Ingredients:
For the cake:
2 1/2 cups cake flour, plus extra for dusting pans
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or table salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (divided)
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh Freeman Herbs Organic Rosemary, minced
6 large egg yolks, room temperature
3 large egg whites, room temperature
For the frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
For the decoration:
5-10 sprigs of sugared rosemary
1/4 cup of fresh cranberries
Directions:
For the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8" or 9" round cake pans.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, lemon zest, rosemary, and egg yolks.
In a stand mixer, beat egg whites at medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Add the dry ingredients to the stand mixer. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the butter mixture. Mix until combined, stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Gently fold in half the meringue, then fold in the rest, being careful not to deflate the batter. Some white streaks are fine.
Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the cakes pull away from the pan sides and the centers are set.
Cool cakes in pans for 20 minutes, then loosen edges with a knife and invert onto a greased wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Frosting:
Combine all ingredients in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Spread frosting evenly over the cooled cake layers, assemble, and decorate as desired.
Add decorations to top of cake as desired.
Enjoy!