Cherry Layer Cake with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting

I made it as a Christmas present for a neighbor. OMG, it was fantastic now everyone wants one. It was the first time I had made a layer of cake. Of course, I had to try a difficult one.

They all loved how moist the cake was and asked for additional slices to go. The only thing I did differently was double the icing to put on the sides of the cake.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

3 cups sifted cake flour

2½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

⅓ cup vegetable shortening

1½ cups sugar

¼ cup maraschino cherry juice

¾ cup whole milk

¼ tsp almond extract

16 maraschino cherries, cut into eighths

5 egg whites, room temperature, stiffly beaten

For the Frosting:

8 oz (1 block) cream cheese, room temperature

¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

¼ cup maraschino cherry juice

6 cups confectionary sugar

Directions: