Amaretto Cream Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix*
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can apricot halves, drained
• 2/3 cup amaretto liqueur
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 round 9-inch pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, 1/4 cup amaretto and oil. Beat for 4 minutes on medium speed.
3. Pour into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
5. Cool completely.
6. When cool, slice each layer in half horizontally, making 4 layers.
7. Make apricot filling by combining drained apricots and 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons amaretto in a blender. Process until smooth.
8. Place bottom layer of cake on serving dish.
9. Spread 1/3 of apricot filling on cake layer, then repeat with other layers.
10. Frost with Amaretto Cheese Frosting.
11. To make Amaretto Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 3 tablespoons amaretto until soft.
12. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth.
13. Frost top and sides of cake.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.