Pink Almond Party Cake

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) box Betty Crocker super moist white cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 egg whites
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 6 drops red food coloring

FOR THE GARNISH

• 4 ounces white almond bark, chopped
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1-2 drop red food coloring

FOR THE FROSTING

• 1/2 cup butter, softened or margarine
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4-5 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 2 (9- or 8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients, including 2 teaspoons almond extract and 6 drops food color, as directed on box. Pour into pans.

2. 2

   Bake as directed on box for 9- or 8-inch rounds pans or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave candy coating uncovered on High 1 minute, stirring twice, until melted and smooth. Stir in 2 teaspoons oil. Spoon about half the melted coating into another bowl; stir in 2 or 3 drops food color to tint it light pink.

4. 4

   Line 6-ounce custard cup or other small bowl with foil. Pour half of the untinted coating into foil-lined bowl. Drop half of the pink coating on top; pull a knife through coatings to make marbled design. Repeat with remaining untinted and tinted coatings, adding on top of marbled coatings. Refrigerate about 20 minutes or until set; remove from refrigerator. (If refrigerated longer, let stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften.).

5. 5

   In large bowl, beat butter, shortening, 1 teaspoon almond extract, the powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons of the milk with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat on medium speed, adding enough of the remaining 1 tablespoon milk until fluffy and spreadable.

6. 6

   Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate; frost top. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost side and top of cake.

7. 7

   Remove coating from bowl; peel off foil. With vegetable peeler, make urls by pulling peeler around the outside edge of block of coating. Place curls on top of cake.