of the first.
14. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of both layers.

Lauren Bocskocsky is a Project Manager at Mom Central Consulting.

Mom Central