PAULA DEEN LANE CAKE RECIPE - (3.9/5)

Steps:

• CAKE: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare three 8-inch or 9-inch cake pans, greasing them well, lining with circles of waxed or parchment paper and dusting with flour. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl, or stir with a fork to mix well. Stir vanilla into the milk. Beat the egg whites with a mixer at medium speed about 1 minute, until foamy and pale yellow. Increase speed to high and beat until egg whites swell into white, soft clouds and hold a firm, curled peak when beaters are lifted. Set aside. Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat at high speed until fluffy and well-combined, scraping down the bowl once or twice. Beat in flour and milk mixtures in thirds, alternating between them and beat at low speed only until flour or milk disappears. Fold about a third of the beaten egg whites into the batter. Fold in the remainder, mixing gently until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until cakes are pale golden brown and spring back when lightly touched. . Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto wire racks or plates, carefully remove the paper from the bottoms and turn cakes top side up to cool completely. FILLING: Combine egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat well with a mixer at medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until thick, billowy and pale yellow. Transfer to a medium saucepan, add the butter and cook on medium heat, stirring often, until thickened and smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. (The filling should coat the back of a spoon and reach 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.) Remove from heat and stir in coconut, raisins, pecans, bourbon, vanilla and salt. Cool to room temperature and spread between the layers of the cake. (Or cool, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.) FROSTING: Bring about 3 inches of water to boil in a medium saucepan or the bottom of a double-boiler. Combine the sugar, egg whites, water, corn syrup and salt in a large heat-proof bowl that will fit snugly over the saucepan or in the top of the double-boiler. Beat 1 minute with mixer at low speed, until the egg white mixture is foamy and well-combined. Place over the boiling water and adjust heat to maintain a gentle boil. Using a hand-held mixer at high speed or by hand, beat the mixture for 7 to 14 minutes, until it swells and holds firm, curly peaks when the beaters are lifted. Remove from heat, add the vanilla and beat for 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl once or twice. Spread the frosting on the top and sides of the cake. If possible, let stand for several hours before cutting.