Elegant Southern Jam Cake Food

ELEGANT SOUTHERN JAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, 1 cup of water, oil and eggs. Beat for 2 minutes on high speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pans.
• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pans. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan, combine sugar, 2 tablespoons of water and egg whites. Cook over low heat, beating continuously with electric hand mixer at high speed, until soft peaks form. Remove from heat. Add marshmallow creme and beat until stiff peaks form.
• To assemble cake, split each layer in half horizontally to form 4 layers. Place 1 layer on serving plate. Spread with 1/3 cup of the preserves. Top with second cake layer and spread with 1/3 cup preserves, do third layer the same way. Top with fourth layer (DO NOT spread preserves on top of fourth layer).
• Frost sides and top with frosting. Swirl small dollops of preserves in frosting. Store in refrigerator.

STRAWBERRY JAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and sea salt together in a bowl to distribute well.
• Stir jam and buttermilk together in another bowl.
• Cream sugar and butter together in a separate bowl until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Blend in the eggs, one at a time. Add the flour mixture in 2 parts, alternating with buttermilk and jam mixture in 2 parts. Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until centers are slightly firm and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool the cakes in their pans for 30 minutes; remove and let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring cream to a simmer over medium-low heat. Place chocolate chips in a bowl; pour hot cream on top. Let sit, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in concentric circles until ganache is smooth. Let cool.
• Spread a thin layer of chocolate ganache on cooled cake layers; assemble and frost the top and sides. Sprinkle with toasted almonds.

AUNT MURNA'S JAM CAKE

Steps:

• Soak raisins in pineapple and juice several hours or overnight. , In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add jam and buttermilk; beat until well blended. Sift together dry ingredients; add to batter. Beat on low just until combined. Stir in the raisins, pineapple and pecans. , Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks. , For icing, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Cool just until warm; beat in enough confectioners' sugar for icing to reach spreading consistency. Add more sugar for thicker icing or more milk to thin it. Frost cooled cake.