White Cake with Maraschino Cherry Frosting has three layers of white cake covered in a wonderfully flavored cherry buttercream frosting. It's a great choice for a holiday cake!
To make cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees with 1 rack one-third from the bottom of the oven and a second rack two-thirds from the bottom. Line three 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper rounds and spray with Baker's Joy or butter and flour.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium speed with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Scrape down sides of bowl and add egg whites and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
Add 1/3 of flour mixture and beat on medium speed until incorporated.
Add half of buttermilk and beat on medium until mixed in.
Scrape down sides of bowl and repeat adding flour mixture and buttermilk, finishing with remaining 1/3 of flour. Batter will be thick and glossy.
Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Set two cake pans on 1 oven rack and the third pan on the second rack, staggering them so cakes are not directly over each other.
Bake 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are flat and browned.
Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes. Invert onto racks to cool completely. (Cakes can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 3 weeks.)
For frosting, beat butter and cherry juice with an electric mixer until smooth. Add salt and gradually beat in powdered sugar. Fold in cherries.
Spread frosting between layers, on top and sides of cake.