Layered Poppy Seed Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak poppy seeds in milk for 30 minutes. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes., In another large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with poppy seed mixture, beating well after each addition. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread over cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and dust bottoms and sides with flour, tapping out excess; set aside.
• Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt twice; set aside. In a mixing bowl, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter on low speed until soft. Increase speed to medium; beat until pale and fluffy.
• Gradually add 1 1/2 cups sugar; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla, poppy seeds, and lemon zest. With mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk; beat until thoroughly combined after each addition. Scrape sides of the bowl; beat 10 seconds more. Set aside.
• In another mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to medium-high; gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar until peaks are just stiff. Gently fold in whites; do not overmix.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; bake until golden and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. To remove cakes, invert onto plates; peel off parchment paper, and reinvert so the top side is up.
• Make filling: In a small bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold in lemon curd; cover with plastic, and refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 2 hours.
• Assemble cake: Using a serrated knife, carefully trim tops of both cakes to make level, if desired. Slice each in half horizontally to make a total of 4 layers. Brush away crumbs from tops of layers.
• Place one of the bottom layers on a serving platter; spread with 1 cup lemon filling. Top with another cake layer; spread with 1 cup filling. Repeat with another cake layer and filling; top with remaining cake layer. Cover entire cake with plastic wrap, and carefully transfer to the refrigerator, steadying it with your hands to keep the layers from sliding. Chill until filling is firm, at least 2 hours.
• When ready to serve, frost cake and garnish with poppy seeds.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place two racks in center of oven. Butter three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans; line each with a circle of parchment paper. Butter paper, and dust pans with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-low speed until lightened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar; beat until color has lightened, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl once or twice. Drizzle in eggs, a little at a time, beating on medium-low speed after each addition until batter is no longer slick but is smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Stop to scrape down bowl once or twice so batter will combine well. Beat in vanilla on medium-low speed.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low. Alternately add reserved flour mixture and milk, a little of each at a time, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl once or twice. Beat in lemon zest, orange zest, lime zest, and 1/3 cup poppy seeds.
• Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake 30 minutes, then rotate pans for even browning. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, 5 to 10 minutes more. Transfer to wire racks to cool, 15 minutes. Turn out cakes, and set on racks, tops up. Cool completely.
• Remove parchment from bottom of each layer. Save best-looking layer for the top. Place one layer on the serving platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups cream-cheese frosting over the top. Place second cake layer on top, and spread remaining 1 1/2 cups frosting over top. Place reserved layer on top. Chill cake, loosely covered with plastic wrap, 1 hour.
• To serve, stir lemon glaze well, then pour onto center of top layer of cake, letting it run down the sides. Using a single-hole zester, cut long strips of zest from orange and lemon, if desired. Arrange zest in loose spirals on the top of cake, and sprinkle lightly with poppy seeds.