Equipment – 3 cake pans (9 inch)
Ingredients – 1 cup butter (room temperature), 1/2 cup shortening, 3 cups granulated sugar, 5 large eggs (room temperature), 3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 cup whole milk (room temperature), 1/2 cup buttermilk (room temperature), 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray, brush with homemade cake goop (pan release), or coat well with shortening or butter and flour, taking care to remove all excess flour. 2. Cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy with an electric mixer (about 5 – 7 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, making sure to fully incorporate each egg before adding another. 3. In separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Stir together the milk buttermilk and vanilla extract in liquid measuring cup or bowl. 5. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Make sure to mix until just combined to prevent overmixing. Be sure to scrap down the sides and bottom of bowl to ensure all ingredients have mixed well into the cake batter. 6. Evenly distribute the cake batter between the prepare cake pans and place pans into preheated oven, making sure that pans do not touch one another. Bake for 25 -30 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and allow to cool in cake pans for about 5 minutes, Remove from pans, then cool completely on a wire rack
Fluffy Buttercream Frosting
One 8 oz. jar of Jams, Jellies, Galore & More Christmas Jam
Frosting Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature, 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted, pinch of salt, 1 tablespoons vanilla bean paste or clear vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions: Place butter in mixing bowl. With electric mixer, mix on low speed until smooth and fluffy, about one minute. 2. Add the sifted powdered sugar, a spoonful at a time at medium low speed. Keep during this until all of the sugar is added, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. 3. Add salt and stir to combine. 4. Next add the vanilla; stir to combine. 5. Lastly, add the milk and whip the frosting for 3 – 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
Assembly the cake
1. Place a dollop of prepared frosting on center of cake plate. Place on top of dollop one of the cake layers. Pipe frosting around edge of cake layer. Spread approximately 1/4 cup of Christmas Jam on top of cake layer, taking care not to go past piped frosting. 2. Place second cake layer on top and repeat previous process. 3. Place third cake layer on top. 4. Frost sides and top of cake with remaining frosting.