-
1
Prepare Cake: Preheat oven to 325u00b0. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar and almond paste; beat 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
-
2
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition, stopping to scrape bowl as needed. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan.
-
3
Bake at 325u00b0 for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 1 hour).
-
4
Trim crusts from all surfaces, making sure top of cake is flat. Slice cake in half horizontally. Spread cut side of bottom half with strawberry jam; replace top half. Cover; freeze 1 hour or until firm.
-
5
Cut cake into 40 (1 1/2-inch) squares; brush away loose crumbs. Place squares 2 inches apart on wire racks in jelly-roll pans.
-
6
Prepare Glaze: Beat 10 cups powdered sugar, meringue powder, half-and-half, and almond extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
-
7
Pour glaze over cake squares, completely covering top and sides. Spoon up all excess glaze; continue pouring glaze until all cakes have been covered. Let stand 1 hour or until glaze dries completely.
-
8
Prepare Quick Almond Buttercream: Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add half-and-half and almond extract; beat 1 minute. Stir in food coloring paste.
-
9
Trim any excess glaze from bottom of each cake square. Spoon Quick Almond Buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, and decorate as desired.
-
10
We tested with Wilton Meringue Powder, which can be found at craft and cake-decorating stores.
-
11
Use canned frosting in place of the glaze. Microwave the frosting at HIGH 30 seconds or until pourable. Tint glaze with desired food coloring paste, and follow glaze directions in method.
