Birthday Cake for Jesus

Birthday Cake for Jesus

To remember the “reason for the season,” we serve a birthday cake for Jesus at the Christmas Eve dinner. This simple tradition keeps us grounded and reminds us why we are gathered and what we are celebrating.  The 8'' one layered cake is ideal for us, but your favorite cake recipe will serve as the annual reminder too.

2 cups cake flour *

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice mixed with enough milk to total 2/3 cup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar.  Add the eggs and mix well.  Add the flour mixture alternating with the cherry milk mixture to the egg mixture and combine.  Add the vanilla and beat until thoroughly blended.  Stir in the walnuts and cherries.  Pour the cake batter into an 8 inch round cake pan coated with cooking spay.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let cool completely before removing the cake from the pan. Frost the cake with a cream cheese frosting.  Serves 6.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

1 – 2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter.  Slowly add the powdered sugar until the right consistency.  Add the vanilla extract and combine well.

* How to make Cake Flour

Step 1:  Measure the same amount of all-purpose flour as needed in the recipe.

Step 2:  For each cup of measured flour, remove 2 tablespoons of flour.

Step 3:  Replace each 2 tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.

Step 4:  Sift together this flour mixture 5 times to make sure it is well incorporated.