White Mountain Cake

🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake the Cake Layers

1. Preheat: Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans (or line the bottoms with parchment paper).
2. Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer for 5 minutes until pale, light, and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Alternate: Alternately add the dry flour mixture and the milk to the butter mixture in 3 batches. Begin and end with flour, mixing on low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.
5. Whip Egg Whites: In a separate, completely clean glass bowl, whip the 6 egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into your cake batter in two batches using a rubber spatula until smooth.
6. Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the layers cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert them onto wire racks to cool completely.

2. Make the Fluffy Frosting

1. Double Boiler Setup: In the top part of a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water), combine the sugar, water, 2 egg whites, and corn syrup. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.
2. Beat Continuous: Beat the mixture constantly on high speed with a handheld electric mixer over the simmering heat.
3. Reach Stiff Peaks: Continue beating for about 7 minutes. The frosting will transform from liquid into a thick, glossy, fluffy white meringue that holds stiff peaks. Remove from the heat and beat in the vanilla extract for 1 more minute.

3. Assemble the Mountain

1. Layer: Place your first cooled cake layer on a serving platter. Spread a thick layer of the marshmallow frosting over the top.
2. Stack: Place the second cake layer on top.
3. Frost: Cover the top and sides of the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Use your spatula to create decorative, dramatic swirls and peaks to simulate a snowy mountain.
4. Garnish: If desired, immediately press the shredded coconut all over the top and sides of the wet frosting.