Chandra

Sun Cake

Yellow Cake

2 cups flour
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup softened butter, or shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk
3 eggs
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt


Heat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour 1 round pan, 8 or 9x1 ½ inches, and 1 square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Beat all of the ingredients on low speed, scraping the bowl constantly, for 30 seconds. Then beat on high speed, scraping the bowl frequently, for 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into the pans, making the height as even as possible.

Bake until a hpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Remove the cakes from pans. Cut the square cake into eight triangles, for the rays of the sun. Attach the rays to the sun with lemon frosting, then frost the entire cake. Sprinkle with yellow decorating sugar after icing if desired.

Lemon Frosting

3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup softened butter
½ teaspoon grated lemon peel
About 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Yellow food coloring

Mix the powdered sugar and butter then stir in the lemon peel and lemon juice. Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. Add the yellow food coloring while beating to achieve a nice sunny hue.