Host An Unforgettable Book Club Party

Neapolitan Cake makes quite a pretty presentation with chocolate and strawberry layers topped with a creamy vanilla frosting.  This recipe is a snap to make using dolled up chocolate and white cake mixes.

Inspired by Doc

Prep Time:   1 hour       Cook time:   50 minutes, total         Yield:  1 large 6-layer cake

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

• 1 chocolate cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup cream
• 1/3 cup strong coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Strawberry Cake

• 1 white cake mix
• 1 3-ounce package strawberry Jell-O
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 16-ounce package of frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed and pureed
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup water

Creamy Vanilla Frosting (This is a big cake, so you will need a lot of icing)

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 pound package of powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Butter and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Combine ingredients and beat batter until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Pour cake into prepared pans and bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
3. Remove cake layers from pans 5 minutes after removing from oven.  Allow layers to cool completely on rack before assembling.

Strawberry Cake

1. Prepare Strawberry Cake batter while Chocolate Cake is almost done baking.  Follow the same instructions for the Chocolate Cake.   If using the same 3 9-inch round cake pans used to bake the chocolate cake, be sure to rebutter and reflour before using them for the Strawberry Cake.

Frosting and Assembly

1. When all the cake layers are completely cooled, prepare the frosting by beating together butter, vanilla extract and salt.  Slowly beat in powdered sugar, then milk.  Add a bit more powdered sugar if  frosting is too thin or a bit more milk if frosting is too thick.
2. Place a chocolate layer on a cake plate and frost top.  Place a strawberry layer on top of the frosted chocolate layer and frost top.  Repeat with alternating chocolate/strawberry layers.  After all layers have been stacked in alternating cake flavors and the tops frosted, frost the sides of the cake.