Ingredients

For the cake

½ cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¹⁄₃ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
²⁄₃ cup milk
3 egg whites

For the fruit glaze

12 ounces apricot or raspberry preserves (or heated jelly may be used instead)
3 tablespoons water

For the icing

9 cups confectioners’ sugar
½ cup water
½ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
Food coloring (optional)

For the garnish

Tiny edible sugar flowers and/or leaves, for decorating tops of petit fours

Directions

For the cake

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a sheet of parchment in a sheet pan and grease sides. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake for 12-15 or until cake is golden. Remove cake from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Cut cake in half and spread preserve on one side and carefully stack second side on top. Place in fridge for 10 minutes.

For the icing (icing can be colored)

Combine all icing ingredients in the top of a double boiler. Heat over boiling water to lukewarm. Leave on double boiler. Remove cake from fridge. Cut into squares or use cutters for more unique shapes. Add each individual cake to a wire rack with a sheet pan to catch drips and pour warm icing over cakes evenly. Repeat if necessary. Careful not to over ice cakes. Add garnish.