Cameo Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving excess on the long sides of the pan for easy removal of the cake.
• Add the granulated sugar, butter and cream cheese to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, until incorporated. Pour in the almond and vanilla extracts and whip until combined.
• Sift together the flours, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Add half of the flour mixture and half of the milk to the batter and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remainder of the flour mixture and milk and beat on low speed until the batter is smooth and homogenous. Divide the batter equally among 4 small mixing bowls.
• Use the gel food coloring to create 4 colors: Light green (3 drops neon green plus 1 drop black); dark green (3 drops leaf green plus 1 drop black); gray (2 drops black); and dark brown (3 drops dark brown).
• Use small (2-tablespoon) ice cream scoops to drop dollops of the colored batters in random order into the prepared loaf pan. (The dollops should be small to create a camouflage pattern.)
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan.
• For the maple cream sauce: Add the cream cheese, maple extract and 2 tablespoons water to a small saucepan over medium heat and let melt until combined (add more water if too thick). Remove from heat, then stir in confectioners' sugar until it has a nice creamy consistency. Drizzle over top of the cake and slice to serve.

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add chocolate, stirring until it melts. Stir in buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside. Combine 1/2 cup flour and pecans, stirring to coat. Set aside. Combine remaining 3 cups flour, sugar, and baking soda in a large bowl. Gradually stir in chocolate mixture. Fold in pecan mixture. (Batter will be thin.) Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Let cool completely on wire racks.
• White Chocolate Frosting: Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool, about 10 minutes. Beat cream cheese and butter. Gradually add chocolate, mixing constantly, until blended. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until smooth. Add vanilla. Mix until blended.
• Spread frosting on tops of two layers then stack layers on a serving plate. Use wooden picks to stabilize the two layers. Add third layer. Frost top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.