Peaches & Cream Spice Cake

One thing I hate is having insomnia.  

It doesn't happen to me very often.  Usually when my head hits the pillow at night I am DONE.

But sometimes, my mind is going 100 mph and I can't shut it off.

Typically that happens when I am planning a party.

So I start baking in my mind.

I was planning my Mother-in-law's birthday dinner, and the one thing I knew would be involved...

PEACHES!

My dear friend, Betsy, has peach trees in her yard.

I have never in all my days had a peach from the grocery store that even compared to these!!

My Mother-in-law, Marie, LOVES peach pie.

If i ask her what kind of pie I should bring, she always says peach!

So that wasn't hard to decide.

Peach pie...peach pie...AND...?????

When we all get together there are usually like 20+ of us.

I needed a cake, too.

Last year I canned ginger peaches.

(so mad I never blogged those...)

I love spiced peaches.

So, I wondered... hummmm? Spice Cake?

What else goes with peaches?

I knew that if I asked my son, Spencer he would reminisce about having peaches and cream at his great grandma's house.

(My Mother-in-law's Mother-in-law...)

So, cream it was!!

I made a Spice Cake and filled it with a peach filling, topped it off with whipped cream frosting.

Top it off with freshly sliced peaches...to make it pretty! <3 p="">

So, now I will share with you what I did... It was really quite easy!!

Peaches & Cream Spice Cake

Cake:

1 box spice cake, make according to box instructions for a layer cake

Bake According to the box.

Peach Filling:

3 T cornstarch

1/2 cup sugar

3 T lemon juice

1 1/2 cup peaches, mashed

1 c boiling water

1 T butter

2 t lemon zest

a couple of drops of pink food coloring (optional)

In a double boiler over water, add sugar, salt and cornstarch.  Top off with boiling water and stir until thick and there are no lumps.

Add butter, lemon zest and juice. Mix thoroughly.

Add peaches a optional food coloring.

Stir.

Place in refrigerator to cool.

Whipped Cream Frosting:

1 - 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened

1/2 c granulated sugar

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 t almond extract

2 c heavy whipping cream

In your standing mixer with whisk attachment whip together cream cheese and sugar until smooth.

Add extracts and slowly add cream.

Whip continually, occasionally stopping beater to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, until frosting forms peaks.

Place in refrigerator while you assemble the cake.

When cake is cool, place bottom layer on your plate.

Top with peach filling, saving a little bit to fill in sides.

Top off with second layer.

Fill in the gaps in the sides of the filling.

It looks like a giant hamburger!! ;)

Spread frosting over top and sides of cake.

Top with fresh peaches, and add some to the sides.

Keep in the refrigerator.

Top with candles! (optional)

Serve to your favorite birthday girl (or boy...)

Optional...but so nice!!

Happy Birthday, Marie!!