Triple-Layer White Cake with Orange Curd Filling Recipe

My father has always been the baker in the family. (Mom claims she baked plenty of cakes for us growing up, but since it has been more than 20 years since we all left home, none of us remember and we just have to take her word for it.)

Family gatherings such as the one we just had this Easter weekend are the perfect excuse for dad to do his thing, bake some over-the-top, takes-days-to-make, several-trips-to-the-store-for-forgotten-ingredients wondrous dessert!

This triple-layer white cake with an orange curd filling is one of his favorite recipes (from Bon Appétit). It's a little dense, but really good. You have to make the orange curd a day ahead of time, so factor that into your planning if you try it out.

Triple-Layer White Cake With Orange Curd Filling

Prep Time 23 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Chilling 24 hrs

Total Time 24 hrs 53 mins

Servings 12 to 14 servings

Yield 1 (3-layer) cake

Recipe from Bon Appétit magazine.

For the orange curd:

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
9 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons orange zest
2 teaspoons lemon zest
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

For the cake:

2 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whole milk
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 large egg whites (see note on separating eggs, start with room temperature egg whites)
Pinch salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar

For the frosting:

10 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 2/3 cups powdered sugar

3 (9 x 1 1/2-inch) cake pans

Orange Curd

Put the lemon juice in a small bowl and sprinkle gelatin over it. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Whisk together the sugar, orange juice, egg yolks, orange zest and lemon zest in a thick-bottomed saucepan. Add the butter and whisk over medium heat until the mixture thickens and bubbles start to appear at the edge of the pan, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the gelatin mixture. Whisk the mixture until the gelatin dissolves. Transfer the curd mixture to a bowl, wrap with plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the curd (so that no air touches it) and refrigerate overnight.

Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Sift the flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl.
Whisk the oil and egg yolks in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in the sour cream, then the milk, orange peel, and vanilla. Whisk in the dry ingredients in 3 additions.
Using electric mixer, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 2/3 cup sugar, while beating on hight speed until you have stiff peaks.
Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in 4 additions. (Do not overmix!)
Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake cakes until the center is just golden, a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, and the cake pulls away very slightly from pan, about 20 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 5 minutes. Cut around pan sides. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
Place one cake layer, flat side up, on 8-inch tart pan bottom or platter. Spread 1 cup of the orange curd over the cake. Top with the second cake layer, flat side down. Spread 1 cup of the curd over the layer. Top with the third cake layer, flat side down. Cover and refrigerate the assembled cake.

Frosting

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in medium bowl until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar, then 3/4 cup orange curd.
Spread frosting over cake. (Can be made a day ahead. Cover with cake dome; refrigerate.)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
726	Calories
40g	Fat
88g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 14
Amount per serving
Calories	726
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g	51%
Saturated Fat 17g	87%
Cholesterol 125mg	42%
Sodium 219mg	10%
Total Carbohydrate 88g	32%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 65g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 13mg	65%
Calcium 72mg	6%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 159mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.