A slice of cake is a true sweet indulgence. Cakes have the power to bring smiles on the faces of young and old alike. They can be as simple as a butter pound cake, or as complex as a triple-layer coconut cake. Cakes are a treat to eat; each bite is like a trip into a world where fluffy layers and creamy frostings reign supreme. One has only to think about feather-light cakes and decadent frostings to start a craving.
Whatever the occasion, cakes have always held a place of prominence at special celebrations. Remember that gingerbread cake your grandmother always made for Christmas? How about that fudgey devil's food cake you were presented with on your eighth birthday?
There's hardly any family that doesn't have an all-time favorite cake recipe. Whether it's Grandma Rose, Aunt Linda, Cousin Sally, or even Uncle Frank who whips up the cake, a homemade cake is the end result of a precise process. It requires careful measuring, sifting, creaming, combining, flavoring, baking, cooling, frosting and decorating. No wonder the art of cake baking is a labor of love!
My family has several cakes that we treasure. My father's aunt creates the most exquisite cheesecake that rivals any store-bought compatriot. My grandfather and I both enjoy an occasional piece of angel food cake whenever we long for its cotton-candy softness. At a birthday party for my mother, a sumptuous devil's food cake with chocolate frosting is an appropriate gift for an expert "chococonnoisseur."
With the sunny gems from Florida and California, oranges, so abundant at the grocery store in the summertime, why not put them to use in this recipe for Orange Meringue Cake? A twist on the classic yellow butter cake, this cake is sure to become a big hit with your family. It combines the fluffiness of yellow cake with the crunchiness of meringue. I hope you'll try baking the Orange Meringue Cake this week. Who knows? It may even become an all-time favorite in your family.
ORANGE MERINGUE CAKE
MAKES 1 EIGHT-INCH-ROUND CAKE
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
