HOW TO BAKE A CAKE

HOW TO BAKE A CAKE

INTRODUCTION

Cakes baked from scratch taste better and mean more because it was baked with TLC (tender loving care). It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make a cake from a box. Homemade cakes are baked and created using basic ingredients in any kitchen. The following are a few delicious cake recipes from grandma to enjoy!

BUSY DAY CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

2 ½ tsp. baking powder

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup milk

1/3 cup shortening

1 egg

 1 ½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp salt

BUSY DAY CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR ICING

1 stick of margarine or butter

1 bag of semi-sweet chips (chocolate chip, peanut butter, butterscotch, etc.)

BUSY DAY CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKE

Combine all ingredients.

Mix with an electric mixer until well mixed then mix 2 more minutes on medium setting. Pour batter into 9x9x2 baking pan or round baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Allow to cool.

For icing:

Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stove. 

Add semi-sweet chips.

Stir often until completely melted and smooth.

Pour icing on top of cake and spread evenly.

TIPS

When ready to eat, cut a slice and place on a small flat dish.

Microwave for 10 to 12 seconds to slightly melt icing.

Grab your fork and enjoy.

This is a very light cake that is similar to the traditional yellow cake recipe.  Using semi-sweet chips adds an extra sweet taste that can’t be beat!

CHERRY PIE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 cup cherry pie filling

CHERRY PIE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR ICING

½ stick of butter or margarine

2 tbl vanilla

8 oz cream cheese or sour cream

Cherry pie filling

1 cup powdered sugar

CHERRY PIE CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKE

Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar.

Add rest of ingredients and mix well.

Pour batter into 2 9” round baking pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Allow to cool.

For icing:

Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stove. 

Add remaining ingredients except cherry pie filling.

Stir often until completely melted and smooth.

Add cherry pie filling and stir to break up cherries.

Pour icing on top of cake and spread evenly.

Allow to cool.

Remove cake from one pan and place on large pie plate.

Frost sides only of cake with icing.

Spoon cherry pie filling on top.

Remove cake from other pan and place on top

Frost rest of cake.

TIPS

A variation for the icing could be:

Melting 3 tbl of margarine or butter with 2 cups of powdered sugar.  Keep stirring until smooth then add ¾ cup cherry pie filling.  Stir to break up cherries.

SAUSAGE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

1 lb. mild sausage

2 eggs

2 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp allspice

1 cup raisins

2 cups sugar

8 oz. of milk

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

½ tsp salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

SAUSAGE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CARAMEL ICING

2 cups brown sugar

1 tbl margarine or butter

¼ cup water

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

SAUSAGE CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKE

Brown sausage and drain.

Combine sausage and sugar.

Add eggs and stir.

In a separate bowl, combine all ingredients except milk, walnuts, and raisins.

Add this dry mix to the sausage mix and mix well.

Add milk, nuts, and raisins.

Pour batter into 13x9 baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes

Allow to cool.

For icing:

Combine sugar, butter, and water in a pan on the stove.

Add vanilla and stir. 

Add powdered sugar and stir until smooth.

Drizzle icing over sausage cake.

TIPS

If you’ve never heard of sausage cake, this is a “gotta try” recipe that you’ll love!

PUMPKIN CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

2 cups sugar

1 ½ cups oil

4 eggs

2 cups packed pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp cinnamon

¾ cup raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

PUMPKIN CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR GLAZE

1 cup powdered sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

5 tsp water

PUMPKIN CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKE

Combine sugar and oil, and beat well.

Add eggs and stir well.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Pour batter into 9x13 baking pan.

Bake at 300 degrees for one hour.

Allow to cool.

For glaze:

In a small bowl, blend all ingredients until smooth.  If needed, add additional water a drop at a time for desired consistency. 

Spoon or drizzle glaze on cake.

TIPS

This cake is delectable with or without the glaze!

OATMEAL PIE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

3 eggs

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 tsp butter

2/3 cup coconut (optional)

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

2/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

OATMEAL PIE CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS

Combine ingredients in the order as listed and mix well.

Pour batter into 13x9 baking pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

TIPS

This recipe is simple and easy; perfect for a dessert that’s needed at the last minute!

APPLE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CAKE

4 eggs

1 ¾ cup sugar

1 cup oil

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¾ tsp salt

Apple pie filling

½ cup raisins

½ cup chopped walnuts

1 tsp vanilla

APPLE CAKE -- INGREDIENTS FOR CREAM TOPPING

1 cup sugar

½ cup sour cream

½ tsp baking soda

APPLE CAKE -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAKE

Mix eggs, sugar, and oil.

Add baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

In separate bowl, combine flour, apples, and raisins.

Add this mixture to the first mixture and mix well.

Stir in vanilla.

Pour batter into 13x9 baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

For cream topping:

Combine ingredients in a pan and cook on the stove over medium heat.

Stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil.

Pour on cake and spread evenly.

Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top.

TIPS

This is a great breakfast cake that tastes great with coffee or tea!

HELPFUL TIPS FOR ALL CAKES

Tablespoon is abbreviated “tbl” and teaspoon is abbreviated “tsp”.

It is best to lightly grease and flour cake pans before pouring in the batter.  Spray oil used for cooking can be used as well as shortening.  Often the spray oil is enough and the pan does not need to be floured.  Greasing the cake pan will allow the cake to be removed easier.

After baking, cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

When cooking cakes in round pans, the top of the cake is always wider than the bottom of the cake.  To remove the first cake from the pan, invert a plate on top of the cake in the pan, and turn upside down onto the cake plate.  Since this will make the larger size on the bottom, you will need to flip this cake onto another cake plate.  When removing the second cake, be sure to position the larger side of the cake on top of the larger side of the first cake.  If you don’t, you’ll end up with a cake that’s a bit difficult to frost or look a bit mismatched!

Self-rising flour can be substituted for all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

Applesauce can be substituted for oil.  Be sure to use just a little less applesauce then you would if you were using oil.

Sunflower kernels can be substituted for walnuts.

Cake recipes also make delicious cupcakes and muffins.  Pour batter into lined or unlined muffin tins and bake at the same temperature in the cake recipe for 18 to 20 minutes.  Be sure to grease the muffin tins if you are not using muffin liners.

CONCLUSION

Whether someone has very little time or all day, there’s a cake recipe that will fit their needs and their tastes.  Don’t be surprised that once you start baking one delicious cake, you get in the mood to bake another!  Get out the ice cream and enjoy!