Catholic Stand-Up Easter Lamb Cake and Centerpiece Recipe

As a German Catholic homeschool family, Easter is about the Paschal Lamb of God, and His passion, death and Resurrection. Lent takes us to the Easter celebration. Here is an Easter lamb cake and centerpiece recipe.

Several years ago, our youngest son's Croatian godmother brought us an Easter Lamb of God cake, made using the Wilton Stand Up Lamb Cake Pan set. This lucious cream cheese pound cake is perfect for Easter morning brunch. I've name it Osterlamm Gottes which is German for Easter Lamb of God.

In keeping with Catholic tradition, several items from the Easter feast should be brought to the church on Holy Saturday for the Polish Swieconka or Blessing of the Baskets. Items include eggs, butter, cheese and meat.

Ingredients:

-one 8-ounce package cream cheese
-one and 1/2 cups butter
-three cups raw sugar (Florida Crystals)
-six large eggs (room temperature)
-three cups unbleached white flour
-one teaspoon almond flavoring
-fresh sliced strawberries
-whipped topping
-coconut

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Using a Wilton Stand-up Lamb pan set, spray with flour non-stick cooking spray.

Cream butter and cream cheese. Blend in sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat until creamy. Add almond flavoring and blend.

Sift nutmeg with flour. Add flour all at once; blend until smooth.

To fill the stand up lamb pan (directions from Wilton here):

Fill one half of pan with batter, almost to over-flowing. Snap the top half in place; secure with household wire or twine (to prevent the halves from separating.

Bake extra batter in greased spring form or regular cake pan. Bake on middle rack for one hour and ten-twenty minutes. Top half may be removed for the last ten minutes. Carefully release pan lock after an hour to check cake. Cook on wire baking rack.

When cake is hot, drizzle with thin icing made with warm water, powdered sugar, salt and almond flavoring. Sprinkle with coconut (for lamb's fleece).

To make this cake into a Lamb of God cake, use brown frosting, draw a small cross near lamb's body. You can make a design a cross from Popsicle craft sticks painted brown. Arrange Easter grass (eco-friendly is best) around the base of the lamb. Add a few bird's egg Whoppers candies, jelly beans or foil-wrapped chocolates. Use as an Easter brunch centerpiece.

Use frosting to define lamb's face if desired. Wilton.com has lamb decorating tips. Serve with sliced, sugared strawberries and topping. Serves 8-10.