POPPY SEED EASTER CAKE

Poppy Seed Easter Cake image

A few years ago, this cake became our traditional Easter dinner dessert. It's so much fun to decorate...and so delicious to eat! -Gena Aschleman, West Columbia, South Carolina

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h

Yield 14-16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 to 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup poppy seeds
FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
8 cups confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
Green food coloring
1/2 cup jelly beans

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the sour cream, milk, lemon juice, zest and vanilla; add to creamed mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture and beat just until combined. Stir in poppy seeds (batter will be thick)., Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., For frosting, in a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Place 1 cup of frosting in a small bowl and tint pale green; set aside., To assemble, place one cake layer on a serving plate; frost top with white frosting. Repeat. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip No. 3. Fill bag with green frosting. Write "Happy Easter" on top of cake. With multi-opening or grass tip No. 233, pipe green frosting on top of cake to resemble a bird's nest. Pipe green frosting around top edge of cake. Place jelly beans in nest. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 786 calories, Fat 38g fat (23g saturated fat), Cholesterol 157mg cholesterol, Sodium 585mg sodium, Carbohydrate 106g carbohydrate (81g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 7g protein.