Best Pastel Cake Recipes

MEXICAN TRES LECHES CAKE (PASTEL DE 3 LECHES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Clean beaters.
• Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl until creamy. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until pale yellow. Fold egg yolks into egg white mixture using a spatula. Sift in flour and carefully fold into the batter; mix in zest of 1 lime. Pour batter into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Turn off oven but keep cake in the closed oven for an additional 20 minutes.
• Prepare the '3 milks' while cake is resting in the oven. Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and amaretto liqueur in a blender; blend until well combined.
• Remove the cake from the springform pan and and place on a serving plate. Pierce the cake several times across the top with a fork. Pour the '3 milks' mixture over the cake. Refrigerate cake until cool and milk mixture has soaked in, about 1 hour.
• Beat 1 cup heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Garnish the top of the cake with whipped cream, peach slices, and 1 teaspoon lime zest.

PASTEL DE ELOTE (MEXICAN CORN CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan. Chill in freezer.
• Cut kernels from ears of corn with a sharp knife. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Combine eggs, condensed milk, whole milk, and corn kernels in a blender; blend until smooth. Transfer egg mixture to a bowl with butter and mix well.
• Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl. Add egg mixture and mix well to combine.
• Remove cake pan from freezer. Grease and flour again. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove from tin and cool on a wire rack.

PASTEL DE TRES LECHES THREE MILK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a jellyroll baking pan and line it with waxed paper oiled on both sides. Separate the yolks and whites in 2 bowls. Sift the flour and baking powder together.
• Beat the yolks until light and lemon colored, about 20 minutes. The consistency should be very thick, and when you lift the beaters, the mixture should fall in one solid mass, known as the "ribbon stage". Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time. Add the vanilla and beat 3 minutes more.
• Whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar slowly until it makes a meringue. Add the whites to the yolks one-third at a time and fold in with a rubber spatula. Add the flour all at once and fold in.
• Spread the batter in the pan and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cake comes away from the sides of the pan. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then remove it from the pan and place on a clean tea towel that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. Remove the waxed paper by rubbing the top of the paper with a dry cloth all over the surface and peeling off. Cover the cake with another tea towel and roll up the cake lengthwise in the towels, like a jellyroll, while still warm.
• For the filling: Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add the confectioners' sugar. Add the fruit to the whipped cream and fold in.
• For the soaking liquid: Mix the milks with a whisk. Add the liquor.
• For the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter until soft and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix for 2 minutes. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar until it is well incorporated. Add the milk.
• To assemble the cake: Unroll the cake and remove the tea towel from the top layer. Spread the whipped cream mixture on the cake and, using the bottom as leverage, roll it up lengthwise. Transfer the cake to a serving tray seam side down. Make holes in the cake with a skewer and drizzle the soaking liquid, slowly, letting it absorb bit by bit. Cover the cake with the frosting.

PASTEL GALLETAS (COOKIE CAKE)

Steps:

• Blend sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream cheese, and lime juice in a blender until sauce is creamy. Pour sauce into a bowl.
• Dip enough Maria cookies to cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish in the creamy lime sauce. Spread a layer of fruit cocktail over the cookies. Dip and layer a second layer of Maria cookies over the fruit cocktail. Continue dipping and layering cookies and fruit cocktail until the last layer of cookies is about 1 inch from the top of pan. Spread peaches over the dessert.
• Cover dessert with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight before serving.

PASTEL DE TRES LECHES THREE-MILK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Oil a jellyroll baking pan (15x10) and line it with waxed paper oiled on both sides.
• Separate the yolks and whites in 2 bowls.
• Sift the flour and baking powder together.
• Beat the yolks until light and lemon colored, about 20 minutes.
• The consistency should be very thick, and when you lift the beaters, the mixture should fall in one solid mass, known as the"ribbon stage.
• "Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time.
• Add the vanilla and beat 3 minutes more.
• Whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar slowly until it makes a meringue.
• Add the whites to the yolks 1/3 at a time and fold in with a rubber spatula.
• Add the flour all at once and fold in.
• Spread the batter in the pan and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cake comes away from the sides of the pan.
• Let it rest for 5 minutes, then remove it from the pan and place on a clean tea towel that has been dusted with confectioner's sugar.
• Remove the waxed paper by rubbing the top of the paper with a dry cloth all over the surface and peeling off.
• Cover the cake with another tea towel and roll up the cake lengthwise in the towels, like a jellyroll, while still warm.
• For the filling: Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• Add the confectioner's sugar.
• Add the strawberries to the whipped cream and fold in.
• For the soaking liquid: Mix the milks with a whisk.
• Add the liquor.
• For the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter until soft and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
• Add the vanilla and mix for 2 minutes.
• Slowly add the confectioner's sugar until it is well incorporated.
• Add the milk.
• To assemble the cake: Unroll the cake and remove the tea towel from the top layer.
• Spread the whipped cream mixture on the cake.
• Using the bottom as leverage, roll it up lengthwise.
• Transfer the cake to a serving tray seam side down.
• Make holes in the cake with a skewer and drizzle the soaking liquid, slowly, letting it absorb bit by bit.
• Cover the cake with the frosting.

THREE-MILK CAKE (PASTEL DE TRES LECHES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan.
• Sift flour with baking powder.
• In large bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites until frothy.
• Add sugar gradually, beating to form stiff peaks.
• Add yolks, 1 at a time.
• Slowly add flour and milk.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until edges are golden brown, about 40 to 45 minutes, Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.
• Prepare Topping.
• Pour Topping over cake and let sit until all the mixture is absorbed, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Prepare Meringue and refrigerate.
• Before serving, cut cake into squares and spread Meringue over each.
• Garnish as desired with fresh berries and mint leaves.
• Topping-------------------------H' .
• Combine milks and sour cream (do not beat).
• Use as directed.
• Heat water in a saucepan. Add sugar and turn off heat.
• Let sit until sugar is dissolved.
• In clean electric mixer bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites.
• Slowly pour sugar syrup over egg whites, beating constantly until meringue holds stiff peaks.
• Store in refrigerator.
• This can be served immediately but is best made 24 hours ahead and chilled.
• The meringue will keep, covered, 2 days in the refrigerator.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE STREUSEL CAKE (PASTEL DE CHOCOLATE MEXICANO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour a 13x9-inch pan. Set aside.
• Pulse half of the chocolate in a food processor until it is like coarse crumbs. Set aside.
• Streusel topping: Add the other half of the chocolate to the processor and pulse until coarse crumbs. Mix the egg yolk with the salt and stir to dissolve the salt. Add to the processor along with the 7 Tbsp butter and 1 cup flour. Pulse until thoroughly combined and crumbly, but not a paste. Set aside.
• Cake: Sift together the 1 3/4 cups flour and baking powder. With an electric mixer, on medium speed, combine cream cheese, 1 cup butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing between each one. Add the flour mixture and beat for 1 minute, until just mixed. Gently stir in the reserved chopped chocolate, making sure not to overmix.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and crumble the streusel evenly over top, breaking up any large lumps.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

XOCHIPILLI'S PASTEL DE TRES LECHES MEXICANO (THREE MILK CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour bottom and sides of 8x8x2" metal cake pan. Set aside.
• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl until firm peaks form, 7-8 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour batter into pan; smooth top.
• Bake cake for 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F; continue baking until cake is golden brown and middle springs back when pressed, 20-25 minutes more. Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet.
• Whisk 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, evaporated milk, and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Poke holes all over top of cake with a skewer. Slowly drizzle half of sauce over cake, letting liquid soak in before adding more. Let cake sit for 10 minutes.
• Invert a plate on top of cake. Lift rack and gently invert cake onto plate. Drizzle remaining sauce over. Spoon any liquid collected on sheet over cake.

PASTEL FOUR-LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to the package directions, using two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , In small saucepan, combine flour and salt. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; cover and refrigerate until cooled completely. , In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk mixture; beat until light and fluffy. , Divide frosting equally among four bowls, with 1-1/4 cups in each. To the first bowl, add 2-3 drops yellow food coloring and lemon extract until blended. To second bowl, add 2-3 drops red food coloring and peppermint extract. To third bowl, add 2-3 drops green food coloring and almond extract. To the last bowl, add the cocoa and vanilla. , Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with green frosting. Top with the second layer; spread with yellow frosting. Top with the third layer; spread with pink frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; spread with cocoa frosting. Do not frost sides of cake.

PASTEL DE CHOCLO - CORN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/100C fan/gas 1/2. Grease a 20 x 20cm cake tin and line with baking parchment. Separate the eggs. Put the yolks in a food processor or blender with the sweetcorn and blitz to a rough purée. Tip the blended mixture into a large bowl and stir in the butter, cornflour, baking powder, sugar and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix thoroughly.
• Whisk the egg whites until they have reached the stiff peak stage. Gently fold the egg whites into the corn mixture using a large metal spoon until completely incorporated, keeping as much air in the mixture as possible.
• Spread the corn batter over the base of the tin with a spatula. Sprinkle over the cubes of cheese and push them into the mixture so they are almost completely covered.
• Cook for 1 hr 45 mins until firm and golden and shrinking slightly from the sides. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for at least 15 mins before cutting into chunks and serving, scattered with olives. Leftovers will keep in the fridge until the next day.

QUICK AND EASY TRES LECHES CAKE - PASTEL DE TRES LECHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degress.
• Add the cake mix to the mixing bowl of a standing mixer. (Or a large bowl, if you are going to mix it by hand with a whisk). Add 2 eggs plus 3 yolks (reserve the egg whites for the meringue topping) and ½ cup milk or buttermilk. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds or until well blended.
• Add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, melted butter, butter rum flavoring, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons rum (optional) and mix on medium speed for 1 - 2 minutes, until well-blended.
• Spread batter into a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• While the cake is baking, make the milk 'syrup' that will soak into the cooled cake: In a bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, the evaporated milk, and the whipping cream (the three kinds of milk, or 'res leches), 1 teaspoon vanilla, a pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon rum (optional).
• Once the cake is out of the oven, use a fork or small skewer to gently poke holes in the cake, Slowly pour the milk mixture over the entire cake. The milk mixture will not soak in immediately, and may pool in the sides and the bottom at first, but it will eventually soak into the cake completely. Tilt pan around some to help distribute the liquid.
• Cover the cake with saran wrap and chill for 3-4 hours or overnight.
• To make the meringue topping, place the egg whites in the (very clean) bowl of an electric mixer, and attach the wire whisk.
• Place the sugar, 1/3 cup water, corn syrup, and pinch of salt in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil.
• When the temperature of the sugar syrup reaches about 238 degrees Fahrenheit (after about 3 minutes), turn on the mixer and start beating the egg whites. When the temperature reaches 242 degrees Fahrenheit (117 degrees Celsius), remove the syrup from the heat. (The total cooking time is about 4 minutes, and the sugar syrup should make thin threads if you drizzle it off of a fork, and will have thickened.).
• The egg whites should be forming medium stiff peaks. Slowly and carefully pour the syrup down the side of the mixer bowl, into the beaten egg whites. Continue to beat the meringue for 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon rum if desired.
• Spread the meringue over cake, and use the back of a spoon to make decorative peaks. Sprinkle cake with powdered cinnamon.

PASTEL DE TRES LECHES (THREE MILK CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Grease a 10x15-inch baking dish.
• Beat egg whites in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form; gradually beat in sugar until mixture is glossy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, combining each yolk before adding the next. Reduce mixer speed to medium and add flour, about 1 tablespoon at a time, to the mixture, beating continuously; beat in baking powder, milk, and vanilla extract. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cake is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cake cool for 15 minutes.
• Pour 1 cup cream, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk in a blender and pulse several times until well blended. Pour three-milk mixture evenly over the cake. Refrigerate cake until cold and the milk mixture has soaked in, at least 1 hour.
• Cut in squares and top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and a few sliced strawberries. Refrigerate leftovers.

PASTEL LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter five 8-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment (you may need to bake in batches). Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a large bowl. Combine milk and vanilla. Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until very smooth. With machine running, gradually add sugar, and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat until just combined; do not overmix.
• Beat egg whites in a clean mixer bowl on medium speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gently fold egg-white mixture into batter in 3 additions.
• Divide batter among 5 bowls, and tint each with food coloring to create different pastel shades. Spread each into a prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pans on wire racks.
• Loosen edges of cake with a small metal spatula or paring knife; invert onto racks. Discard parchment. Reinvert cakes, top side up. Let cool completely.
• Trim top of each cake to make surface even. Spread 1 cup buttercream onto top of 1 cake. Top with another cake. Repeat, spreading 1 cup buttercream between each layer. Frost cake with 1 1/2 cups buttercream. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Frost cake with 2 cups buttercream.

PASTEL POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add extracts. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition., Pour half of the batter into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Top with remaining batter. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

MEXICAN CHOCOFLAN (PASTEL IMPOSIBLE -- IMPOSSIBLE CAKE) RECIPE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 F. (180 C.). Butter a tube cake pan (8″ across and 4″ high/200 mm. x 100 mm.) and spread cajeta on bottom of pan.
• Heat a small sauce pan of water for hot water bath to pour into a pan larger than cake pan.
• Prepare flan mixture by blending eggs, evaporated milk, condensed milk and Kahlua. Set aside.
• In standing mixer (or use a hand-held electric mixer), mix butter and sugar for 2 minutes on medium-high speed. Scrape down sides of bowl, and add egg and Kahlua. Beat for 30 seconds.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Add half of dry ingredients, alternating with half of buttermilk, until all is incorporated into butter mixure. Beat for 1 minute on medium-high speed.
• Spoon batter into cake pan over cajeta, and level with a spatula.
• Pour flan mixture over cake batter, pouring over a spoon to gentle the pressure (see photo below).
• Set cake pan in a larger pan, and place on oven rack. Add boiling water to large pan to a depth of 1″.
• Bake 50 minutes, or until cake tests dry with a wooden toothpick. (Cake will pull away from sides of pan after it is removed from oven.)
• Remove from water bath and cool on a rack to room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, run a thin knife around inside of pan sides and invert onto cake plate. If any cajeta sticks to the pan, spread onto the cake.

CHOCOLATE PASTEL EASTER CAKE WITH A CHOCOLATE VERMICELLI NEST

Steps:

• Make the nest: Heat the oil to 375 degrees F in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Line an 8-inch diameter bowl with plastic wrap leaving some overhang. Line another medium bowl with paper towels. Separate the vermicelli bundles lengthwise into 1-inch-wide sections. (It's okay if some noodles break off, you may still use them.) Drop one bunch into the oil; the noodles will immediately puff and the oil will bubble vigorously. Cook for 10 to 15 seconds, until the oil stops bubbling and the vermicelli are crisp. Using a spider or mesh strainer, transfer the noodles to the paper towel-lined bowl and immediately sprinkle with salt, tossing to coat. When the temperature returns to 375 drop another bunch in. Repeat the frying process until all of the vermicelli, including any loose or broken pieces are cooked. Set the fried vermicelli aside.
• Heat the chocolate in a small microwavable bowl in the microwave until melted, about 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir with a rubber spatula. Remove the paper towels from the bowl of vermicelli and discard. Scrape the melted chocolate into the bowl of vermicelli. Wearing latex gloves, use your hands to toss the vermicelli with the chocolate until the noodles are completely coated and sticky. Gently press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the plastic lined bowl leaving the edges uneven and ragged to resemble a bird's nest. Chill the nest in the bowl until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Make the cake. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and slowly add the sugar, beating until the mixture is light and smooth, about 4 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla and beat on medium, 1 minute more. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Combine the milk with 1 1/4 cups water in a small saucepan, bring just to a boil and remove from the heat.
• With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture, about 1/4 cup at a time, until it is incorporated. Turn off the mixer, then carefully pour the hot liquid into the batter and combine by hand with a whisk until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Lightly tap each pan on the counter to settle the batter.
• Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans and the centers spring back when touched lightly, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife or small spatula around the edges of the pan, turn out the cake layers and place on the rack to cool completely.
• Make the buttercream: Beat the butter, confectioners¿ sugar and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until just combined. Add the vanilla extract and increase the speed to medium-high, beating until fluffy and creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in 2 tablespoons milk and the food coloring, if using, to make a pastel shade. Continue beating until light and spreadable, 2 minutes. If the frosting seems too stiff, add the remaining tablespoon of milk.
• To assemble: Place 1 cake layer right-side up on a cake stand or flat plate and top with 1 cup of frosting. Using a large offset spatula, spread the icing evenly over the layer to the edges. Place the other layer, on top. Evenly spread half of the remaining frosting over the top, leaving a small off-center mound to place the nest on. Spread the remaining frosting around the sides of the cake in a swirly pattern. Lift the chocolate nest from the bowl by the plastic-wrap overhang. Peel off the plastic and discard. Place the nest on the top of the cake on the mound of frosting and fill with candy coated eggs.

PASTEL POUND CAKE

Steps:

• 1. BEAT butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Stir in vanilla and lemon extracts.
• 2. COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
• 3. Grease well and then dust with flour a 10" tube pan.
• 4. DIVIDE batter into 3 portions. Tint each a different color, beating each portion at low speed just until blended. Pour "PINK" batter into a greased and floured 10" tube pan. Now Spoon "GREEN" batter over the pink and "YELLOW" batter over the green. This step is very important. You ask why? I don't know but that's what the recipe stated.
• 5. BAKE at 325 degrees in a preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on rack. I bake mine for the 1 hour and 30 minutes.

QUICK AND EASY TRES LECHES CAKE - PASTEL DE TRES LECHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degress. Add the cake mix to the mixing bowl of a standing mixer. (Or a large bowl, if you are going to mix it by hand with a whisk). Add 2 eggs plus 3 yolks (reserve the egg whites for the meringue topping) and ½ cup milk or buttermilk. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds or until well blended. Add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, melted butter, butter rum flavoring, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons rum (optional) and mix on medium speed for 1 - 2 minutes, until well-blended. Spread batter into a 9 x 13 inch cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted

PASTEL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cover bottoms of 2 (9-inch) round pans with waxed paper; spray with cooking spray.
• Prepare cake batter as directed on package; pour half into separate bowl. Add different flavor dry gelatin mix to batter in each bowl; mix well. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 15 min. Invert onto wire racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Place lime cake layer on serving plate; spread top with 1 cup COOL WHIP. Cover with lemon cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining COOL WHIP.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE STREUSEL CAKE (PASTEL DE CHOCOLATE MEXICANO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour a 13x9-inch pan. Set aside.
• Pulse half of the chocolate in a food processor until it is like coarse crumbs. Set aside.
• Streusel topping: Add the other half of the chocolate to the processor and pulse until coarse crumbs. Mix the egg yolk with the salt and stir to dissolve the salt. Add to the processor along with the 7 Tbsp butter and 1 cup flour. Pulse until thoroughly combined and crumbly, but not a paste. Set aside.
• Cake: Sift together the 1 3/4 cups flour and baking powder. With an electric mixer, on medium speed, combine cream cheese, 1 cup butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing between each one. Add the flour mixture and beat for 1 minute, until just mixed. Gently stir in the reserved chopped chocolate, making sure not to overmix.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and crumble the streusel evenly over top, breaking up any large lumps.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.