Paula Deen's Holiday Spice Cake

Quick buttercream: Beat the butter, shortening, and salt together until creamy with an electric mixer. Add half the confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Then gradually beat in the remaining confectioners' alternating with the vanilla and cream until it is all incorporated and the frosting is very light and fluffy.

Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour three (8-inch) round cake pans.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together dry ingredients: cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground cloves.

Cream the butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the dry ingredients and the buttermilk alternately, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.

When the batter is well mixed and smooth, divide it among the three prepared cake pans and bake about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes come out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out to cool completely. If the cake layers have domed a little during the baking process, slice off the tops with a long, serrated knife so they are flat and even.

Place the first layer, cut side down, on a cake pedestal or serving plate. Spoon about 3/4 cup of buttercream onto the center of the cake. Spread it almost to the very edges with an offset spatula. Repeat with the remaining two layers. Garnish the top of the cake with finely chopped nuts and cocoa powder.