Special-Occasion White Cake

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2-1/2 cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold water
• 4 egg whites
• 2 cups shortening
• 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• Lilac paste food coloring
• Edible pansies

1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with water. Beat just until combined. In another bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
2. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350u0b0 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. In a large bowl, beat shortening, confectioners' sugar, extracts and salt until light and fluffy. Add enough milk to achieve frosting consistency.
4. Place one cake on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake. Tint 2 cups frosting with lilac food coloring; spread over top and sides of cake.
5. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #10 tip and fill with remaining white frosting. Pipe a border of "pearls" around bottom and top of cake. With #3 tip, pipe smaller "pearls" on sides of cake. Garnish with pansies.

shortening, sugar, vanilla, almond, cake flour, baking powder, salt, cold water, egg whites, shortening, sugar, almond, vanilla, salt, milk, coloring, pansies

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/special-occasion-white-cake/ (may not work)