Sweetheart Cake

I found this in the Valentine's Day edition of my local paper. It is very good and so pretty. Baked in heart-shaped pans this is the perfect dessert for your sweetheart! (Prep time is approximate)

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups  sifted flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 3 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup shortening
• 3⁄4 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup maraschino cherry juice
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2  teaspoons  almond extract
• 4  egg whites, unbeaten
• 18  maraschino cherries, well drained and finely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  finely chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into mixing bowl.
2. Drop in shortening.
3. Combine milk and cherry juice and add in a stream to dry mixture.
4. Add extracts; beat two minutes.
5. Add egg whites; beat two minutes.
6. Add cherries and nuts; beat 2 minutes.
7. Bake in two greased and floured 9-inch pans at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Frost when cool using a plain butter frosting, replacing liquid with cherry juice.
9. Decorate with cup up cherries.