Spiced Layer Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour 
• 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 4 large eggs 
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger 
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 1 tablespoon orange zest grated
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup cream sour
• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 cup butter unsalted room temperature (2 sticks)
• 0.5 cup milk whole

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour pans; tap out excess flour. Sift first 8 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and orange peel in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture alternately with sour cream and milk. Divide batter among prepared pans.
2. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
3. Transfer pans to racks and cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
4. Place 1 cake layer on platter.
5. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer.
6. Spread 2/3 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Cover top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.)