Dolly Varden Cake

The cake of my childhood--this gets a smile on any little girls face. This is what I looked forward to most, more than the presents, and my mummy always did such a great job of it. This is out of the New Zealand Edmonds cookbook. Mummy said this is where she got it from.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 12-16

Ingredients

• 225  g butter, softened
• 225  g sugar
• 4  eggs, beaten
• 1  tablespoon milk
• 275  g flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 50  g  chopped pitted dates or 50  g raisins
• 50  g cherries
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  lemon essence
• 1  tablespoon  cocoa
• 1  teaspoon vanilla essence

• Butter Icing

• 100  g butter
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2  cups icing sugar, sifted
• 1 -2  tablespoon hot water

Directions

1. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs and milk alternatively with sifted flour and baking powder.
2. Divide mixture into three parts.
3. Stir dates, cherries and cinnamon into one part.
4. Stir lemon essence into second part.
5. Stir cocoa and vanilla essence into third part.
6. Transfer each mixture into separate greased 20cm round sandwich tins that have a base lined with baking paper.
7. Bake at 190°C for about 25 minutes.
8. When cold, place part one layer onto plate.
9. Spread with icing.
10. Cut other two layers into 4 triangles and then "cement" together on cake to make the dolls dress with the doll in the middle.
11. Cover the rest of the dress so you cannot see the lines.
12. Decorate how you wish.
13. BUTTER ICING:
14. Cream butter until light and fluffy.
15. Add essence.
16. Gradually beat in icing sugar, beating until smooth.
17. Add sufficient water to give a smooth spreading consistency.