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Close-up of a moist amaretto layer cake slice topped with toasted almonds and creamy frosting

Amaretto Layer Cake Recipe


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  • Author: Olivia
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: One 9” three-layer cake 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A soft, moist three-layer amaretto layer cake with almond, vanilla, and buttermilk, finished with rich cream cheese amaretto frosting.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake Layers:

1 cup unsalted butter, cold

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups cake flour

1 cup white cake mix

2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp butter flavor

2/3 cup amaretto

For the Frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

4 1/2 tbsp amaretto

10 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar


Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for 20 minutes. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl.

2. Preheat the oven to 275°F.

3. Whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

4. Add eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, beating well after each.

5. Mix buttermilk with vanilla, almond extract, and butter flavor.

6. Add cake mix to creamed butter, followed by one-third of the buttermilk mixture.

7. With the mixer on low, alternate adding the dry flour mix and remaining buttermilk mixture. Start and end with the flour.

8. Scrape down sides and bottom again. Mix for 7 more minutes.

9. Prepare three 9” pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray.

10. Divide batter evenly among pans.

11. Bake at 275°F for 45 minutes or until the top springs back when touched.

12. Cool cakes on a rack for at least 10 minutes before removing from pans.

13.

14. **Frosting:**

15. Cream butter for 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and beat until light and fluffy.

16. Scrape bowl sides and bottom.

17. Mix in extracts and amaretto. Beat 1–2 more minutes.

18. Slowly add powdered sugar, scraping bowl halfway through.

19. Mix another 3 minutes until fluffy.

20. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until use.

Notes

Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting.

Use cold butter for the cake and room temperature ingredients for frosting.

Frosting can be made in advance and stored refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Cake layers can be frozen for up to 2 months wrapped in plastic.

  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Cakes Recipes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 680
  • Sugar: 55g
  • Sodium: 210mg
  • Fat: 36g
  • Saturated Fat: 21g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 75g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 120mg