MIXED-BERRY CHIFFON CAKE WITH ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For almond cream filling: Pour half and half into medium saucepan.
• Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean and bring cream to simmer.
• Remove from heat; cover and steep 15 minutes.
• Blend sugar and flour in medium bowl.
• Whisk in eggs, then warm half and half mixture; return to same pan.
• Add almond paste.
• Whisk over medium heat until almond paste dissolves and custard boils, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add white chocolate and butter; whisk until melted and smooth.
• Press plastic wrap onto custard; chill 3 hours.
• Remove vanilla bean.
• Beat cream to peaks; fold into custard in 3 additions.
• Cover; chill at least 6 hours.
• (This part can be done 2 days in advance--keep chilled.) For cake: Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Butter and flour two 10-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides.
• Sift flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt into large bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup lukewarm water into dry ingredients; beat in oil, egg yolks, both extracts, and peel.
• Using clean dry beaters, beat whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff but not dry.
• Fold whites into batter in 3 additions.
• Measure 4 2/3 cups batter into 1 prepared pan and 3 1/3 cups batter into second pan.
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes for thinner cake and 30 minutes for larger cake.
• Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes.
• Cut around cakes and turn out onto racks; cool completely.
• Place thinner cake on 9-inch-diameter tart pan bottom.
• Spread with 1/2 cup preserves, leaving 1/2-inch plain border.
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups filling in dollops atop preserves; spread evenly.
• Chill until filling is firm, about 15 minutes.
• Cut larger cake horizontally in half.
• Place 1 half, cut side down, atop chilled filling.
• Spread with 1/2 cup preserves, leaving 1/2-inch plain border.
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups filling in dollops atop preserves; spread evenly.
• Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down.
• Cover cake and remaining filling; chill 3 hours.
• For almond cream cheese frosting:.
• Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar, and both extracts in large bowl to blend.
• Beat in 3/4 cup remaining filling.
• Spread 1 cup frosting thinly over sides and top of cake.
• Spread cake with remaining frosting, building high rim around top edge.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill.).
• Mound berries on top of cake.
• Brush top of berries with warm jelly to glaze.
• Serve immediately, or chill up to 6 hours.