These cakes are absolutely divine.  I have yet to make one that I would not consider making again.  You would never guess that they include a cake mix.  I think it has to do with the fact that she tops everything with something from scratch – whether it’s a homemade frosting or a homemade curd recipe as in this lucious lemon cake…

Lemon Cake with Pineapple Curd

Pineapple Curd:

1 can (15.25 oz.) crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained

1 stick butter, cut into small pieces

3 large eggs

1 Tbsp. flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Lemon Cake:

1 package plain lemon cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding mix

4 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 can (12oz.) 7-Up (or other lemon lime soda)

Combine the pineapple curd ingredients in a non-reacitve saucepan.  Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, without boiling for 6-8 minutes, or until thickened.  I had to cook for the full 8 minutes.  It was about the consistency of pudding when I stopped.  Be careful to stir the corners of the pan so that it doesn’t curdle.

Pour the curd into a bowl and immediately cover with plastic wrap – pushing the plastic wrap on top of the curd to prevent a skin from forming.  Put the curd in the refrigerator to chill completely (at least one hour).  Can be made up to 4 days in advance.  Stir before using.

Grease and flour three  9inch cake pans.  Preheat the oven to 350degrees.

Put all cake ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix on low for one minute.  Scrape the bowl and continue beating for another 2-3 minutes on medium.  Divide the batter evenly into the three pans.  Place the pans in the oven.  Bake 20-25 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove the pans from the oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Run a butter knife around the edges and then turn out onto a cooling rack.  Carefully flip each cake back over so that they are facing up as they were in the oven.  Cool completely.

This cake needs to be stored in the refrigerator.  Keep that in mind when selecting a cake plate.  To assemble – place one layer on a cake plate.  Top with 1/3 of the pineapple curd.  Place second layer on top and repeat with the second 1/3 of the curd.  Place final layer on top and place remaining pineapple curd on top.

My notes:  I had absolutely no problems with this recipe.  Everything turned out just as planned.  The pineapple curd layer did sink into the cake in the middle layer – which was fine.  The cake was pretty to display.  Next time I will try leaving out the curd on top and topping with whipped cream and fresh fruit – raspberries maybe – just to jazz it up a bit.