The Taste of Gale's Kiss Sweet Orange Cake

By chelyc13

When Gale Surprises Katniss with a kiss, she notes that his kiss tastes like oranges, a fruit that often symbolizes happiness and prosperity. While this cake might not pack the romantic punch that gale's kiss does, it's a sweet surrogate for those of us with no Gale or Peeta in our lives.

Ingredients

• FOR CRUNCH LAYER:
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• FOR CAKE:
• 1 pkg yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• FOR FROSTING:
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup whole milk (Optional)

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350. Oil and flour two 9 inch pans.

2. for the crunch layer; in a small bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, almonds, butter, and vanilla extract. Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans. Set aside.

3. For Cake: Combine the cake mix, water, orange juice, and oil until just blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in orange extract. Stir until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture evenly over the crunch layer in the pans.

4. Bake the cakes in the preheated oven to 30 to 35 mintues, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. remove pans from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes. Invert pans onto a wire rack and let cakes cool completely before frosting.

5. For Frosting: in a medium sized bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, sugar, and orange juice. If too thick add up to 1/2 cup whole milk.

6. Once cakes are thoroughly cooled, frost cruch side up. Layer cake on top of one another and thoroughly frost top and sides.