Auntie's Buttermilk Cake

I got this recipe, as well as so many others, from my favorite aunt. She loved to bake--she used to say it was her "therapy," and I feel the same way!

• Calories: 299 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ¾ cup shortening
• 4 egg whites
• 2 ¾ cups cake flour
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour 1- 13 x9 inch square cake pan.

Step 2

Cream shortening and sugar together and add 1 tablespoon buttermilk.

Step 3

Sift flour three times and add baking powder and salt.

Step 4

Combine 1 1/2 cups buttermilk with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Alternate adding buttermilk to shortening mixture with flour.

Step 5

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into batter. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Step 6

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes. Once cool frost with frosting of your choice. If you want you can add orange extract to the frosting, about 1 teaspoon.