Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 3 cups cake flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 5 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese (softened)
  • 4 to 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 to 2 drops red food coloring or your favorite alternative
  • 3 tablespoons white sanding sugar (for dusting)
  • crushed candy canes (for garnish)
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 drop red food coloring

Instruction

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 3 9-inch round cake pans with non-stick baking spray liberally. In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add in the sugar and beat on medium speed, scraping down the sides when needed, for 3 to 4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add each egg one at a time and beat after each addition, beating just until combined. Beat in the extract. Gradually beat in half of the dry ingredients, then add in the milk. Add the remaining dry ingredients. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl and make sure all of the ingredients are combined.
  • Evenly pour the cake batter into the pans (I like to do this using a measuring cup!). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the pan and then gently remove onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
  • To frost these successfully, once they are cool, I wrap each cake in plastic wrap and place is in the freezer overnight. I remove and frost the cake while frozen, just because it’s easier for me. To make the “naked” frosting look, I layered the frosting in the centers of the layers, then spread some on the sides but used a large spatula to scrape most of it off. 
  • As soon as I frost the cakes, I throw white sparkle sprinkles on the frosting. I then stick on the peppermint meringues!