Ingredients
FOR THE GRAPEFRUIT CAKE
Cake flour: 1.5 cups (sifted)
Granulated sugar: 3/4 cup
Baking powder: 1.5 tsp
Salt: 1/2 tsp
Large eggs: 3 (separated)
Vegetable oil: 1/4 cup
Water: 1/4 cup
Grapefruit juice: 3 tbsp
Lemon zest: 1/2 tsp (finely grated)
Cream of tartar: 1/4 tsp
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Cream cheese: 2 (8 oz) packages, softened
Freshly squeezed lemon juice: 1 tsp
Lemon zest: 1 tsp (finely grated)
Confectioner's sugar: 1 cup (sifted)
FOR THE TOPPING
Grapefruit sections: 1 (16 oz) can, drained well
Grapefruit syrup
Originally created at the Brown Derby as a diet-friendly dessert for gossip columnist Louella Parsons, this airy grapefruit cake is layered with citrusy cream cheese frosting and grapefruit sections.
How to make The Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake
01.
Make the Grapefruit Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and lightly butter the paper and sides.
- Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- Whisk egg yolks, oil, water, grapefruit juice, and lemon zest until smooth in a medium bowl. Whisk in the flour mixture.
- Beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar just to stiff peaks with an electric or stand mixer. Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture with a rubber spatula until just blended. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when touched lightly in the center. Invert the cake, still in the pan, and cool on a wire rack.
- Run a spatula or a table knife around the edge of the cake and carefully remove from the pan.
02.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the cream cheese on high speed until light and fluffy with an electric mixer in a medium bowl.
- Add the lemon juice and the lemon zest. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and beat until well blended.
- Keep covered until ready to frost cake.
03.
Assemble and Serve the Cake
- Halve cake horizontally with a serrated knife.
- Spread ⅓ to ½ cup frosting over top of first layer to within about ¼ inch of the edge. Top with several grapefruit sections.
- Place second cake layer, rounded side up, on frosted first layer. Frost top and sides with remaining icing.
- To serve, garnish with remaining grapefruit sections and desired amount of grapefruit syrup.
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