Showing posts with label Cakes

Hershey's Perfectly Perfect Chocolate Cake, it really IS perfect...

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 03, 2024



Oh my, this cake is just so good, it's indescribable.  It's better than grandma's homemade chocolate cake, it's better than Aunt Edna's secret recipe that she won't share, it's better than any cake you can buy in a bakery, it's just that that good!   If you've been looking for a decadently moist homemade chocolate cake with silky chocolate frosting, look no more, your search has ended.  This recipe dates back to the 70's, it's definitely stood the test of time and has been passed down for generations, now

I make this cake, my friends make it, my daughter-in-law requests it every year for her birthday.  It's just the best homemade chocolate cake, period! The only thing that could possibly improve this is just to drink it with a glass of cold milk. 

Ingredients:

* 2 cups white sugar

* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

* 3/4 cup HERSHEY®'S Cocoa Powder

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 2 eggs

* 1 cup milk

* 1/2 cup vegetable oil

* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 1 cup boiling water

* 1/2 cup butter

* 2/3 cup HERSHEY®'S Cocoa Powder

* 3 cups confectioners' sugar

* 1/3 cup milk

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting.

Frosting:

4. To make "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting: Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

What Do I Bake This In?

1.  One Pan Cake: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350 F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.

2.  Two Layer Cake in 9" Pans.  Don't do it!  The layers will be too flat, trust me...

4.. Three Layer Cake: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350 F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

5.. Bundt Cake: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350 F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost

6.. Cupcakes: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350 F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

#hersheysperfectlyperfectchocolatecake #hershey #chocolatecake #cake #chocolate #birthdaycake #cakesofinstagram #cakes #cakedecorating #dessert #homemade #cakestagram #cakedesign #foodporn #yummy #food #baking #cupcakes #foodie #birthday #cakeart #instacake #homebaker #instafood #delicious #chocolatelover #love #bakery #foodphotography #sweet #cakelover 

Weight Watchers Lemony, Puckery, Yummy Pound Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 14, 2022


It's Monday, and we always start the week eating lower calories, so I wanted a healthy lemon cake recipe to share and there are a plethora of Weight Watcher ones to choose from that are low in calories and maximum in flavor.  I have a confession, I haven't made this.  I make the two ingredient Weight Watcher cake with a box of lemon cake mix and a can of diet lemon soda, which is very good and I think with WW they consider it to be 0 points for one piece.

However, my mother had the best recipe from the 70's for a lemon pound cake made with a cake mix and lemon pudding, everybody loved her cake and I've made it countless times, so when I found this recipe, I was intrigued because it's basically the same asmother's recipe, except you are swapping out greek yogurt for the 3/4 cup of oil she used.  I'm betting that this cake is a winner, that greek yogurt is going to make it really moist.  So, this is on my short list to make this week, because it just is...

1 box of lemon cαke mix
1 smαll box of Instant sugαr free lemon pudding mix
4 eggs
¾ cup nonfαt plain Greek yogurt, or if you want this really lemony, use lemon Greek yogurt
¾ cup of lemon juice
¼ cup of wαter

This would be good with just a dusting of powdered sugar, but if you don't mind the calories in a glaze, here you go....

Vanilla Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Preheαt oven to 350 degrees

Sprαy the inside of α cαke pαn or Bundt pαn with α no point non-stick sprαy

Combine the pudding mix, cαke mix, yogurt, wαter, αnd ¾ cup of lemon juice in α lαrge bowl

Whisk until combined but don’t overbeαt the mix

Pour into your pαn αnd bαke αccording to cαke mix box instructions.  Typically a Bundt cake takes about 50-60 minutes for a toothpick to come out clean, but I would check it at 40-45 minutes.  I've baked so much, my nose always alerts me when a cake is done, but don't do what I do, check your cake!

To mαke the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract and whisk until combined and the right consistency to drizzle.

Drizzle icing over the cαke αfter it hαs cooled completely.

I don't have the nutritional information for this, maybe someone can put it through WW nutritional app and let us know the points.


#weightwatchers #weightwatcherscake #lemoncake #lemonbundtcake #bundtcake #yummy #yummyfood #foodporn #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #jancancook #itspiday

The World's Best Lemon Curd Coconut Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 13, 2022



This is the perfect Easter dessert, the kind of cake you pay a fortune for in an upscale bakery, yes, it's that good.  This cake is delicious, I mean seriously, decadently, wonderful, too marvelous for words!  I've baked cakes for years, and this one is in the top five of the best ever.  I adapted it from a recipe from Sugar & Spice by Celeste, it's a "must try" if you are a lemon lover.

This cake is a project, done in steps.  It's the kind of cake you make a day or so ahead and let it age.   This is definitely a labor of love and the results are so worth it.

Originally Adapted From: Foster, Sara. 'The Foster's Market Cookbook'. Random House. New York: 2002.

Ingredients:

Lemon Curd:

3 large eggs
1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons) (do not use the bottled lemon juice)
1 tablespoon (4 grams) finely shredded lemon zest (outer yellow skin of lemon)
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar
4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into small pieces

Coconut Cake Recipe:

6 large eggs
2 1/2 cups (325 grams) all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 tsp coconut extract
1 3/4 cups (420 ml) buttermilk
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Frosting:

2 large (60 grams) egg whites
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
1/4 cup (60 ml) cold water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Garnish:

2 cups (150 grams) sweetened shredded or flaked coconut (can use unsweetened dried coconut)

Directions:

Lemon Curd: 

In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice until blended. Cook, stirring constantly (to prevent it from curdling), until the mixture becomes thick (like sour cream or a hollandaise sauce) (160 degrees F or 71 degrees C). This will take approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately pour through a fine strainer to remove any lumps.

Cut the butter into small pieces and whisk into the mixture until the butter has melted. Add the lemon zest and let cool. The lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools. Cover immediately (so a skin doesn't form) and refrigerate until cold. The lemon curd can be made several days (up to a week) in advance.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Butter and flour two - 9 inch x 1 1/2 inch (23 x 3.75 cm) cake pans, and then line the bottoms with parchment paper (or spray with Bakers Joy).

Coconut Cake: 

While the eggs are still cold separate the eggs, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl. Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).

In a mixing bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In bowl of electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Gradually add 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup (50 grams) of sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then fold in the remaining whites until combined. Do not over mix the batter or it will deflate.

Divide the batter and pour into the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in center. 

Place the cakes on a wire rack to cool, in their pans, for about 10 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto a greased rack. To prevent splitting, reinvert cakes so that tops are right side up. Cool completely before filling and frosting.

Frosting: 

In a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, place the egg whites, sugar, water, and corn syrup. With a handheld electric mixer beat the mixture for 3 to 4 minutes on low speed. Increase the speed to high and continue to beat for another 3 to 4 minutes or until the icing is shiny and satiny with soft peaks.

Remove from heat, add the vanilla extract, and continue to beat on high speed for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the frosting is thick. Use immediately.

To Assemble: 

With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. Place one cake layer on your serving plate and spread with about 1/3 of the lemon curd and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of coconut. Continue with the next layers, stacking and filling with the lemon curd and coconut. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the 7-Minute Frosting and then sprinkle with about 1 cup of coconut. Cover and refrigerate the cake until serving time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

My Tweaks:

Lemon Curd - I make this a couple of days ahead, just like her recipe, except I used 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice, because we love tart lemon curd, and added extra lemon zest.

Cake Batter:  I omitted the coconut extract, and added an extra splash of vanilla, because I didn't want the coconut flavor, I would rather have the lemon favor with just the coconut on the top.  

Frosting:  This was time consuming, but worth it.  I beat the mixture for four minutes on low, then four minutes on high, to get the soft peaks, then additional two minutes.  Very time consuming over a hot pan of water, but totally worth it.  

Assembly:  I totally dropped the ball on this the first time I made it, but made notes so the next time I wouldn't have issues.  I took a shortcut and instead of splitting the layers and putting lemon curd between each layer, I just put lemon curd on top of the first layer, then icing, then put the other layer on top, and it wanted to slide off the bottom layer.  I then put on more lemon curd and iced it.  

Next time I made it like Celese says, and split the layers, and add the lemon curd and it worked so much better.   I still won't put coconut between the layers, just on top, as not everyone in our family is a fan of coconut.

However, if you don't care about presentation, you could always bake this in a 9x13 pan, with lemon curd on top, and then the frosting.  

🍋
🍋
🍋

#lemoncurd #eastercake #easterdessert #lemon #lemoncake #yummy #yummyfood #foodporn #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #cake #frosting #lemonpudding


Paula Deen's Famous Lemon Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 10, 2022




Paula Deen's Original Ooey Gooey Cake has been a consistently favorite recipe on this site since 2008.  Legend has it that in a St. Louis Bakery, John Hoffman made a mistake by using the wrong amounts of sugar and flour. Because there was so little flour and too much sugar, the cake did not rise and was super dense and heavy. Well, people loved it and he called it ‘gooey butter cake’.   But it was Paula Deen that made it famous and when she debuted it on QVC, it was a huge hit.  She offered many variations of it over the years, and it sold out over and over again.

A couple of years ago, I was searching for a new lemon cake recipe, and on a whim made the lemon version of her Ooey Gooey Cake.  Oh my, it's SO good, you will love this.

This is what Paula had to say about this amazing cake...

Butter Gooey Cakes. Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes. Ooey Booey Gooey Cakes.  These are just a few of the names I've heard our guests at The Lady & Sons call 'em.  These delectable cakes were an instant hit the first day they showed up in The Bag Lady basket and they immediately became one of my most requested items. These little sweeties actually resemble a bar-type dessert instead of what we know as a traditional cake. Over the years, I have made every flavor imaginable, using this basic recipe. I'll give you some of my recommendations but by all means experiment and have fun creating your very own version of our signature Gooey Butter Cakes. 

Cake

1 (18.25-ounce) box lemon cake mix, I prefer Duncan Hines
1 egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
Add the juice (approximately 1/4 cup) and zest of 2 lemons to the cream cheese filling.
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla, you can substitute 1 teaspoon lemon extract for more intense lemon flavor
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well. Pat into the bottom of prepared pan and set aside.

Still using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and lemon juice until smooth; add eggs and vanilla or lemon extract. Dump in confectioners' sugar and beat well. Reduce speed of mixer and slowly pour in butter. Mix well.

Pour filling onto cake mixture and spread evenly. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Don't be afraid to make a judgment call on the cooking time, because oven temperatures can vary. You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't bake it past that point!

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares. Just remember that these wonderful little cakes are very, very rich, and a little will go a long way-even for piggies like me!
🍋 🍋 🍋

#pauladeen #qvc #ooeygooeybuttercake #lemonooeygooeybuttercake #jancooksrealfood #janspicx #lemon #lemoncake #yummy #yummyfood #foodie



Better Than Starbucks Iced Lemon Loaf, it's just the BEST!

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 24, 2022


You drive thru #Starbucks, buy a slice of their yummy lemon loaf for at least $3.50, knowing the next time they will have a price increase on your very favorite treat that you just are addicted to, then you buy a Venti Latte with a double shot of espresso, don't forget the tax and the tip, and oops, you've spent a chunka change.  Do that several times a month and it can be really painful.

But there is a better way.  Just make this at home and enjoy a slice every morning for days for a fraction of the price.  There are a lot of copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf recipes floating around online, I've tried several that were just meh, and then I found this.  And yes, it's ahh-mazing. If you follow me, you know that I'm a huge lover of anything lemon, in fact so much so that next month I'm going to post a new lemon recipe for you every day for the entire month.

So get out your bakeware, grab your ingredients and stir up this yummy lemon bread, you don't even need a mixer.  This is very simple to make and you will love it!  You can even take a walk on the wild side and add some blueberries, but if you do, toss those blueberries in a bit of flour so that they don't all sink to the bottom.

INGREDIENTS:

3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream 
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil, don't use olive oil for this, it needs to be vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon extract, to taste (make sure you're using tablespoons not teaspoons)* and preferably use 2 tablespoons of this extract for maximum pucker power 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
 2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Lemon Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice, or as necessary for consistency

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with  cooking spray, then make a parchment paper saddle and put in the pan so that you can lift the cooked loaf out easily.  Also spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, sugar, sour cream, and whisk vigorously until smooth and combined.

Drizzle in the oil while whisking to combine.

Add the lemon zest, lemon extract, and whisk to combine. Note – I used 2 tablespoons of lemon extract because no actual lemon juice is used in the loaf and I found 2 tablespoons lemon extract necessary for full-bodied lemon flavor, don't wimp out on this, just do it!

Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix. Some lumps will be present and that’s okay, don’t try to stir them smooth.

Turn the batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.

Bake for about 50 to 52 minutes, or until top is domed, set, and toothpick inserted in the center crack comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. In the last 10 minutes of baking, tent pan with foil (loosely drape a sheet of foil over pan) to prevent excessive browning on the top and sides of bread before center cooks through.

Allow loaf to cool in pan on top of a wire rack for at least 30 minutes (I cooled 4 hours) before turning out onto rack to cool completely before glazing.

Lemon Glaze:

In a small bowl, add the confectioner’s sugar and slowly drizzle in the lemon juice while whisking until smooth and combined. You may need to play with the sugar and lemon juice amounts a bit as necessary for desired consistency and flavor.

Evenly drizzle glaze over bread before slicing and serving.

Extra glaze can be spread on the cut surface of the bread like you’d spread butter on toast and it soaks right in making the bread even moister and more lemony. Or you can halve the glaze recipe if you’re not a glaze person.

NOTES:

Bread will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months; I don’t recommend storing it in the fridge because it will dry out.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE KITCHEN GADGETS:

I've had a Butter Bell for years and sometimes I just assume that others have them as well.  I'm the kitchen gadget queen, and I try everything, but this is really a great way to keep soft butter on your counter at the ready.




This is the original Butter Bell, it's available in many colors and so worth the money, I have a red one, and I've  used it every day for years.

Butter Bell Link




🍋
🍋
🍋

Angel Food Cake with a little sumpin-sumpin...

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 14, 2022


I have a love affair with angel food cake, it's light, airy and low in calories, well until you add the glaze, it is.  And I especially like it with pink frosting, the old recipe on the Domino Powdered Sugar Box, but that's not what I'm sharing today.  I'm sharing a lemon or lime glaze with all of you because spring is coming and this girl is a lemon/lime lover, so you will see a lot of citrus recipes showing up in the near future.

The original recipe called for actually making the cake from scratch.  Yikes, I'm not going to do that, it's time consuming, whipping all those egg whites, all that folding, and fingers crossed that it will actually rise to the top of the pan when you bake it.  Instead I buy  a Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker mix. Both of the mixes make an excellent cake, and they never deflate.

What I don't do is buy a bakery angel food cake, they're just not that good, and whipping up one at home from a mix makes me feel like I'm really "baking."   Just follow package directions and let cool completely upside down.

But back to the recipe for the sumpin-sumpin with this cake.  It's a lemon glaze, or if you prefer, a lime glaze.  Here's how you do it, simple, simple and oh so good...

Lemon or Lime Syrup and Lemon or Lime Glaze:

1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice, reserving 1 tablespoon of juice
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine sugar and 3 tablespoons lemon or lime juice in small saucepan; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Brush syrup all over top and sides of cake.

Then stir the 1/2 cup powdered sugar with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over top of cake. Let stand until glaze sets, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD: Cake can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.

Transfer cake to platter; cut into wedges, and if you're into presentation, garnish with strawberries or raspberries and add a dollop of whipped cream.

🍋
🍋
🍋

#angelfoodcake #cake #angelfood #dessert #strawberry #food #baking #strawberries #glutenfree #bakery #instafood #sweet #cakesofinstagram #angelcake #delicious #fluffy #foodphotography #baker #feedfeed #chiffoncake #bakersofinstagram #foodporn #yummy #foodie #chiffon #lemon #lime

Pioneer Woman's Favorite Recipe

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 06, 2022

 


I've been making Texas Sheet Cake since the 70's when my mother gave me the recipe because all of her friends were making it and raving about it.  Well, our family loved it too and even now, it's our favorite, and one of the easiest cakes to make, no mixer required.

When Pioneer Woman started talking about it, I was just shaking my head, thinking, umhmmmm, I know all about this, I could recite the recipe by heart.  So naturally I had to compare her recipe with mine, and here's how it stacks up. 

  • Bake in a 9x13 pan, because we like thick cake, not thin.  It takes it 30-35 minutes to bake
  • Use a whisk to combine ingredients, easier than stirring and does a thorough job
  • The more chocolate the better,  so I increased the cocoa to 6 tablespoons in the cake
  • I used 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • I also add more pecans, a lot more to the frosting, at least a cup.  If you're going to make this, make it over the top delicious by being generous with your nuts. 
  • Use an entire box of sifted powdered sugar 
  • Decrease the vanilla to 1 teaspoon
  • Add 1 cup of coconut to the frosting
Her recipe is below, the tweaks above is how I've made it forever.

Here's my original detailed recipe that I posted to this site several years ago

CAKE

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter
4 heaping tablespoons cocoa
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla

FROSTING

1 3/4 sticks butter
1/2 cup pecans finely chopped, optional
6 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound minus 1/2 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

Cake:

Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa. Stir together.

Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, beaten eggs, baking soda and vanilla.

Stir the buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.

Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes.

Frosting:

While the cake is baking, melt the butter, then stir in cocoa powder, milk, vanilla, powdered sugar and pecans (if using).

Pour over warm cake.



Ina Garten's Most Famous Recipe, Beatty's Chocolate Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 05, 2022

 

If there is one cake that you should make in your lifetime, this is it!  Ina Garten's famous Beatty's Chocolate Cake dates back to 2006.  It's worth the trouble, the flavors are amazing, the hint of mocha just take it over the top.  It’s very moist without being dense or heavy, and has just the right balance of sweetness with rich chocolate flavor. I can see why this is a beloved recipe, 

What a great cake to make for a special occasion, a birthday, a holiday or just because you want to bake something amazing...

  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cups good cocoa powder, such as Valrhona
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk, shaken
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
  • Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans (for cupcakes, see note). Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ones. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely. (Not to worry; the top will sink a little in the center.)

Place one layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread a thin layer of buttercream on the top only. Place the second layer on top, flat side up, and spread the frosting evenly first on the sides and then on the top of the cake. Cut in wedges and serve at room temperature.

Note: For cupcakes, reduce bake time to 25-30 minutes.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (frosts one cake, or 12 cupcakes)

  • 6 ounces good semisweet chocolate, such as Valrhona (see note)
  • ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules, such as Nescafe

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heatproof bowl over a pan over simmering water. Stir until justmelted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

Beat the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don’t whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.

Note: I use Valrhona Le Noir 56% Cacao Semisweet Chocolate. You can use also use a good bittersweet chocolate but don’t use chocolate chips because they have stabilizers in them.

If you love the pink cake stand used for the original picture of the cake, I found it for you on Etsy, it's from Mossler Glass and it's called The Large Thistle Cake Plate.   Here's the link, it's not an affiliated link, I just thought it was so pretty I wanted to share.  

Here's the click...

Recipe reprinted from Ina Garten's Website
Copyright 2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, All Rights Reserved

#chocolatecake #cake #chocolate #birthdaycake #cakesofinstagram #cakes #cakedecorating #dessert #homemade #cakestagram #cakedesign #foodporn #yummy #food #baking #cupcakes #foodie #birthday #cakeart #instacake #homebaker #instafood #delicious #chocolatelover #love #bakery #foodphotography #sweet #cakelover #inagarten #barefootcontessa #foodnetwork #marthastewart #food #foodie #homemade #imsomartha #foodphotography #inagartenrecipe #foodstagram #foodandwine #homecook

Mrs. Shore's Apple Cake Pudding Cake with Warm Lemon Sauce

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, October 11, 2020


 Mrs. Shore was a friend of a friend, the McGuires, when I was a little girl.  She gave Helen this recipe, she gave it to mother and it became mom's favorite fall dessert.  It's a trip down memory lane, this recipe must be eighty years old.   I thought I had lost it, found it recently and decided to add it here so it won't be forgotten.  Is it as good as I remember? I hope so because some things are best left to childhood, but I'm going to make it and see.  It's actually relatively healthy, no butter except for the sauce

Lemon Drop Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, April 01, 2016

NewImage

Oh my, there are no words, this was indescribably delightful.  We had it for Easter this year, I tweaked Betty Crocker’s original recipe and it was a huge hit.  It tastes just like a lemon drop.  It’s so moist, but not a heavy cake, it’s very lemony and tart, just the perfect spring dessert.

Here’s my version, I added pudding to the cake mix, extra lemon juice to the poke part of the recipe and used two cans of lemon frosting, with zest on the top.  The two cans of frosting worked so well, it wasn’t too much, but you had enough to spread without having to spread it thinly.

This one is a winner, winner, chicken dinner for sure!  You can all thank me later for the recipe.  ~ Jan

Oh, you sweet talker, Betty Crocker  XXo

1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ lemon cake mix
1 box instant Jello Lemon Pudding
 4 eggs
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil

1 cup powdered sugar, I sift this so it’s smooth
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (1 large lemon)

2 containers Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy lemon frosting

Lemon drop candies, crushed, if desired - I didn’t use the lemon drop candies, I zested Lemon Rind on top of cake instead

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Line two 9" pans with foil, letting foil hang 2 inches over 2 opposite sides of pans. Grease or spray bottoms and sides of foil.

Make cake batter as directed above, using Pudding, eggs, water and oil.  Pour into pans. Bake 25 to 32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice. Poke top of warm cake every 1/2 inch with long-tined fork or you can use the handle of a small wooden spoon, wiping fork or spoon handle occasionally to reduce sticking. Drizzle and spread lemon mixture over top of cake. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Remove cakes from pans by lifting with foil; peel away foil.

On serving plate, place 1 cake, rounded side down; trim if necessary so layer rests flat. Spread with half of frosting. Top with second cake, rounded side up. Frost top of cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with lemon drop candies. Store covered.

Three Day Coconut Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 05, 2014

NewImage

 

This four layer cake is also known as Grandma’s Best Coconut Cake.  I haven’t had it in years, but it’s a goodie.  Thinking ahead to Easter...

Here’s the link to the recipe

Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, May 04, 2013

NewImage


This is an absolutely delicious copycat recipe of Cracker Barrel's Famous Coca Cola Cake.  I like to add coconut and pecans to the frosting, but it's great plain, as well.  

The recipe is similar to Texas Sheet Cake, a recipe I've made since the 70's.  Texas Sheet Cake uses two sticks of butter, this one uses a stick of butter and a half a cup of oil.  I actually like this better, because oil makes a really moist cake.  The addition of a cup of Coke is the only difference between my original Texas Sheet Cake and the Cracker Barrel clone.  

People love this cake, make it a day ahead and it's really moist.  A definite 5 Star recipe!  

Enjoy… ~ Jan

Ingredients:
1 cup coca-cola
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup oil - I actually use a generous half cup of oil
3 HEAPING tablespoons cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

***Frosting***
1 stick margarine
3 HEAPING tablespoons cocoa powder
6 tablespoons cream or milk  - I use Fat Free Half and Half, and it works great!
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound confectioners sugar

Directions:
In a saucepan, bring coca-cola, margarine, cocoa and oil to a boil. In a separate bowl mix sugar, flour and salt, then pour the boiling mixture over the dry ingredients and whisk until blended. Beat eggs, buttermilk and vanilla together, and add to wet ingredients.  Pour into a  9×13 pan that has been sprayed with PAM and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

For Frosting: Sift confectioner's sugar - be sure and do this so it doesnt lump.  

In saucepan combine margarine, cocoa and milk and heat until the butter melts. Beat in the remaining ingredients and spread onto HOT cake. Cool and cut.

Making a Box Cake Taste LIke It's from a Bakery

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, April 16, 2013

NewImage

 

Step 1: Look at the directions on the cake mix,
Step 2: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich),
Step 3: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount,
Step 4: Instead of water, use milk.
Step 5: Mix well and bake for the time recommended on the box....

The World's Best Lemon Coconut Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, April 06, 2013

Lemon Coconut Cake

 

This cake is delicious, I mean seriously, decadently, wonderful, too marvelous for words!  I've baked cakes for years, and this one is in the top five of the best ever.  I adapted it from a recipe from Sugar & Spice by Celeste, it's a "must try" if you are a lemon lover.

Here is Celeste's recipe, and following it are my adaptions:

Lemon-Coconut Cake
Makes one - 9 inch (23 cm) layer cake.
Source: joyofbaking.com
Originally Adapted From: Foster, Sara. 'The Foster's Market Cookbook'. Random House. New York: 2002.

Ingredients:
Lemon Curd:
3 large eggs
1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons) (do not use the bottled lemon juice)
1 tablespoon (4 grams) finely shredded lemon zest (outer yellow skin of lemon)
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar
4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into small pieces

Coconut Cake Recipe:
6 large eggs
2 1/2 cups (325 grams) all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 tsp coconut extract
1 3/4 cups (420 ml) buttermilk
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Frosting:
2 large (60 grams) egg whites
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
1/4 cup (60 ml) cold water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Garnish:
2 cups (150 grams) sweetened shredded or flaked coconut (can use unsweetened dried coconut)

Directions:
Lemon Curd:
In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice until blended. Cook, stirring constantly (to prevent it from curdling), until the mixture becomes thick (like sour cream or a hollandaise sauce) (160 degrees F or 71 degrees C). This will take approximately 10 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately pour through a fine strainer to remove any lumps.

Cut the butter into small pieces and whisk into the mixture until the butter has melted. Add the lemon zest and let cool. The lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools. Cover immediately (so a skin doesn't form) and refrigerate until cold. The lemon curd can be made several days (up to a week) in advance.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Butter and flour two - 9 inch x 1 1/2 inch (23 x 3.75 cm) cake pans, and then line the bottoms with parchment paper (or spray with Bakers Joy).

Coconut Cake:
While the eggs are still cold separate the eggs, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl. Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).

In a mixing bowl sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In bowl of electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Gradually add 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup (50 grams) of sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then fold in the remaining whites until combined. Do not over mix the batter or it will deflate.

Divide the batter and pour into the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in center.

Place the cakes on a wire rack to cool, in their pans, for about 10 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto a greased rack. To prevent splitting, reinvert cakes so that tops are right side up. Cool completely before filling and frosting.

Frosting:
In a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, place the egg whites, sugar, water, and corn syrup. With a handheld electric mixer beat the mixture for 3 to 4 minutes on low speed. Increase the speed to high and continue to beat for another 3 to 4 minutes or until the icing is shiny and satiny with soft peaks.

Remove from heat, add the vanilla extract, and continue to beat on high speed for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the frosting is thick. Use immediately.

To Assemble:
With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. Place one cake layer on your serving plate and spread with about 1/3 of the lemon curd and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons of coconut. Continue with the next layers, stacking and filling with the lemon curd and coconut. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the 7-Minute Frosting and then sprinkle with about 1 cup of coconut. Cover and refrigerate the cake until serving time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

My Tweaks:

Lemon Curd - I made this a couple of days ahead, just like her recipe, except I used 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice, because we love tart lemon curd, and added extra lemon zest.

Cake Batter:  I omitted the coconut extract, and added an extra splash of vanilla, because I didn't want the coconut flavor, just the coconut on the top.  

Frosting:  This was time consuming, but worth it.  I beat the mixture for four minutes on low, then four minutes on high, to get the soft peaks, then additional two minutes.  Very time consuming over a hot pan of water, but totally worth it.  

Assembly:  I totally dropped the ball on this, instead of splitting the layers and putting lemon curd between each layer, I just put lemon curd on top of the first layer, then icing, then put the other layer on top, and it wanted to slide off the bottom layer.  I then put on more lemon curd and iced it.  Next time I will make it like Celese says, and split the layers, and add the lemon curd.  I still won't put coconut between the layers, just on top, as not everyone in our family is a fan of coconut.

Photo Courtesy of Sugar & Spice by Celeste

Click here Celeste's original recipe and instructions

Mississippi Mud Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 12, 2010

Mississippi Mud CakeThe women of Huffman United Methodist Church in
Birmingham used this recipe for the church's 125th anniversary
celebration. Of the 100 cakes made, there wasn't any left over.

Yield: Makes 15 servings

Ingredients


  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
  • 1 (10.5-ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

    Chocolate Frosting

Preparation


Whisk together melted butter and next 5 ingredients in
a large bowl. Stir in flour and chopped pecans. Pour batter into a
greased and floured 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 350° for
20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out
clean. Remove from oven; top warm cake evenly with marshmallows. Return
to oven, and bake 5 minutes. Drizzle Chocolate Frosting over warm cake.
Cool completely.

Note: 2 (19.5-ounce) packages brownie mix,
prepared according to package directions, may be substituted for first 7
ingredients. Stir in chopped pecans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
Proceed with marshmallows and frosting as directed.

Southern Living, JUNE 2004

coca cola cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 23, 2010
Coca-Cola Cake
This recipe is located at Baking Bites

Rustic Canyon's cranberry orange cornmeal cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, August 02, 2009
cornmeal cranberry cake

From the L.A. Food Times S.O.S. Column..

My newest favorite Santa Monica restaurant is Rustic Canyon. The pastry chef, Zoe Nathan, has created the yummiest dessert ever, cranberry orange cornmeal cake served with an elegant scoop of homemade ice cream.
I am a baker myself, so I know a fabulous cake when I taste it -- and I've never met a cranberry I didn't love. Will you please ask the chef to share this special recipe?
--Clyde Young, Brentwood

Dear Clyde: This beautifully rustic cornmeal cake has light notes of vanilla and maple, with ricotta folded into the batter just before baking for extra-moist texture. Tart scarlet cranberries and sweetly fragrant orange zest flavor this creation for a perfect fall dessert.

Cranberry orange cornmeal cake

Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Servings: 18
Note: Adapted from pastry chef Zoe Nathan of Rustic Canyon.
2 cups flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) butter
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
Zest of 1 orange
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 1/2 cups cranberries, divided

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round by 3-inch tall cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, oil and vanilla. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, salt and zest. Mix just until thoroughly combined; do not overmix.

4. With the mixer running, slowly incorporate the egg mixture into the butter just until combined.
5. With the mixer on low speed, add one-half of the flour mixture to the batter and quickly mix for 5 seconds. Turn off the mixer and add the rest of the flour, the ricotta and one-half of the cranberries. Mix the remaining ingredients into the batter over low speed just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
6. Gently pour the batter into the cake pan and smooth the top. Scatter the remaining cranberries over the top of the cake, and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
7. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Place a loose piece of foil over the top of the cake if it starts to darken. Cool the cake on a wire rack before removing it from the pan.
Each serving: 354 calories; 6 grams protein; 42 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 72 mg. cholesterol; 444 mg. sodium.

Applebee’s Triple Chocolate Meltdown with Ice Cream….

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, April 06, 2009

Applebee's Triple Chocolate Meltdown

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2752/zxabil6.jpgChocolate Cake
8 (1 oz.) squares semisweet chocolate
1/2 C. unsalted butter
3 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
1/3 C. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 C. flour

Preheat oven to 425ºF. Heavily butter and then flour 8 (1-cup) ramekins or coffee cups. Set cups on a cookie sheet. Chop chocolate into small even pieces. Melt with the butter in a double boiler over barely simmering water (or microwave, uncovered, on MEDIUM, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds after the first one or two minutes, until only a small chunk of solid chocolate remains). Remove from heat and stir until melted, smoother and cooled.

Beat eggs, yolks and sugar together at high speed for 6 to 8 minutes. The mixture will become thick like cream and become beige-colored. Fold in the cooled chocolate and vanilla extract. Sift the flour over chocolate and fold in. Pour batter into prepared cups. Bake 7 minutes. Pull out of oven and tuck a piece of frozen lava deep into the center of the half-baked batter in each cup. Return to oven and bake for 6 to 7 minutes more. Cakes will rise straight over the rims of the cups and may crack slightly. Cool in cups on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Chocolate Sauce
8 (1 oz.) squares semisweet chocolate
1 C. cream
1/2 C. sugar

Chop chocolate evenly. In a saucepan, heat half the cream with sugar until it boils. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and stir until it melts and sauce is smooth. Add remaining cream and stir again, patiently, until thick and smooth. Warm sauce gently for pouring. If allowed to set at room temperature, it will turn the consistency of sour cream and can be used like frosting. Makes 2 cups.

To assemble, make Chocolate Sauce. Drizzle Chocolate Sauce in a north-south zigzag over the caramel. Pull a wooden pick or knife back and forth cross the chocolate, going east-west to create a feathering effect. Run a thin knife around each cake to carefully loosen, then invert onto the sauce. Top with warm Chocolate Sauce, letting sauce drip down the sides of the cakes. If desired, decorate with fresh berries. Serve warm. When cut, chocolate will spill out of the warm cake

Source:  Yahoo Answers

Key Lime Coconut Angel Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 20, 2009
Key Lime Coconut Angel Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® white angel food cake mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup Key lime or regular lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
1 container (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup flaked coconut
Sliced kiwifruit and strawberries, if desired
Print these coupons...
1. Make cake mix as directed on package, using cold water. Cool cake completely. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom layer, cut side up, on serving plate.
2. In large bowl, beat milk, lime juice and lime peel with wire whisk until smooth and thickened. Fold in whipped topping.
3. Spread 1 cup lime mixture evenly over top of first layer of cake. Place second layer of cake carefully on bottom layer; spread evenly with 1 cup lime mixture. Top with remaining layer of cake.
4. Frost top and side of cake with remaining lime mixture. Sprinkle with coconut. Garnish cake with kiwifruit and strawberries.

Source: Betty Crocker

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, November 15, 2008
gallery

Ingredients
4 tablespoons sweet butter, very soft
3/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon orange zest, finely grated (optional)
2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen (If using frozen, thaw first)

CAKE
12 tablespoons sweet butter, very soft
7/8 cup white sugar (1 cup minus 2 tablespoons)
1 large egg yolk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sour cream, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place 4 tablespoons of butter in a 9 inch cake pan. (The pan should have at least a 2 1/2 inch rim.) Place the pan in heated oven for 4 to 5 minutes until the butter is fully melted. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon and orange zest (optional). Spread the sugar mixture evenly across the bottom of the cake pan. Spread out the cranberries in an even layer over the butter and sugar mix.
3. To make the cake, begin by using a wooden spoon to cream together the butter, sugar and egg yolk for about 30 seconds. Switching over to a whisk, stir in the eggs one at a time. Continue to whisk another minute until the sugar crystals dissolve. Whisk in the vanilla extract, salt and sour cream.
4. Sift the flour, baking soda and baking powder into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Whisk everything together until the batter is smooth and lump-free.
5. Pour the batter over the cranberries and bake for 50 to 65 minutes. When done, the center of the cake should be dry to the touch and spring back when lightly poked.
6. Remove the cake from the oven and set on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes (no longer as the bottom begins to set as it cools).
7. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Invert cake onto a serving plate and remove pan. Let it rest an additional 15 minutes before serving.
8. Best served warm.  

Source:  RecipeZaar

© Jan CAN Cook · THEME BY WATDESIGNEXPRESS