Lemon Meringue Cake

Directions

1. 1Make pudding mix as directed on box for pie, using all remaining filling ingredients. Refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until chilled.
2. 2Heat oven to 325°F. Grease sides of two 9- or 8-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with cooking parchment paper. In medium bowl, beat cake flour, 3/4 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt, shortening, milk, vanilla and 4 egg yolks with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. (Batter will be stiff.) Spread evenly in pans.
3. 3In small bowl, beat 4 egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. Beat in 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spread half of meringue over batter in each pan.
4. 4Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until meringue looks set and dry. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen meringues from edges of pans with point of knife if necessary. Carefully remove from pans and peel off paper. Cool completely with meringue sides up on cooling racks, about 1 hour.
5. 5Spread 1 1/4 cups pudding over meringue on 1 cake layer. Place other cake layer, meringue side up, on first layer. Top with remaining pudding. Serve within 30 minutes. Store in refrigerator.