Black Walnut Layer Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1-1/4 cups finely chopped black or English walnuts
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 to 3 tablespoons buttermilk
Additional black walnuts
Thin orange slices, optional

Method:

1Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of three greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment.
2Cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition. Fold in walnuts.
3Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely.
4For frosting, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and enough buttermilk to reach spreading consistency.
5Spread 1 cup frosting between cake layers. Spread top of cake with an additional 1 cup frosting. Spread remaining frosting in a thin layer over side of cake. Top with additional walnuts and, if desired, orange slices.

Helpful Hints:

Total Time
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling
Makes 16 servings
Nutrition Facts
1 slice: 630 calories, 30g fat (13g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 432mg sodium, 84g carbohydrate (60g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.


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