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Brown Sugar Bundt Cake

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It’s been a while… We appreciate your support and patience while we
started the healing process of losing our sister. We continue to adjust to life without Tracy, but we know she’d want us to continue this dream of ours… it’s just a little corner of the internet, but we created it together and we know she’d want us to continue with it. Robin, Erin and I are ready to get back in the
kitchen and get cooking up amazing recipes to share with you! Let’s start with a cake.

Sometimes a delicious, simple, unassuming dessert is just what you need. This cake fits the bill.
It has a rich flavor but is moist with a great texture. Best of all, it is quick to assemble with
basic ingredients and is AMAZING! You will want to keep coming back for more.

~Kathy

1 pkg (2 layer size) vanilla cake mix
1 pkg (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding
pinch salt
4 eggs
2/3 c. sour cream
2/3 c. water
½ c. oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp maple flavoring, optional (not maple syrup)
1 c. chopped pecans, optional

Heat oven to 350℉. Grease and flour 12 cup fluted (Bundt) pan or 10 inch tube (angel food
cake) pan. Set aside.
Add cake mix, vanilla pudding mix (dry), salt, eggs, sour cream, water, oil, vanilla and maple
flavoring (if using) to a large bowl. Mix well with electric mixer, about 2 minutes. Add in
brown sugar. Combine well. Mix in pecans if using.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake 60 – 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out
clean. Allow to sit in pan about 10 minutes. Loosen sides and turn out onto wire rack to cool
completely.
Recipe NOTES:
Dark brown sugar is recommended, but light brown will work.
I recommend using the maple flavoring if you have it (not maple syrup!!)
The recipe is great with or without the pecans.
Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar once cooled if you want to be fancy.

Carrot Snack Cake

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Nothing says “I love you”  like saying to your child “eat another piece of cake”!  I have to tell a story on one of us sisters (ahem, Erin).  As a child, she refused to eat vegetables. She went to great and painful (for the rest of us) lengths to avoid eating almost every vegetable (and numerous fruits) known to man. Our poor mom resorted to extreme measures to get her to eat fruits and vegetables – especially vegetables which ranged from the more common, like trying to disguise them in cheese sauce, grinding them up and putting them in other things, bribing her with money, etc. Yes, you saw that correctly! She even offered to pay her to eat her vegetables. Oh, the misery for the rest of us to hear about this night after night, LOL!   This recipe was born out of our mom’s desperation to disguise vegetables in any way to get Erin her to eat them. It’s a simple snack cake with great flavor that has become a family favorite. All that agony paid off in the form of a new favorite treat for the rest of us. 

Ingredients:

8 T. butter, softened (1 stick)

2 c sugar

2 eggs

8 oz. baby food carrots (the pureed type)

1 (15 oz.) can carrots, drained and pureed

¼ c. milk

2 c., plus 2 T flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 ¼ tsp. ground ginger

¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cloves

Preheat oven to 350˚F Grease and flour 9×13 inch pan and set aside.  

Cream butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer.  Add eggs and carrots. 

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients then mix together. Mix dry ingredients  alternating with small portions of the milk (beginning and ending with flour) into creamed ingredients. 

Pour into prepared pan. 

Bake approximately 30- 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.   
When cooled, can dust lightly with powdered sugar, if desired.  We actually prefer it plain.

Cider Donut Bundt Cake

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My closest friends are people who know and understand that it is totally acceptable to eat cake for breakfast!  I first had this Cider Donut Bundt Cake when a friend served it at a brunch.  It has the perfect mild apple flavor to have with a piping hot cup of coffee. Giving the recipe the perfect flavors for fall are the touch of wheat flour and the hint of spices that mix with the apple. And while I have been quoted as saying that “cake is simply a vehicle that enables the consumption of frosting,” you really can’t go wrong with this cake and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. – Tracy

Ingredients:

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. whole-wheat flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground ginger

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 ¾ c. sugar

1 c. apple cider

¾ c. light vegetable oil (I use canola oil)

¾ c. unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs, at room temperature

2 T. melted butter

For Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle:

1 T. cinnamon

2 T. sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, lightly whisk together both flours, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In another bowl, combine sugar, cider, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and eggs.  Add egg mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Pour into a very well-greased and floured bundt cake pan.  If using a flour cooking spray, spray generously.

Bake at 350 for approximately 45 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

While cake is baking, remember to mix 1 T. of cinnamon with 2 T. of sugar for the sprinkle and set aside.

Place cake pan on a wire rack upon removal from the oven and allow to cool for 10 – 15 minutes before turning cake out onto plate.  Be careful turning out the cake as the pan itself may still be very warm.

Lightly brush cake top with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Butternut Cake with Bourbon Sauce

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The first time our Mom made this cake and told me that it had butternut squash in it, I must admit I was extremely skeptical.  But, it’s cake, and not even what I thought was a strange ingredient was going to keep me away (notice that I did not think the bourbon was a strange ingredient).  I make this cake every Fall now. It seems to be the perfect start to weather that lends itself to sitting under blankets with a sweet treat and a cup of coffee.  And don’t worry, the alcohol in the bourbon cooks out…because you don’t want to skimp on this sauce!  ~Tracy

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Ingredients for the cake:

  • 1 large butternut squash
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 2 tsp. ground ginger
  • ½ tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 ½ c. brown sugar
  • ½ c. + 2 T. butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ c. orange juice

Ingredients for the sauce:

  • 4 T. butter, softened
  • ¼ c. bourbon
  • ½ c. brown sugar
  • 1 c. heavy cream
  • 1 c. powdered sugar

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Split butternut squash in half lengthwise and lay face down on a parchment lined or sprayed baking sheet.
  3. Roast for 45-60 minutes until fork tender (time will vary with the size of squash).
  4. Set the squash aside and allow to cool completely.
  5. Gently scoop out the seeds and stringy seed area and discard.
  6. Scoop out the squash and puree to a smooth consistency.
  7. Set pureed squash aside 1 ⅓ cup.
  8. In large bowl combine ½ cup + 2 T. of softened butter and 1 ½ c. brown sugar.  Mix until creamed together.
  9. Add eggs one at a time until combined.
  10. Add orange juice and squash puree mixing just until all are combined.
  11. Gradually add in flour mixture and mix on medium speed until all is incorporated into squash mixture.
  12. Pour into 9” bundt pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.
  13. Bake at 400 for approximately 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  14. Cool for 20 minutes and turn out of bundt pan.

Instructions for sauce:

  1. Combine 4 T. softened butter, ½ c. brown sugar, and ¼ c. bourbon in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil.
  3. Remove from heat and add heavy cream and powdered sugar while whisking.
  4. Return to heat and boil again, whisking continually.
  5. Reduce heat to a low simmer and slowly whisk while cooking approximately 8 more minutes or until mixture begins to thicken slightly.
  6. Cool to room temperature before pouring over cake.  You can poke a few holes in the top of the cake using toothpicks to help the sauce absorb into the cake.
  7. Reserve a small amount of sauce to pour over each slice.

 

Mama’s Italian Cream Cake

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Our Mama and the youngest of the Four Sisters, Erin, have the same birthday.  So, as you can imagine, for the years of our childhood Mama’s birthday was always on the back burner (in fact, most things for Mom were on the back burner in favor of us girls).  Mom turned 70 just a few days ago and for once, the day was all about her.  Dinner at her favorite steak house accompanied by a nice glass of wine, followed by her choice of homemade birthday cake.  Her choice – a delicious Italian Cream that is soooo worth chopping pecans and getting out your baking pans! ~ Tracy

Erin and Mom
Mama’s Italian Cream Cake

Ingredients for the cake:

  • ½ c. butter (1 stick)
  • ½ c. shortening
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 5 eggs, separated
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 c. buttermilk (if you don’t have any see note)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 c. coconut
  • 1 c. chopped pecans

Ingredients for the frosting:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 stick margarine, softened
  • 1 box powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 c. finely chopped pecans

Instructions for the cake: 

Cream butter and shortening together, then add sugar.  Beat until smooth.

Add the egg yolks one at a time.  Beat well.

In separate large bowl, combine flour and baking soda; then add to the butter mixture alternating with buttermilk.

Stir in vanilla, coconut, and pecans.

Beat the egg whites until they begin to form soft peaks.

Fold beaten egg whites into cake mixture.

Pour into 3 greased and floured 9” cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Instructions for the frosting: 

Cream together cream cheese and margarine.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth.  Thin with one tablespoon of milk at a time, mixing after each milk addition, until frosting becomes the proper consistency to frost the cake.  Stir in nuts.

Hints:

Buttermilk can be made by pouring a scant cup of regular milk and adding approximately a T. of white vinegar to the milk.  Allow milk to sit for a few minutes to curdle and use as regular buttermilk.

Cakes frost much more easily when they have been placed in the freezer for a couple of hours.  For this cake, I actually left them in the freezer overnight covered in wax paper.  Freezing the cakes keeps the cake from crumbling into the frosting.

Apple Cake

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All of us have those recipes that remind us of home, or in the case, Grandma’s house.  This is one of those recipes for me.  Normally I say you shouldn’t mess up a good cake by putting fruit in it – cakes are really for chocolate!  But this one always reminds me of my Grandma making it (and probably letting me lick the bowl).  It’s sooo yummy right out of the oven and great for breakfast or a dessert.  And that perfectly crisp top with the soft, lightly cinnamoned cake is impossible to beat.  ~Tracy

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ c. vegetable oil
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 c. flour
  • 2 t. cinnamon
  • 1 t. baking soda
  • ½ t. salt
  • 3 c. peeled, chopped apples (Granny Smith work well in this recipe)
  • 1 c. chopped pecans (if desired)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, blend vegetable oil and sugar together.  Add eggs mixing well after each.

Stir in dry ingredients, gently mixing until all are incorporated.  Add apples (and pecans if you like them) and stir just until mixed together.

Pour into a 9 x 13 pan that has been greased & floured or sprayed with baking spray.

Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out virtually clean.

Cookies & Cream Cake (and a one-of-a-kind birthday theme)

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So my daughter recently turned 10.  Double digits!  Shortly after her last birthday, on the way home from school one day she said to me, “Mom, guess what?!  I have the same birthday as Thomas Jefferson!”  As I replied, “Wow, that’s cool!” I noticed she looked thoughtful.  “By the way,” she asked, “who is Thomas Jefferson?”  Ha!  I laugh every time I think of that story.  Silly, sweet girl.  Anyhow, ever since she learned more about this mystery man who shares her birthday, she’s wanted to have a Thomas Jefferson themed birthday party.  Of course I had to oblige.  So I give you (drumroll please), a presidential birthday party complete with TJ’s face on the cake, a vintage Thomas Jefferson Value Book, and a $2 bill banner.  Nothing fancy but my girl was super impressed… plus I let her keep the $2 bills. ~Erin

The cake was also her choice.  She loves to bake with her momma and is often coming up with new recipes.  This one was a success.  We combined our favorite cake-mix-based chocolate cake recipe with our favorite buttercream recipe and threw in some crushed Oreos.  It resulted in a rich, creamy cake, reminiscent of a milk-dunked Oreo.   I’m sure Thomas Jefferson would approve.  🙂

Cake Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)

1 small box instant chocolate pudding (dry)

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 cup vegetable or canola oil

½ cup buttermilk *see note on how to make, if you’re like me and don’t keep buttermilk

½ cup strong coffee, cooled (to enhance the chocolate flavor – or use more milk if you’d rather)

½ T. pure vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup crushed Oreos

Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) real butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar (approximately)

1 tsp. vanilla

½ cup to ¾ cup heavy cream

2/3 of a family size Oreo package, crushed

Cake Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Grease & flour 3 9-inch round pans; set aside. (I also line the bottoms of my pans with parchment, cut the shape of the pan.)

Whisk together the dry pudding mix and cake mix.

With a mixer, blend in eggs, sour cream, oil, buttermilk, coffee, and vanilla until smooth.

Gently stir in chocolate chips and Oreo crumbs.

Divide the batter evenly among your pans.

Bake for about 35 minutes until toothpick comes out mostly clean.

After 10 minutes, remove from pan to wire rack.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Instructions:

Making frosting isn’t an exact science…

Start with 1 cup softened butter, mix on high until fluffy & smooth.

Add 2 cup powdered sugar, some of the heavy cream and 1 tsp vanilla; blend until smooth.

Add the crushed Oreos, more powdered sugar, and more heavy cream until it reaches the desired consistency (and desired taste – Yes, taste as you go!)

Place one layer of cake on cake plate or platter.  Cover the first layer of cake with frosting, add the second and third layer with frosting between those as well.

End by frosting the sides of the cake & sticking on a few whole Oreos for decoration.

I found this cake was better refrigerated… more like an Oreo dunked in cold milk!

*To make buttermilk, warm your milk in the microwave or on the stove just until it’s barely more than room temp.  Not hot!  Stir a ½ Tablespoon white vinegar into your ½ cup of milk.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes.  Ta-da!… buttermilk!

Strawberry Lemonade Cake

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Let’s begin by talking about this frosting.  Kool-aid frosting was our favorite, growing up.  We had many a birthday cake slathered with some version of this delicious icing.  A few of the best variations have always stood out:  Lemonade frosting is classic on fresh lemon cake; Cherry frosting is the perfect burst of flavor for angel food cake; and this Strawberry Lemonade frosting is a bright and summery compliment to this moist strawberry cake.  Plus, they’re all great for bowl-licking!

Now, about this cake… this cake is seriously the best strawberry cake ever.  It’s perfectly moist, and bursting with strawberry flavor!  Plus, it’s pretty.  Make it today.  Make it for Easter.  Make it for 4th of July.  Make it every chance you get; you don’t need an excuse!  Enjoy!!

Ingredients for the cake:

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 1 (3 ounce) box dry strawberry flavored gelatin
  • 1 (15 or 16 ounce) tub of frozen strawberries in sugar, thawed and pureed in a blender
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ c. vegetable oil

Ingredients for the frosting:

  • 1 c. softened butter (2 sticks)
  • 4 c. powdered sugar
  • 3 T. milk
  • 1 package dry, unsweetened strawberry Kool-aid powder
  • ½ to ¾ tsp. dry, unsweetened lemonade Kool-aid powder
  • Zest of one lemon, optional
  • Strawberries & lemon slices for garnish, optional

Instructions for Cake: 

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease & flour 2 9-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix & gelatin.

Add pureed strawberries, eggs, and oil; beat at a medium speed until smooth.

Pour into prepared pans & bake about 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool 10 minutes before turning out of pan; then allow to cool completely before frosting.

Instructions for Frosting: 

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Spread evenly over cake, stacking layers as you frost.

Garnish with sliced strawberries & lemon slices, if desired.

For a different variation, top this strawberry cake with your favorite cream cheese frosting and garnish with fresh strawberries.

Coconut Sour Cream Cake

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This is the perfect coconut cake. It’s decorated in the photo for Easter, but it really is so fabulous and moist, it’s perfect for any occasion, any time of year!

Ingredients:

  • 1 white or vanilla cake mix (and necessary ingredients according to package)
  • 16 oz. sour cream
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 4 c. flaked coconut
  • 2 c. cool-whip, thawed
  • Green food coloring (optional)*

Instructions:

Combine sour cream, sugar, and coconut. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 ½ hours (this allows the sugar to dissolve).

Make cake according to directions on box. Bake in two 9” cake pans. Allow to cool on wire rack. Slice each cake horizontally in half.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups of coconut mixture. Spread each cut layer of cake with the remaining coconut mixture (you will have some left over).

Gently mix Cool-whip into reserved coconut mixture. Spread on top and sides of cake. Cover cake in cake stand or under an inverted large bowl. Best if chilled for 8 hours before serving.

To dye coconut green, if desired, place about ½ cup of coconut in a small bowl. Add a few drops of green food coloring and stir.

Caramel Sheet Cake

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This cake is so addictive, we’ve lovingly nicknamed it “crack cake.”  The caramel frosting poured over the warm cake seals in the spicy deliciousness, making it impossible to walk past it without taking a little sliver.  Our Mammaw used to claim she was “just evening out the edge!” Make it when you can share, and be prepared for everyone to request the recipe.

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Ingredients for the Cake:

  • 1 c. butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 c. water
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground ginger
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

Ingredients for the Frosting:

  • ½ c. butter
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • 2 ½ c. powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp. vanilla

Instructions for the Cake:

Preheat the oven to 325˚F.

Grease and flour a 15×10 sheet cake pan or jelly roll pan; set aside.

Boil butter and 1 cup water in a medium sauce pan medium/high heat.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, & ginger.

Add hot butter mixture to flour.

Beat on low speed just until moisturized.

Add sour cream, beating well.

Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Stir in vanilla.

Spread evenly in prepared jelly roll pan.

Bake at 325˚F for 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

Instructions for the Frosting:

Bring butter, brown sugar, and salt to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in sour cream; return to a boil.

Remove from heat and gradually add powdered sugar & vanilla; beating at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.  Pour over warm (not hot) cake & spread evenly.

Note:  For the frosting, use a stainless steel pan or transfer to a bowl before mixing.  The mixer will chip nonstick coating.