Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Bake the cake
- 1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch pan and line with parchment, leaving an overhang.2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.3. Beat the butter and sugar for 3 minutes until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.4. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk in two parts. Mix on low until just combined.5. Spread into the pan. Bake 28 to 32 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean and the top springs back.6. Cool 15 minutes in the pan, lift out, and cool on a rack for at least 1 hour. Chill 20 minutes for cleaner cuts (optional).
Make the buttercream
- 1. Beat the butter for 3 minutes until very pale.2. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, then the cream, vanilla and salt. Beat 2 minutes until fluffy and spreadable.
Assemble
- 1. Cut 12 rounds from the cooled cake with a 2 3/4-inch cutter.2. Spread about 2 tablespoons of buttercream on top of each round in a thick dome.3. Press each frosted top into a plate of nonpareils, then tap off the extras.4. Chill 20 minutes to set the crust. Serve.
Notes
⦁ Weigh the flour for a soft, moist crumb.
⦁ Use true nonpareils for the crunch. Jimmies will not crackle.
⦁ Storage: room temperature up to 8 hours; refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days.
⦁ Freezing: freeze uncoated, unfrosted rounds up to 2 months. Thaw, then frost and coat fresh.
⦁ Make ahead: bake the cake a day early; frost and coat on the day.
⦁ Two 9-inch round pans work too; bake 24 to 28 minutes. You will get fewer rounds.
⦁ Use true nonpareils for the crunch. Jimmies will not crackle.
⦁ Storage: room temperature up to 8 hours; refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days.
⦁ Freezing: freeze uncoated, unfrosted rounds up to 2 months. Thaw, then frost and coat fresh.
⦁ Make ahead: bake the cake a day early; frost and coat on the day.
⦁ Two 9-inch round pans work too; bake 24 to 28 minutes. You will get fewer rounds.
