FRANKFURTER KRANZ (BUTTERCREAM FILLED CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix in grated lemon rind.
• Sift flour again with cornstarch and baking powder.
• Gradually stir in butter-egg mixture until thoroughly blended.
• Butter and flour a cake ring mold and tap out excess flour.
• Pour batter into pan.
• Bake in the lower half of oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour-test with a toothpick.
• Cool in pan on a rack.
• Praline topping or Krokant----------------.
• Place the butter and sugar in a fry pan over low heat, and stir constantly until the sugar is lightly browned and melted.
• Stir in nuts and pour onto a greased or buttered flat serving plate.
• When cold and hard, crack praline topping into small pieces.
• Butter Cream Filling---------------.
• Over low heat, cook sugar, water and cornstarch, stirring until dissolved.
• Bring to a boil, and stir until mixture forms a soft ball when dropped in cold water-238°F on candy thermometer.
• VERY slowly, stirring constantly, in a very thin stream, pour boiling hot syrup inches.
• If you add the boiling syrup to quickly it will scramble the egg yolks-so pour in the thickness of a thread, stirring vigorously.
• Beat until mixture cools and is smooth.
• Cool completely.
• Beat softened butter into the cooled creme, adding your favorite flavoring, 3 to 4 tbsp rum, arrack, kirch or fruit liquor, or 1 tbsp vanilla extract, or 2 and 1/2 oz melted and cooked semi sweet baking chocolate, or 1/2 cup ground hazelnuts.
• Cut cake into 3 layers.
• Spread 1 cup of buttercream filling onto bottom and middle layers, saving enough to cover outside of cake.
• Stack layers and spread rest of filling on top and all sides.
• Sprinkle praline topping or Korant on top and sides of cake.
• Chill at least 24 hours before serving.