Clo’s Garden Cake

November 9, 2020

Ingredients:

For the cake:

For the vanilla buttercream frosting:

Directions:

For the cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of (2) non-stick 9” cake pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium-low speed until creamy.
  3. Add sugar and oil. Continue beating until combined and creamy. Whisk in vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
  5. Gradually add milk to the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed, pausing between additions to scrape down bowl, until incorporated. Clean and dry beaters.
  6. In a medium bowl, beat room temperature egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg white meringue into the batter until combined. Do not over mix. 
  7. Divide batter evenly into the prepared cake pans, and bake on center oven rack for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While the cake is baking, make the buttercream frosting (see directions below).
  8. Remove cake from oven and place pans on cooling racks for 10-15 minutes. Gently loosen cake from sides of pan with a knife. Invert cake rounds onto cooling racks and finish cooling completely.
  9. To frost, center one cake round on a cake stand. Spread about a cup of frosting evenly on top. Place the other cake round on top of the first. Generously frost the sides and top of the cake with remaining frosting.
  10. Decorate with edible flowers and greens as desired. Serve immediately.

For the buttercream frosting:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and salt with an electric mixer until creamy.
  2. Gradually beat in powdered sugar (about 1/2 cup at a time), blending thoroughly after each addition.
  3. Beat in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, on medium-low speed. Add vanilla extract and beat on high for about 30 seconds more until creamy.
  4. Spread generously on cake (see step 9 under cake directions). 

Recipe and photos by Karen Pavone

More stories like this:

Winter produce on display at the Little Wing Farm Stand - MALT

Women-Owned Farm Stands in Marin County

March 20, 2023

This Women’s History Month, we want to recognize the incredible contributions of women farmers in our community.

Read More

People walking in a large green field.

March Events in (and Near) Marin

February 28, 2023

March in Marin is the perfect time to venture out for a hike, swing by a farmers market, join a trail restoration at a favorite park, visit a local farm, or watch an online nature talk. We’re serving up a healthy platter of March events in Marin, just for you.

Read More

February Fun: Events in Marin

January 30, 2023

Marin’s grasses are greener in February, and it’s a perfect time to venture out for an event — hike, pick up fresh local food at a farmers market, help clean up a favorite park, visit a local dairy, or join an online nature talk.

Read More