DECORATIVE CAKE PANS RECIPES

Steps:

• For lemon curd, in a small bowl, combine eggs and egg yolks. In a heavy saucepan, cook and stir the sugar, lemon juice and butter over medium heat until smooth. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly. Cover and chill until thickened, about 1-1/2 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the ricotta cheese, buttermilk, lemon zest, vanilla and lemon juice. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture, beating well after each addition., Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Using a citrus zester, remove zest from lemons in long narrow strips; toss with sugar. Let stand for 30 minutes. (Save fruit for another use.) Meanwhile, to make the frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, grated lemon zest, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth., Cut each cake in half horizontally. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Pipe a circle of frosting around edge of cake. Spread a third of the lemon curd inside frosting. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides. If desired, pipe a decorative border of frosting using a star tip, and decorate sides of cake with colored sugar. Garnish with lemon zest strips. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans; set aside.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl; set aside.
• Place 1 1/2 cups blueberries into another bowl. Add 1 tablespoon flour mixture; toss lightly. Set aside.
• Combine 2 cups sugar and 1 cup butter in another bowl; beat at medium speed until well mixed. Add 4 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 teaspoon lemon zest; beat at high speed until well mixed. Add remaining flour mixture alternately with milk, beating at low speed after each addition. Gently fold in coated blueberries.
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• Cut each cake in half horizontally making 2 layers each; set aside.
• Place whole egg and yolk into bowl; beat with fork. Set aside.
• Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 3-4 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil and is slightly thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat.
• Whisk small amount of lemon mixture into beaten eggs. Repeat until half of lemon mixture is combined with yolks. Add egg mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 3-4 minutes or until mixture reaches 165°F and is thickened. Remove from heat. Add butter pieces; whisk until butter is melted. Refrigerate.
• Combine cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add whipping cream, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in chopped blueberries. Reserve 1 cup frosting by placing into resealable plastic food bag. Cut off small corner of bag.
• Place 1 cake layer, cut-side up onto cake plate. Pipe around edge using 1/2 reserved frosting. Spread half of lemon curd over cake, staying within piped border. Place second cake layer on top, cut-side down. Top with 1 cup frosting. Repeat layering with remaining reserved frosting, curd and cake layers. Frost cake with remaining frosting.
• Garnish cake with lemon slices and additional blueberries. Store finished cake or any leftovers in refrigerator.