Frosted Cake

• For cake:

  2¼ C cake flour
  2¼ tsp baking powder
  4 Tbsp margarine
  1¼ C sugar
  4 eggs
  1 tsp vanilla
  1 Tbsp orange peel
  ¾ C low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free milk
  

• For icing:

  3 oz low-fat cream cheese
  2 Tbsp low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free milk
  6 Tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  2 C sifted confectioners’ sugar
  ½ tsp vanilla extract
  

Directions

• 1

  Preheat the oven to 325 °F.

• 2

  Prepare the pan: Grease with a small amount of cooking oil, or use nonstick cooking spray, a 10-inch round pan (at least 2½ inches deep). Powder pan with flour. Tap out excess flour.

• 3

  In a mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour and baking powder.

• 4

  In a separate bowl, beat together the margarine and sugar until soft and creamy.

• 5

  Beat in eggs, vanilla, and orange peel.

• 6

  Gradually add the flour mixture alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.

• 7

  Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cake cool for 5 to 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Let cool completely before icing.

• 8

  To prepare icing: Cream together cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add cocoa powder. Blend well.

• 9

  Slowly add confectioners’ sugar and mix until icing is smooth. Mix in vanilla.

• 10

  Smooth icing over top and sides of cooled cake.