Heirloom Spice Cake Recipes

HEIRLOOM SPICE CAKE (A SNACK CAKE)

Steps:

• 1. NOTE: To make sour milk, measure out 1 cup milk and let get to room temperature. Add 1 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice and stir. The milk will "curdle" and is ready to use. I have just used buttermilk instead.
• 2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 13 X 9 X 2-inch oblong baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• 3. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt and spices together and set aside.
• 4. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy using an electric mixer set at medium speed. Beat in the egg.
• 5. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the sour milk, beating well after each addition, using an electric mixer set at low speed. Stir in the walnuts and raisins.
• 6. Spread the batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
• 7. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack. To serve, sprinkle with sifted confectioners sugar and cut into squares.

MAMA'S SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients; cook and stir over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool. , In a large bowl, beat egg yolks; gradually stir in spice mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to spice mixture until blended. Stir in pecans. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into the batter. , Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. To decorate, spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake, leaving cake slightly exposed on the sides. If desired, top with pecans, cinnamon sticks, fresh bay leaves, fresh rosemary sprigs and confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator.

MOIST, TENDER SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
• Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
• Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.