Separate the eggs and pour whites into a clean bowl.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and then add vanilla extract.
Alternately incorporate cake flour and baking powder along with buttermilk, starting and finishing with flour.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, and incorporate them into the mixture.
Divide batter between two greased pans.
Bake at 380° F for about 40 min. Let cool in pans completely.
For the italian meringue:
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat over high heat, brushing down sides of pot as necessary with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cook until sugar syrup registers 240°F on an instant read or candy thermometer.
Meanwhile, combine egg whites with cream of tartar and lemon juice in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set mixer to medium speed and mix until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes.
With the mixer running, carefully and slowly drizzle in hot sugar syrup. Increase speed to high and whip until desired stiffness is achieved.
For the almond praline:
Follow our delicious recipe: almond praline
To assemble:
On the cake stand of your choice, place one of the cakes first, then using a piping bag put the dulce de leche on top of it, from the outside in.
On top of that place the second cake and let it sit for about 30 min. so that the resultant cake is overall firmer.
Carefully cover the whole cake with the italian meringue.
Break into pieces the almond praline and place a good amount of it on top of the cake.
Lastly, let the cake sit for a little while (we know is hard not to eat it right away) for it to be firmer.