vanilla birthday cakeI'm a chocolate lover, but there's something so absolutely perfect about vanilla. It totally doesn't deserve its "blah, plain, boring" rep -- not for sex (cough E.L. James!) and not for desserts. Especially not for cupcakes, birthday cakes, frosting -- you name it. Think about it. Who doesn't love a fluffy angel or layer cake with perfectly sweet vanilla icing? Drooool!

That's why a recipe for a Snow White Vanilla Birthday Cake with Angel Feather Icing recently caught my eye. It just sounds straight-up dreamy. Check it out ... 

Snow White Vanilla Birthday Cake with Angel Feather Icing from Sweetapolita.com via Food That Really Schmecks by Edna Staebler

Ingredients for Cake:

1/2 cup butter

2 cups white sugar

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups ice water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

4 egg whites beaten stiff

 

Ingredients for Angel Feather Icing:

2 egg whites

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup corn syrup

2 tablespoons of water

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla or other flavoring

 

Directions:

  1. Add sugar to the butter and beat until light. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with ice water and flavorings, beating thoroughly after each addition.
  2. Fold in the beaten egg whites. Pour into greased layer pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. 
  3. To make icing: Put everything but the vanilla into the top of a double boiler with a fast-boiling water below. Start beating immediately with a rotary beater or electric mixer until the mixture stands in stiff peaks. Remove from heat, add flavoring, and keep on beating until it is thick enough to spread easily.
  4. Cover cake with icing and serve!