LUSCIOUS LEMON TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• MAKE THE CAKE.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and butter or shortening.
• Blend until the butter is evenly mixed.
• Add the vanilla.
• Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then increase the speed to high and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl constantly, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff.
• Gently but thoroughly fold the whites into the cake batter.
• Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cakes feel firm when touched in the center.
• Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
• Split the cooled layers horizontally to make 4 layers in all.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan.
• Whisk in the water until smooth.
• Cook over medium high heat until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks with a fork.
• Stir about 1/4 cup of the hot mixture into the egg yolks; blend well.
• Add the egg yolk mixture to the mixture in the saucepan.
• Cook over low heat until the mixture boils, whisking constantly, then continue to cook for 2 minutes, stirring.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon juice and zest.
• Transfer half of the hot filling to a small bowl and cool for 15 minutes.
• Add the white chocolate to the hot filling in the saucepan and stir until the chocolate is melted; set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy.
• Beat in the white chocolate mixture until light and smooth.
• Spread one third of the white chocolate filling over one layer of the cake.
• Top with a second cake layer, then spread with one third more of the filling; top with a third cake layer and spread the remaining filling over.
• Top with the last cake layer and spread reserved lemon mixture.
• Refrigerate, uncovered, 2 to 3 hours, until the filling is set.
• MAKE THE FROSTING.
• In another bowl, whip the cream and sweeten it with the confectioners' sugar.
• Frost the sides of the cake with half of the whipped cream frosting.
• Put the remaining frosting into a pastry bag and pipe decoratively around the top and bottom edge of the cake.
• Garnish with shaved white chocolate.
• Refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving.
• Makes 16 servings.
• The Great Holiday Baking Book Beatrice Ojakangas.