Indonesian Spice Cake (Spekkuk)

2 cups cake flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg, grated
1/2 teaspoon clove, ground
4 teaspoons cinnamon, ground
1 pinch salt
3/4 lb butter, unsalted (3 sticks)
1 2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs, large
3 egg yolks, large, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit; grease and flour a bundt pan.

In a medium bowl, resift the sifted flour along with the baking powder, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and salt; resift one more time, then set aside.

In another bowl, beat the softened butter until it is soft and very pliant, about one minute, gradually add the sugar and beat on high speed until it is pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Beat in the 4 whole eggs by hand, one at a time, until the butter and egg mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add the flour mixture to the butter and egg mixture in 3 equal parts, beating on low speed (or stirring with a wooden spoon) until the batter is smooth and the flour is well combined with the butter and eggs; add the lightly beaten egg yolks and the vanilla, and continue to beat or stir until they are well mixed into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it until the surface is even; then place the pan in the middle reack of the oven and bake about one hour, test with a wooden pick; this cake will nearly double in size as it cooks.

Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes, when cool enough , invert the cake onto a wire rack to finish cooling; then transfer the cake to a serving platter and sprinkle the top with sifted confectioner's sugar.

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