Dragon Fruit Cake

1. Stage

Place dragon fruit flesh in a blender or food processor and purée. Transfer purée to a bowl and set aside.

2. Stage

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.

3. Stage

Sift cake flour, all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.

4. Stage

Cream 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 cup butter together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time; beat until yolks disappear.

5. Stage

Combine milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract together in a cup and set aside.

6. Stage

Add 1/2 flour mixture to creamed butter mixture, beating until just combined. Add 1/2 milk mixture. Add remaining flour mixture and beat until just combined. Add remaining milk mixture and stir until mixed thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup dragon fruit purée and very lightly swirl into cake batter.

7. Stage

Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.

8. Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

9. Stage

Let cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes; turn out onto wax-paper lined racks and cool 5 minutes more. Brush tops and sides of cakes with simple syrup.

10. Stage

While cakes are cooling completely, beat cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar slowly and beat 3 minutes more. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons dragon fruit purée, beating until combined and purée is completely incorporated.

11. Stage

Place one cake layer top-side up on a serving plate; place strips of waxed paper under edges of cake to keep the plate clean. Spread approximately 1/2 vanilla buttercream frosting on top. Top with second layer, bottom-side up and lightly frost top and sides with remaining vanilla buttercream frosting.

12. Stage

Apply dragon fruit cream cheese icing to top and sides of cake, leaving some of vanilla buttercream frosting showing through.