Bake a Butter Half Cake
for Their Half Birthday!

Here's a recipe for a classic and delicious butter half cake, modified slightly to make a splash at a Half Birthday celebration:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup butter flavored Crisco
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk, yogurt, or sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon mace (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Butter and flour a 9" round cake pan. Cream butter, Crisco, and gradually add the sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add flour mixture alternately with milk and flavorings to creamed mixture, beating after each addition until smooth and light. Pour batter into cake pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove and finish cooling on rack.

Cut cake exactly in half, frost top of one half, place other half on top, complete frosting and decorate as desired. Mmm!