Champagne Cake

Ingredients

Cake

• 2 2/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup champagne

Champagne Buttercream Filling

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon champagne
• Tint of red food coloring (just to make pink)
• 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Instructions

1. Cake: Resift flour with baking powder and salt.
2. Cream shortening with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat egg white until stiff. Gradually beat in remaining 1/2 cup sugar, continuing to beat to a stiff meringue.
4. Fold about half the meringue into the batter, mixing thoroughly with wire whip.
5. Gently fold in remaining meringue.
6. Turn into 2 greased and floured 9-inch layer cake pans.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, just until cake tests done.
8. Let stand 10 minutes then turn out on wire racks to cool.
9. Champagne Buttercream Filling: Beat shortening and butter until combined.
10. Add champagne and food coloring and beat until smooth and fluffy.
11. Beat in confectioners' sugar. Thin if needed with additional drops of champagne until consistency for spreading.
12. Frost the cake when it is completely cool.
13. Decorate with flowers.