Description
This elegant celebration cake features tender, fruit-infused layers and a luscious peach-scented buttercream. It is a perfect way to showcase the natural, sun-ripened sweetness of late-summer peaches in a beautiful, rustic dessert.
Ingredients
- Drained peach slices
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Peach nectar
- Vanilla extract
- Orange peel, zested
- Cultured butter, softened
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Powdered sugar
- Gel food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the oven. Set your oven to 350°F and grease three 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans with shortening and a light dusting of flour.
- Puree the peaches. Blend the drained peach slices for 30 seconds until smooth, measuring out one cup for the batter and saving the remainder for the frosting.
- Mix dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Combine liquid ingredients. Stir the peach nectar, two teaspoons of vanilla, and the orange peel into your measured cup of peach puree.
- Cream butter and sugar. Beat the softened butter in a large bowl for 30 seconds, then gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until pale and fluffy before adding eggs one at a time.
- Fold in batter. Alternate adding the flour mixture and the liquid peach mixture to the creamed butter, mixing on low speed until just combined.
- Bake the layers. Divide the batter evenly into three pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, allowing them to cool completely before removing from the pans.
- Apply crumb coat. Beat butter, powdered sugar, puree, and vanilla together to create a smooth frosting, spreading a thin layer over the cooled cakes to set the surface.
- Pipe decorative rosettes. Mix the remaining frosting with gel color, fill a piping bag with a large star tip, and pipe rosettes around the sides and top of the cake.
Notes
- Ensure all dairy and eggs are at room temperature to achieve a stable and uniform cake crumb.
- Use a digital kitchen scale for measuring flour to prevent the cake from becoming dense or dry.
- If the buttercream becomes too soft for piping, refrigerate the filled piping bag for ten minutes to firm the fats.
- Always strain your peach puree through a fine-mesh sieve if you notice any skins or fibers that might clog your piping tip.
- Level the tops of your cooled cake layers with a serrated knife to ensure the finished cake sits perfectly flat.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
