Blood Orange Layer Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 375°.
2. 2
   Coat an 8-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; line bottom of pan with wax paper.
3. 3
   Coat wax paper with cooking spray.
4. 4
   Combine eggs, vanilla, melted butter, and salt in a bowl.
5. 5
   Beat with a mixer at high speed 2 minutes.
6. 6
   Gradually add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, beating until mixture is thick and pale.
7. 7
   Gently fold flour into egg mixture, 1/4 cup at a time.
8. 8
   Spoon batter into prepared pan.
9. 9
   Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center.
10. 10
    Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
11. 11
    To prepare filling, place a colander in a 2-quart glass measure or medium bowl.
12. 12
    Line colander with 4 layers of cheesecloth, allowing cheesecloth to extend over outside edges. Spoon yogurt into colander. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 12 hours.
13. 13
    Spoon yogurt cheese into a large bowl; discard liquid. Add honey to yogurt, stirring well with a whisk.
14. 14
    Combine cream and powdered sugar in bowl, beat with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.
15. 15
    Gently stir one-fourth of the cream mixture into yogurt mixture; gently fold in remaining cream mixture.
16. 16
    Cover and chill 15 minutes.
17. 17
    Arrange blood orange sections in a single layer on several layers of paper towels, and let stand 5 minutes.
18. 18
    Reserve half of the sections; roughly chop remaining sections. Cover and chill.
19. 19
    To prepare syrup, combine juice and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.
20. 20
    Reduce heat; simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup.
21. 21
    Remove from heat; cool.
22. 22
    Split cake in half horizontally using a serrated knife (I use unwaxed dental floss) place bottom layer, cut side up, on a plate.
23. 23
    Brush with 2 tablespoons syrup.
24. 24
    Spread with half of yogurt mixture, leaving a 1/4-inch border.
25. 25
    Sprinkle chopped blood orange mixture mixture evenly over yogurt mixture.
26. 26
    Top with the remaining cake layer, cut side down. Brush the top layer with remaining syrup; spread with remaining yogurt mixture.
27. 27
    Top cake with reserved whole orange sections.