Special Birthday Cake Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chips and water; stir until chips are melted. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add melted chip mixture, buttermilk and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the creamed mixture., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, combine the sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute; remove from the heat. Stir in chips and vanilla until smooth; cool. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease 2 straight sided 9x12 round cake pans and line with parchment or wax paper.
• Cake: Sift flour, measure carefully 2 1/2 cups and sift this again with the baking powder and salt onto waxed paper or another bowl.
• Beat the butter with electric mixer in a bowl until smooth.
• Gradually beat in 1 1/4 cups sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in yolks one at a time.
• Beat in vanilla, and almond extract.
• On low speed alternately add flour and milk in 3 additions.
• In yet another bowl beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter.
• Scrape the batter into prepared pans, spreading level.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• The top should spring back when lightly touched.
• Cool pans 10 minutes, then unmold on cake racks to cool.
• icing: Sift sugar and cocoa into a large bowl.
• Add butter, salt and vanilla.
• Beat on high until fluffy, adding drops of milk until desired spreading consistency is reached.
• Frost as usual.