Lady Baltimore Cake
Credit: Christopher Hirsheimer
SERVES 10 – 12
A lady cake is a butter cake; this one was dubbed Baltimore for its fancy icing (the city was once famous for its candy making).
FOR THE CAKE:
3 1⁄2 cups sifted cake flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1⁄2 tsp. salt
8 oz. butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup milk
1⁄2 tsp. rosewater
8 egg whites
FOR THE ICING:
4 cups sugar
6 egg whites
1⁄2 tsp. rosewater
1⁄2 cup chopped raisins
1⁄2 cup chopped figs
2 tbsp. chopped candied orange peel
1 1⁄2 cups chopped pecans
1. For the cake: Preheat oven to 375°. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl; set aside. Put butter in bowl of a standing mixer and beat on medium high for 2 minutes, then gradually add sugar, beating until butter is light and fluffy. Add flour to butter in three parts, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth after each addition. Add rosewater and set aside.
2. Beat egg whites in a clean bowl on high speed until stiff but not dry. Gently stir about one-third of the whites into batter to lighten it, then gently fold in remaining whites in two parts. Divide batter between three greased cake pans and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
3. For the icing: Bring 2 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat, add sugar, and stir until dissolved. Continue to boil for about 5 minutes more, then remove from heat. Beat egg whites in bowl of a standing mixer on medium speed until stiff but not dry, about 1 minute. Still beating, pour sugar syrup in a thin stream into whites and beat until icing is room temperature, about 10 minutes. Beat in rosewater. Reserve 3 cups icing, then mix raisins, figs, orange peel, and 1/2 cup of the pecans into remaining icing.
4. Place bottom layer of cake on a plate, spread with one-third of fruit-and-nut icing, and top with second layer. Spread with same icing and top with third layer, icing it, too. Ice top (over fruit-and-nut icing) and sides with plain icing. Press remaining 1 cup of pecans onto sides.
I did not find any mention of it.
Lady Baltimore uses the egg whites; Lord Baltimore, the yolks. Among my family and friends, the two are baked on the same occasion.
Do you need a recipe?
I did not find any mention of it.
Lady Baltimore uses the egg whites; Lord Baltimore, the yolks. Among my family and friends, the two are baked on the same occasion.
Do you need a recipe? Rating: