Frankurter Kranz Concept Cake

SweetSueAl's Note:

In my attempts to make a Frankfurter Crown Cake for a co-worker's birthday I eventually came up with this. While not a traditional Frankfurter Crown Cake, it has the flavors, yet is a traditional layer cake. Prep time does not include time to cool cake.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 55 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 2 ½ cups cake flour , plus extra for dusting pan (or use equivalent of Cake Flour Subsitute #87689)
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 10 tablespoons butter , melted unsalted
• 1 cup buttermilk , room temperature
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon rum extract
• 1 ½ teaspoons lemon peel , fresh and grated
• 6 large egg yolks , room temperature
• 3 large egg whites , room temperature
• 1 ½ cups butter , softened
• ½ cup buttermilk (full fat buttermilk is best)
• 7 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or use 2 tsp and no rum extract)
• 1 teaspoon rum extract (or use 2 tsp and no vanilla extract)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages toffee pieces (heath bar type)

Directions:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease two 9-inch-wide by 2-inch-high round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Grease paper rounds, dust pans with flour, and knock out excess.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 1/2 cups sugar together in large bowl.
4. In 4-cup liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, rum extract, lemon zest, and yolks.
5. In clean bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat egg whites at medium-high speed until foamy, about 30 seconds.
6. With machine running, gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; continue to beat until stiff peaks just form, 30 to 60 seconds (whites should hold peak but mixture should appear moist). Transfer to bowl and set aside.
7. Add flour mixture to now-empty mixing bowl fitted with whisk attachment. With mixer running at low speed, gradually pour in butter mixture and mix until almost incorporated (a few streaks of dry flour will remain), about 15 seconds. Stop mixer and scrape whisk and sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium-low speed and beat until smooth and fully incorporated, 10 to 15 seconds.
8. Stir 1/3 of whites into batter to lighten, then add remaining whites and gently fold into batter until no white streaks remain.
9. Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Lightly tap pans against counter 2 or 3 times to dislodge any large air bubbles.
10. Bake until cake layers begin to pull away from sides of pans and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes.
11. Cool cakes in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen cakes from sides of pans with small knife, then invert onto greased wire rack and peel off parchment. Invert cakes again and cool completely on rack, about 1 1/2 hours.
12. For Frosting:.
13. In a medium bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioner's sugar, pinch of salt. Beat, adding buttermilk as needed for consistency. Once buttermilk is incorporated, add extracts and beat well.
14. Place first layer of cake on plate, spread with frosting. Top with approximately 1 cup of toffee bits.
15. Place second layer on top. Lightly frost cake, making a crumb coat. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
16. Frost with remaining icing. Gently press toffee bits all the way around on sides of cake and sprinkle bits on top of cake for garnish.