FOUR-LAYER LEMON TORTE WITH LEMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Four-Layer Lemon Torte with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting image

Provided by Phyllis A. Jones-Rubenstein

Yield Makes 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 18 1/2-ounce package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
6 large eggs
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
3/4 cup raspberry preserves
Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
1 1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter springform pans with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on racks.
Using small knife, cut around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Remove pan sides. Using serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread with 1/4 cup preserves, then 3/4 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer, cut side up. Spread with 1/4 cup preserves, then 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat with third cake layer. Top with fourth cake layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press almonds onto sides of cake. Chill until frosting sets, about 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)