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<recipeml version="0.5">
  <recipe>
    <head>
      <title>LouLou's Birthday Cake</title>
    </head>
    <yield><qty>10</qty></yield>
    <ingredients>
<ing><amt><qty>2.666666</qty><unit>c</unit></amt><item>white (or light) spelt flour</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>2.25</qty><unit>t</unit></amt><item>baking powder</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>0.5</qty><unit>t</unit></amt><item>salt</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>1</qty><unit>c</unit></amt><item>whole milk</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>1.5</qty><unit>t</unit></amt><item>vanilla</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>0.5</qty><unit>lb</unit></amt><item>unsalted butter (2 sticks)</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>1.75</qty><unit>c</unit></amt><item>sugar, divided into 1 1/2 cups and 1/4 cup</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>4</qty><unit></unit></amt><item>large eggs, separated</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>0.25</qty><unit>t</unit></amt><item>cream of tartar</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>0.25</qty><unit>t</unit></amt><item>finely ground pepper</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>1</qty><unit></unit></amt><item>organic orange, zested</item></ing>
<ing><amt><qty>3</qty><unit>T</unit></amt><item>molasses</item></ing>
    </ingredients>
    <directions>Preheat the oven to 350&deg;F. Grease and flour three cake pans or one sheet cake pan (what I used), or line with parchment paper (what I did--worked great).

Sift together the flour, spices, salt and baking powder, twice. In your working bowl--the one that goes on your mixer--cream together the butter, 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, molasses and orange zest on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, reserving the whites. 

Add the vanilla to the milk. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk mixture in two parts, beating at low speed until combined with each addition. Stop to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula now and again.

In another bowl, beat the reserved egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and continue beating on high speed until the peaks are stiff but not dry. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold a quarter of the egg whites into the batter. Once combined, add the rest. Fold JUST until combined. 

Bake until a toothpick or cake probe comes out clean. "Joy" says 25 to 35 minutes with the cake pans, but I came out closer to 45 minutes in the sheet pan. Let cool in the pan(s) for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely before frosting.</directions>
  </recipe>
</recipeml>