Orange Layer Cake

Consider presenting the finished cake as a gift; you’re sure to make someone’s day.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 3  cups flour
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup butter
• 3 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
• 6  eggs, separated
• 2  teaspoons orange zest
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  orange extract
• 1  cup skim milk
• 1⁄4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
• 12  ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 3⁄4 cup butter, room temperature
• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 2 1⁄4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  orange juice
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy. Gradually add sugar; beat until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange peel, vanilla extract and orange extract. Whisk milk and yogurt in small bowl to blend. Add dry ingredients to yolk mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk mixture in 2 additions, beating well after each addition.
2. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites. Divide batter between pans. Smooth tops.
3. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.).
4. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread top of cake with 3/4 cup Creamy Brown Sugar Frosting. Top with second cake layer, flat side down; press slightly to adhere. Spread 2 cups frosting over sides of cake. Spoon remaining frosting into pastry bag fitted with medium-size star tip. Pipe decorative border around top edge of cake. Refrigerate until frosting is firm, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.).