Jamaica Traditional Fruit Cake

To many individuals a good quality cake is seen almost as an exotic foods. In Jamaica the traditional rich old time Jamaican fruitcake is among the most popular. Unknown to many, this is a spin-off of the age old English plum pudding

It is the dream of every Jamaican woman to be able to make this queen of cakes. Many have tried and have gotten aged old generations recipes passed down to them but some how never really got it quite right since each household has its own secretly guarded variation and never really give out all the ingredients or the exact method used..

Cake

This best variation of this cake is made by the creaming method. It is packed with dried fruits. It may come as a surprise but none of the fruits used are from the island such as raisin, currants, prunes, cherries except mixed peel which is sometimes made in Jamaica. The others are imported and thus hike the price of the commodity.

Jamaica Traditional Fruit Cake

The best cake has the texture similar to an English plum pudding .The color is really dark brown and carries a rich alcoholic taste. It is also very spicy as sometimes there are at least 5 spices and flavours used.

There may be also different levels of color and alcohol content depending on the preference of the maker. There are so many variations that you could make a cook book with just Jamaican fruitcake and none would taste exactly alike but are all superb.

There is also one specific ingredient that is very difficult to get out side of Jamaica. If someone in the USA wishes to make this Jamaican fruitcake s/he would have to send to the island for this ingredient or get it only at the West Indian stores.

In some Latin American countries they have never heard of it. This is the browning that gives the cake its color. It is a type of caramel that only Grace Kitchens can produce.
One may attempt to make this browning at home as it is a type of burnt sugar. However it is never quite the same. If an attempt is made to try and make it in an American home ,pretty soon the fire services would come running because the smoke alarm will go off.

You experiences will be broaden when you read and have and tried the fruitcake recipe offered freely just for your experience.

INGREDIENTS :

o 8 ounces or 2 cup flour

o 8 ounces margarine or butter

o 8 ounces bread crumb

o 6 eggs

o 4 ounces currants

o 4 ounces mixed peel

o 4 ounces cherries

o 4 ounces prunes (chopped)

o 1 cup wine/brandy

o 1/4 cup rum

o 4 teaspoon baking powder

o 1 teaspoon vanilla

o 1 teaspoon cinnamon

o 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice

o 1/4 ounces marmalade

o 4 ounces jam

o 1/4 cup honey

o ¼ cup molasses

o finely grated rind of 1 lime/lemon

- 4 tablespoons browning

METHOD:

1. Chop or blend fruits with wine over night

2. Cream butter, sugar and browning until soft and fluffy

3. Beat eggs into mixture one at a time

4. Sieve all dry ingredients together along with bread crumb

5. Add fruits. Jam , marmalade

6. Add molasses and rum

7. Add flour and fold in. Do no over-beat when mixing.

8. Moisten with brandy

9. If liquid is not enough, add more rum, wine or water to the

fruitcake

10. Mix the fruitcake to a pouring consistency

11. The spoon must be able to stand in the mixture

12. Grease tin with a little oil

13. Line tin with greased paper extending two inches above the pan

14. Pour mixture about ¼ inch above the tin

15. Bake at 300 degree F for 2-21/2 hours

16. Yield: two 9'x 3' fruit cakes

serves cake with rum sauce , or covered with royal icing, fondant, butter cream icing.

NB.Diabetics are warned not to eat this cake as it has an extremely high caloric value.

Jamaica Traditional Fruit Cake

The author of this article is Juliet Christie Murray a Jamaican' teacher, she has authored two inspirational and cultural books of poems . She believes Jamaica is the ideal place to vacation. She is fascinated with writing and writes for various places on the internet.

http://www.specular-jamaica.com

http://blackwomenandtheirhair.blogspot.com

Cake Decorating Ideas

A delightful cake is all that we require celebrating an occasion. It not only adds color to our joy but also transcends us into a glorious world of fashionable food.

No cake is complete without its decoration. In fact decoration makes the cake fancier and makes us more eager to have it. For decorating a cake all that is required is sugar for icing and plentiful creative ideas to enhance the look and feel of the cakes. Moulds are available in the market in various shapes and sizes such as flower moulds or moulds in the shape of some cartoon characters. Thick cream can be filled in these moulds to get different kinds of items for beautification. Apart from cream other edible articles such as chocolates(grated, solidified into figures or in the liquid form), candies, butter cream, fruit pieces like cherries, strawberries and pineapples can be used according to imagination and occasion.

Cake

Thematic decoration of the cakes not only adds flavor to the occasion but also proves the importance of the occasion. Such as a cake meant for a wedding or an anniversary can be given a glossy or a snowy look by sprinkling fine sugar loosely over the top layer and its sides can be decked out with floral designs made of soft cream. Likewise a kid's party or a birthday can be made more colorful by positioning Disney characters using moulds on the top layer.

Cake Decorating Ideas

Cake decorations can also be designed with similar colors or symbols to remind important days like a cake with the color of national flag or symbol add stars to the celebration of the Independence Day. Similar arrangements can be done matching to the taste of the season.

There are a number of frostings or icings used for cake decorations. Victorian style, Royal icing, Fondant, Ganache, Marzipan are a few of them.

While cake decoration is a form of fine art, there are a number a number of culinary schools that teach this wonderful art. This art form can be learned from home too with the help of various books and CDs that provide step by step, simple procedures to master this skill. Cake decorating can become a good source of income once you become proficient in this art. Greater numbers of companies are looking for new and creative ideas for the decoration and ornamentation of the sugary coated sweet desserts. It can also be developed as a hobby that provides immense satisfaction and applauds once you are through with it. Hence cake decoration is a magnificent art.

Cake Decorating Ideas

Cake Decorating Ideas is a blog dedicated to cake decorating. Learn decorating techniques, view pictures of beautifully decorated cakes, read about what tools you can use to decorate cakes, and more by visiting this blog.

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

Christmas fruitcakes have been baked for centuries with the oldest known recipe dating back to Ancient Rome. Fruitcakes were a way to preserve fruits and nuts as well as a way to celebrate the harvest and seek good luck in the coming year. Jamaicans favorite Christmas cake is dark, spongy and heavy, with rum soaked fruit and rich flavor. Eaten only at Christmas the cake is a favored gift and family tradition.

Ingredients:

Cake

* 1 lb. Raisins

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

* 4 oz. Cherries

* ½ lb. Chopped prunes

* 2 oz. Cranberries

* 32 oz. Dark Jamaican rum

* 4 oz. Citrus peels

* grated rind of 1 lime

* 6 oz. or 1.5 cup flour

* 8 oz. butter

* 8 oz. sugar

* 4 eggs

* 1 tsp. cinnamon

* ½ tsp. allspice

* ½ tsp. Ground cloves

* ½ tsp. salt

* 1 cup wine/brandy

* 1 tsp. baking powder

* 1 tsp. vanilla

* 2 tbsp. browning

Directions:

Soak fruits, peels and rind in rum for two weeks before baking. In a separate bowl whip butter, sugar and browning until creamy. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl and mix well. In a third bowl beat eggs and brandy together until well blended.

Add egg mixture to creamed butter mixture and blend well. Strain and add fruits, keeping rum for fruity drinks. Gradually mix dry ingredients to batter and fold together.

Pour batter into a lightly buttered 9" cake pan and bake at 350F for 1-½ hours checking after 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake

For further tips and ideas for cooking great and traditional food from around the world, visit Jamaican Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com/jamaican-recipes.html]. Article submitted by Jen Carter, owner of the World Recipes [http://www.worldwide-recipes.com] website.

Find more recipes & cookbooks at the One Dollar bookstore.

Diabetic Cake Recipes - Guide to Low Sugar Intake

When you are suffering from diabetes it is important to stock up certain items that will not let you feel left out at family celebrations or if possible give yourself a treat now and again. The sugar free diabetic cake mix should be a regular item in the pantry to make your desserts or even use in order to lower the sugar intake for other people in the family. On the other hand, even though you are using this sugar free mix you definitely don't want this dessert to come out tasting like the regular diet treats.

If you need guidance when making your cakes and desserts, the following suggestions will be able to have them tasting more the like the actual treats all the time.

\"Cake Recipes\"

First, simply by making use of applesauce as a fractional alternative for the cooking oil whenever you are creating delights from the sugar free mix this could aid in the reduction of both the fat and sugar within the particular recipe. The end result will enhance the taste and make it more desirable for both dieters and diabetics. The applesauce will enhance the actual texture but you should not go over the top with it, this substitute should be about half the quantity of the cooking oil and you will receive the best results.

Diabetic Cake Recipes - Guide to Low Sugar Intake

An additional strategy to enhance your cake mix will be to utilize a flavorsome dessert blend having absolutely no sugar in order to make layers in this cake. Generally, the basic sugar-free cakes might taste bland, but when you add a flavorful and creamy dessert blend somewhere between, such as a lemon cake mixes it will add some appeal. Additionally, you could create sugar free icing from one of the dessert mixes, such as this, simply by combining and preparing this in accordance to the actual directions on the package; this could then mix into a cool whip. You could include an additional dessert blend if you wish, by using an extra egg which will give you a moist rich pudding.

There is also the option of adding a can fruit to the particular sugar free mix and this can include crush peaches, mangoes or pineapples. The ideal fruit mix should be packed in water instead of syrup, because you want to use less sugar and the syrup will definitely add more calories and sugar. You might be thinking that the fruit will be sweet as well, but you have to understand that the fruit will add just the right amount of moisture and natural sweet taste to this dry or bland cake mix.

In conclusion, you could utilize fresh fruit juice as an alternative to the milk or water with the sugar free diabetic cake mix. The defrosting of orange concentrate will be a great technique in order to include a lemon flavor, which usually goes nicely with chocolate cake. If you like, you could also use vanilla flavoring or apple juice along with an angel food cake blend to include a subtle apple taste. All of this is just a few simple ways to really improve your diabetic cake mix, so you won't feel deprive or left out of the festivities.

Diabetic Cake Recipes - Guide to Low Sugar Intake

Colin Scott is diabetic cooking expert. For more great tips on Diabetic cake and diabetic birthday cake visit any of the links in this authors bio.

21st Birthday Cake Ideas

Top the cake with 21 candles: A traditional cake can be topped with 21 candles or two candles in the shape of a 2 and a 1. This leaves plenty of room and emphasizes the wonderful flavor the birthday celebrant looks forward to all year. Fill between layers with a favorite flavor like strawberry. Blowing out 21 lit candles is a whole new experience and can be fun to watch. After that, even a 21 year old, realizes they're getting old.

Make the cake in the shape of the numbers for 2 and 1: Everyone loves cakes made in special shapes. Large numerals made of cake really say it. Years later, it will be easy to tell what birthday it was from the photos. Since a great deal of the cake will be cut away to make the numbers, you should use a full sheet pan or two half sheet pans. Make sure you have plenty of frosting ready because the cut sides of the numerals will gobble it up like crazy.

Cake

Make the cake in the shape of wine bottles or a beer mug: 21 is the legal age for drinking. I don't promote drinking, but a cake in the shape of a wine bottle or beer mug can be fun for the right person. The shape may have to be oversized to have enough to serve party guests. The label on the wine bottle provides an opportunity for some humor. You can use the year of birth as the vintage and a play on the birthday celebrant's name as the name for the wine. Some wine glasses with ribbons can be set nearby to share a toast. Serve sparkling cider to those under 21 at the party.

21st Birthday Cake Ideas

Make the cake in the shape of a car: Driving is important to a 21-year old. A cake in the shape of his or her favorite car is a great way to celebrate. Use at least two layers, one for the body of the car and a smaller one for the passenger compartment. Tires are easy if you use dark chocolate cookies frosted and pressed on the side of the car (cake) body. Silver or black are very difficult frosting colors for the car body. Use wild colors like hot pink or lime green for the car body frosting and have fun. The glass in the windows can be done with light blue frosting and a few white highlights to indicate reflections. Very little detail is needed to make it look like a car once you have the basic shape and wheels. Soon your 21 year old will be driving away with a tasty piece of cake. Have fun!

21st Birthday Cake Ideas

Leefe Poche is the founder of http://www.cakes-you-can-bake.com

Sweet 16 Birthday Cake Ideas

A sixteenth birthday is always special. A 16-year-old is a class on his own - he or she is no longer considered a child, but is not an adult quite yet. This makes the planning for the birthday party hard, since you wouldn't want it to look like a children's party, but you don't want it to be too "adult" as well. Here are some sweet 16 birthday cake ideas that you can use.

Since the celebrant is young, color themes should also be young. Cake colors should be light, such as cream, pink, yellow and peach. Light blue shades as well as lilac and lavender may also be used. The colors and cake design must match the theme of the party. A layered fondant cake with pink or peach flower trimmings is ideal for parties with a costume ball theme. Celebrant can look like a princess with a balloon pink gown and tiara, and guests would wear costumes.

Cake

Another cake idea for the princess theme is to make small cupcakes and put them in a multi-layered cake stand. Trim them with little flowers made of icing. When arranged well, the cakes would look like little pots of flowers in a flower garden. You can use one color, or mixed pastel shades of pink, yellow and light orange. This cake would also be perfect if the party has a ballerina theme. A fairy theme would also be nice, with guests carrying wands and wearing shimmering pink wings.

Sweet 16 Birthday Cake Ideas

With small round cupcakes, put colored frosting on top and arrange them so the cake would look like bubbles or balloons. This would look cute for a children's party theme, where guests can dress up like little kids. Instead of round cupcakes, you can also make square or rectangular ones, and decorate each with colored frosting to make them look like tiny gift boxes. With a little creativity, have fun with a frosting bag and create patterns to simulate gift wrapping paper and ribbons. Or you can decorate them to look like little colored trucks or cars. This cake idea can be used for any party theme.

For large parties, 16 photo cakes can be arranged to make a photo album cake. Photos of the celebrant from age 1 to 16 can be placed on each cake. Wouldn't it be fun for guests to see how the celebrant has grown and changed through the years?

So the next time someone turns sweet 16, finding birthday cake ideas should not be that difficult. You can browse through the internet and find pictures so you can show them to your baker. At this day and age, virtually any cake design is possible. So use your imagination, and be amazed at where it will take you.

Sweet 16 Birthday Cake Ideas

To learn more birthday cake ideas, visit http://www.birthdaycakeideas101.com

A Rich History of the Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is a confectionery conundrum: it seems you either love it, or you hate it. But either way, theres no denying the appeal of this rich dessert throughout history. Food historians tell us that the origins of carrot cake were likely a type of carrot pudding enjoyed during medieval times. Later, during the Middle Ages, sweetening agents were hard to come by in Britain and quite expensive, so as a result, carrots were often used in place of sweeteners. Interestingly, despite being such a longstanding mainstay in Europe, American cookbooks didnt start listing carrot cake recipes until the early 1900s. And, it was actually in the 1960s before carrot cake began becoming a more common cake in the United States, soon becoming the dessert of choice at summer family reunions picnics and Mothers Day celebrations.

Most all carrot cake recipes have a core group of ingredients in common, which are flour, sugar, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, salt), baking soda/powder, butter or oil, nuts, and of course carrots. More adventurous bakers have branched out to embrace some rather exotic carrot cake recipes, which feature such ingredients as:

\"Cake Recipes\"

o Pumpkin

A Rich History of the Carrot Cake

o Coconut

o Pureed figs or prunes

o Chocolate chips

o Oranges

o Zucchini

o Crystallized ginger

o Beetroot

o Mashed sweet potatoes

o Papaya

In terms of carrot cake frostings, some people still prefer their carrot cake plain, although you will still see a lot of recipes for the traditional cream-cheese frosting. However, other carrot cake toppings that are delicious can be fondant icing (like on a wedding cake), Greek yogurt, lightly sweetened, buttermilk glaze with a zest of lemon, Royal icing, and chocolate icing.

Carrot cakes have become such a popular treat that there are many bakeries cropping up in America that specialize in making this vegetable-filled creation. As a result of this popularity, there are many carrot cake experts out there who are sharing their tidbits and secrets for making the very best kinds of carrot cakes. A sampling of those secrets includes:

o The amount of carrots you put into a carrot cake recipe will affect both the texture and taste of the cake.

o Using pureed carrots as opposed to shredding raw carrots will give your carrot cake a much more moist consistency.

o Use oil instead of butter - it will be MUCH moister than if you used butter.

o Use the zest of one orange in the batter for a zippier consistency.

These days, carrot cake-flavored treats come in such varieties as carrot cake latte, carrot cake ice cream, and even carrot cake flavored treats for dogs! Clearly carrot cakes whether made healthy with low fat ingredients, or made gooey with lots of rich ingredients are a crown jewel in the cake family that can finish off any meal in royal style!

A Rich History of the Carrot Cake

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about A Rich History of the Carrot Cake [http://tastydesserts.info/a-rich-history-of-the-carrot-cake], please visit Tasty Desserts [http://tastydesserts.info/] for current articles and discussions.

Cricut Cake Machine - How to Turn Edible Cake Decorations Into Cash

Cake decorating tools just got easier with the Cricut Cake machine. Unlike it's popular cousin, it is specially designed with food safe plastic and stainless steel to decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and candy, just like a professional baker. It uses all the regular cartridges as well as new Cricut Cake cartridges. You just choose the shape and size of your design and press cut and in minutes your frosting, gum paste or fondant decorations are ready to apply to any dessert.

You do not need to be a professional caterer to appreciate the possibilities the food grade die cutting machine opens up. Just think of your next dinner party and wowing your guests with a fantastically decorated buffet table filled with fancy hors d'oeuvres and finger sandwiches. The Cricut Cake can cut cheese, tortillas, cookie dough, gum, soft candy and chocolate paste for modeling.

Cake

Why not use the Cricut Cake personal cutter to make a few extra dollars. Creating custom one of a kind cakes for weddings, anniversaries and parties would be a snap with this cake decorating tool. People are always looking for something special, and your cakes would be something to remember, being the hit of any party.

Cricut Cake Machine - How to Turn Edible Cake Decorations Into Cash

Here are 5 tips to successful cake decorating with your Cricket Cake.

1. Using the right amount of shorting will prevent the frosting sheet from slipping or bunching up when being cut. Use a pastry brush and apply a thin transparent sheet on the cutting mat. If the shorting gets to warm just put the mat in the freezer for a couple of minutes. Make sure you apply shorting to the back of the frosting sheet as well as the mat, smoothing out all air bubbles.

2. Since you can not re-roll frosting sheets you will want to make every inch count. As long as the left over sheet is larger than 3" x 3" it is safe to reuse.

3. Always keep your cut shapes in a sealed bag until you are ready to use them to prevent them from drying out.

4. Never use flour when working with gum paste. Using cornstarch and powdered sugar will help your designs slide and stick.

5. For best results use gel based food coloring instead of the liquid food coloring drops when making edible cake decorations.

Use your imagination the sky's the limit. Don't be afraid to experiment. Start out with impressing family and friends with your hand crafted confections, who knows it my turn into a profitably hobby, paying for your Cricut Cake in no time. Happy eating, Bon appetit!

Cricut Cake Machine - How to Turn Edible Cake Decorations Into Cash

Learn how to decorate cakes and never be stuck for a cake decorating idea again. Step by step how to guides make cake decorating easy. Discover cake decorating techniques only the professionals know and turn edible cake decorations into cash. Create novelty cakes or even start your own cake decorating business with the Cricut Cake machine

Jello Cake Recipe - Classic Jello Poke Cake Recipe

When you think of a Jello cake recipe, there's only one cake that is so popular that it immediately pops into your head: the classic Jello poke cake. This cake is famous for being extremely flexible in its use of gelatin flavors. When it's sliced into, you'll see the colorful stripes inside. Whatever flavor you use it's sure to be a hit.

1 package white or yellow cake mix (for two layers)

Cake

1 small package flavored gelatin, any flavor

Jello Cake Recipe - Classic Jello Poke Cake Recipe

4 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 cup water (for the cake mix)

1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip

1 cup water (for gelatin)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare cake, according to package directions, using eggs, oil and water. Bake cake in a 13x9-inch pan for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cake cool in pan for at least 15 minutes.

Poke holes across the entire surface of cake with a fork.

Dissolve the gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water. Pour the warm gelatin slowly over the surface of the cake (gelatin will soak into the cake). Place cake in the refrigerator and chill for about 4 hours.

Spread whipped topping on top of cake before serving. Refrigerate leftover cake.

=> Jello Cake Recipe: Jello Lemon Cooler Cake

This is a great cake to make for picnics and when company comes to visit. It's got a nice sweet and tangy tartness to it that will tingle your tastebuds.

1 package lemon cake mix

1 cup hot water

2 (3oz.) packages lemon flavored gelatin

1 cup milk

1 (3.4 oz.) package lemon pudding mix

1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip, thawed

Directions

Prepare cake mix according to package directions and bake in a 9x13-inch pan. Let cake cool, then poke holes across the entire cake surface using a fork.

Dissolve the lemon gelatin in 1 cup of hot water. Pour warm gelatin over the entire cake. Place cake in the refrigerator and let it cool.

In a large bowl, mix together the milk, lemon pudding mix and the remaining package of lemon gelatin; stir until all ingredients are thoroughly dissolved. Fold in the whipped topping and spread over top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

=> Jello Cake Recipe: Strawberry Jello Cake Recipe

This strawberry Jello cake is something special. The perfect Jello dessert recipe for warm afternoons and those special occasions when you want to make a dessert they'll be talking about for days.

1 package white cake mix

1 (3 oz.) package strawberry gelatin

3 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup oil

1/2 cup water

4 eggs

1 (10 oz.) package frozen strawberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, sift the cake mix, flour, gelatin mix and salt together. Stir in the oil and water. Beat well. Add in the eggs, one at a time; mix well.

In a medium, bowl mash up the entire bag of strawberries. Stir half of the strawberries (5 oz.) into the cake batter. Pour cake into 2-layer cake pans and bake for 30 minutes. Let cake cool and spread strawberry icing on top.

Strawberry Icing

1 stick butter

1 box confectioners' sugar, sifted

Directions

Cream the butter. Gradually add in the sugar and the remaining mashed strawberries. Mix until icing is a smooth, creamy texture.

=> Jello Cake Recipe: Jello Pudding Cake Recipe

Just like the poke cake, this Jello pudding cake is flexible when it comes to flavor. Choose the flavor that you want and enjoy a moist, rich-tasting cake that will not last for very long, because it's so scrumptious.

1 package white or yellow cake mix

1 (12 oz.) can fruit flavored soda (any flavor)

1 small box gelatin (same flavor as soda)

1 cup warm water

1 small box vanilla pudding

1 container Cool Whip

Directions

Prepare cake according to package directions. Bake cake in a 13x9-inch pan. Let cake cool. Poke holes into cake surface with a fork. Pour flavored soda over cake.

Dissolve gelatin into 1 cup warm water. Pour gelatin over the entire cake.

Prepare pudding according to package directions. Spread pudding over top of cake.

Spread whipped topping over top of entire cake. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve.

Jello Cake Recipe - Classic Jello Poke Cake Recipe

Easy to make – fun to drink

[http://www.1st-milkshake-n-smoothie-recipes.com]

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

A 40th birthday is a great time to celebrate! If you're going to be throwing a birthday party for someone who is reaching that milestone, here are some 40th birthday cake ideas for fabulous cake possibilities.

First, consider the old standby. A simple cake should work for this one, but have the number 40 written as big as possible. Then, surround the edges of the cake with 40 candles. Don't forget to light them. And don't forget to have a fire extinguisher standing by.

Cake

Second, why not try a photo reproduction cake? These are becoming more and more popular and they can be very beautifully done. You'll need a favorite photograph of the birthday gal or guy. Maybe one with the spouse, or even with the kids. Phone around to local bakeries to find one that has the capability of turning the photo into a cake topper. They'll make an actual edible photo to put on top of the cake. Most cakes I've seen like this are real conversation pieces. Everyone loves them. And then you get to eat it, and it's always fun to see who gets to eat Uncle Larry's head.

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

Third, try the hobby angle. Does your brother like to fish? Then, have a cake decorated with a fishing theme. Does your aunt like to golf? Golf-themed cakes can be super cute. There was a very beautiful cake at my local bakery that was decorated with shoes and handbags for a woman who loved shopping. Whatever the hobby, the bakery can do it!

Next, you can't forget the "Root for the Hometeam" cake. Does your family love the Razorbacks? A cake in the shape of a hog, covered in bright red icing will always make people happy. And then you get to make fun of everyone because after they eat the icing, their lips and mouth will be bright red for the rest of the day. Any team colors or logos will make a super 40th birthday cake really special.

Lastly, don't scoff at the tried and true tombstone/over-the-hill cake. Yes, it's been done and overdone. But it also makes people laugh every time. And, truly, the 40th birthday is a great time to poke a little fun.

Whatever cake you choose, make sure to take a picture. Because the recipient is going to remember this birthday for a long time!

40th Birthday Cake Ideas

Leefe Poche is the founder of http://www.cakes-you-can-bake.com

How To Make A Jello Italian Rum Cake Recipe

Whether you are celebrating the holidays with family and friends or you simply want to enjoy using jello pudding or gelatin in your recipes, you know you can count on the various great flavors that are available to you to make so many different and delicious menu ideas. For instance, you can use it to make any number of different jello cake recipes, cookies, salads, pies and so much more. There is no real limit to what you can make when you put your mind to it and you may even develop some of your own recipes while using jello as an ingredient.

Jello Cake Recipes are Fun and Delicious

\"Cake Recipes\"

If you are ready for something fun and delicious, you should consider making your own jello cake recipes as snacks, desserts and other treats for you and your family. For instance, you might enjoy making and serving this Italian rum cake that you make while using vanilla pudding in the mix.

How To Make A Jello Italian Rum Cake Recipe

Recipe for Jello Italian Rum Cake

What You Need

• 1 package yellow butter cake mix
• 1 package jello instant vanilla pudding
• ½ cup dark rum
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup dark rum

How to Make It

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a bundt cake pan by greasing and flouring and then set aside until needed.

Using a large mixing bowl and an electric mixer you will add the cake mix, pudding, ½ cup dark rum, water, oil, and eggs and then beat while mixing thoroughly.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan and then place in hot oven to bake for approximately 50 minutes or until done.

After baking, remove from oven, place a plate on top of the pan, and then turn the whole thing over to remove the cake from the pan. After removing from pan, begin to poke holes into the top of the cake. You will pour the rum glaze over the top and then allow it to absorb into the hot cake while cooling.

Just before the cake is done, you will mix up the rum glaze for this cake. To do so you will use a medium size saucepan for melting the butter. Add the butter, water, and sugar and boil for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Add the ¼ cup dark rum to this mixture and then boil for another minute.

Remove from heat and pour onto the top of the cake while the mixture and the cake are still hot. Allow the cake to cool before serving.

How To Make A Jello Italian Rum Cake Recipe

When it involves creating wonderfully delicious snacks and desserts many people rely on the versatility or using jello pudding or gelatins. You can use them to make a lot of different flavors and aromas that many people consider as comfort foods. For instance, have you ever made your family a treat by using a jello cake recipe? If you have you know how much fun they can be and how well everyone loves to eat them. If not, then you should really visit our website to find some family friendly and easy to make dessert recipe ideas for the holidays or any day!

JelloRecipes.net - We Don't Make the Products We Just Make Great Desserts with Them!

Chocolate Cake Recipe

Chocolate is termed as the drink of the Gods and it seems as if it is going to be a continuing indulgence of man. Chocolates obviously come in an array of shapes, variants, and sizes. One of which is the chocolate cake. Of course, the chocolate cake is made out of several recipes too. The chocolate recipe is of one great popularity that it is included in almost every single occasion that each family celebrates. Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, Christening, Anniversaries, Birthdays, and many others could never be held as complete without one or two chocolate cake recipes prepared therein.

A chocolate cake recipe could be made out of different kinds of chocolate. It could be that the recipe would include a bitter chocolate, a dark chocolate, a plain chocolate, or a chocolate that has very little or should no longer be added with sugar. The chocolate cake recipe may also be made out of white chocolates--that is, the taste is much sweeter, smooth, rich, and has basically the quality that states "it melts in your mouth". The chocolate cake recipes which are made out of pure and organic chocolate involve a great deal of cocoa solids therein. More so, such chocolate variety is too costly.

\"Cake Recipes\"

As technology advanced throughout time, the chocolate cake recipes had never been left behind as well. Several ingredients have been proven to add more luscious taste to these foods. Some of the mouth-watering chocolate cake recipes include the choco orange angel cake, the hot spicy chocolate ginger crunch cake with the ginger soup, the tangy cinnamon cake, the chocolate cake that is topped with some mild tempering banana sauce, and many others. As it seems, almost everything that you have there resting on your kitchen cupboard may be utilized as an ingredient to the chocolate cake recipes. Basically, hazelnut, cheese, raisins, and beetroot are primary components of the chocolate cake recipes.

Chocolate Cake Recipe

The chocolate cakes are topped with decorations and toppings which may be truly remarkable. These toppings generally add up to the delicious look of the cake. Chocolate cakes are inherently rich in taste so the toppings placed in them are maintained to be light. Some of the common toppings are almonds, dates, fruit sauces, and honey. Some chocolate cake recipes enable you to peel off some of the chocolate curls, have designs of melted chocolate, and chocolate balls also. The "covertures" is the kind of chocolate which exudes a glossy finish and has become a favorite choice of all. For many people, anything which is compacted with chocolate is always and forever delicious.

It is now extremely easy to spot a chocolate cake recipe these days because these tasty products are also being marketed online. There are specialty stores that sell great chocolate cake recipes. Some pastry centers also make available the recipes of their products. If you are serious in working with chocolate cake recipes, remember that you need to find the right people to consult. As always, the family lineage you have is always the best source of recipes. And since chocolate has been a part of all family traditions, there is a great possibility that any of your relatives know of a chocolate cake recipe. As you venture into creating chocolate cakes, you could draw inspiration from your relatives who had been fond of chocolate cakes.

Another approach that you could make use of in search of a chocolate cake recipe is flipping through the pages of a cook book. Another is by searching through the Internet. You may join forums so that you could get the chance to talk to the expert individuals regarding the real scope of the chocolate cake recipes.

Baking is one way of keeping you busy. You might not be entirely engaged in any business, yet creating the luscious recipes may really be a fanciful hobby of yours. If feels nice to be mixing all these stuffs and turning them into one fine masterpiece. After which, you may let other people taste your output. You could be a business-minded individual who would be serious in making money. Your product could always be saleable. Who knows, your chocolate cake recipe could be a hit one of these days!

Chocolate Cake Recipe

For more information on chocolate, please visit:

[http://www.chocolatedotcom.com/]

[http://www.chocolatedotcom.com/Order_Chocolates_Online.html]

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Cake Chocolate Recipe - Homemade Recipes!

When it is about baking cakes, then things can be quite interesting. Eating and baking cakes are among those activities, which are full of interest and experiments. If you have a sweet tooth and you love baking, then the fist thing that will come to your mind is going to be definitely a chocolate cake. Here you will get to learn to bake delicious chocolate cake. You just need to accurately follow the recipe of chocolate cake.

Note down the things that you will need in order to follow this cake chocolate recipe.

\"Cake Recipes\"

Equipments For Recipe Of Chocolate Brownie Cake

• Nonstick baking mould
• Rubber spatula
• Electric beater
• Measuring spoons (tsp, tbsp)
• Parchment paper

Cake Chocolate Recipe - Homemade Recipes!

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 100 gm white butter
• 125 gm granulated sugar
• 150 gm white flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp coco powder
• ½ tsp coffee essence
• ½ cup fresh cream
• 100 gm dark chocolate

Method

Melt butter with sugar in a glass bowl and beat it at low speed with the help of an electric beater. Once both these ingredients are mixed well, you will have to add eggs one by one. Keep beating the mixture, till it gets completely smooth and is blended well. Now in another bowl, swift flour, baking powder and coco powder and start mixing this dry ingredients with the liquid better that you have prepared in another bowl. Once you have added the dry ingredients, you are not supposed to use electric beater as it is the requirement of all chocolate cake recipes. With the help of a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients. Make sure that you have laid the parchment paper in the mould and grease it with the help of butter. Once you have greased the pan properly then pour the better in the mould. Put the mould in a preheated oven and bake it at 180 degrees centigrade. Bake it for 25-30 minutes.

Once you have taken the cake out of your oven then place it on the shelf of your kitchen. Melt dark chocolate pieces in a double boiler. Once the chocolate melts, then add cream in it. Mix the cream in melted chocolate properly and pour this mixture on your cake.

If you will follow this method for baking chocolate cake, then you will see that you are going to bake the best cake. This is one of those recipes of chocolate cakes, which turn out to be the perfect ones.

Cake Chocolate Recipe - Homemade Recipes!

For More Information on chocolate and Candy making at home, check out Chocolate For Candy Making [http://www.homecandymakingsuccess.com/chocolate-for-candy-making].

Cake Mix Recipes

If you are looking for a simple way to make delicious cakes without a lot of fuss, cake mix recipes are the answer. Buying a store bought mix and turning it into a scrumptious dessert is both time saving and economical. Stores will run sales on boxed mixes and they can often be purchased for under a dollar. Here are two sample recipes that are quick to make and tasty too.

Easy Chocolate Cake

\"Cake Recipes\"

Ingredients:

Cake Mix Recipes

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 (16 ounces) package instant chocolate pudding mix

2 eggs

12 ounces chocolate chips

1/2 to 3/4 cups chopped pecans

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together with a spoon except for the chocolate chips and pecans. Pour mixture into a 9x13 inch greased and floured baking pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. No frosting is needed for this cake.

Strawberry Nut Cake

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix

3 tablespoons flour

1 small package strawberry Jello

1 cup strawberries

1 cup oil

4 eggs

1/2 cup water

1 cup chopped nuts

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together except for the strawberries and nuts. After mixture is well beaten, stir in strawberries and nuts. Pour mixture into a greased and floured 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Powdered sugar icing can be added if desired.

These easy cake mix recipes will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time flat, and your family will think you have been baking all day.

Cake Mix Recipes

More cake mix recipes and many other easy and delicious dessert recipes can be found at [http://www.free-dessert-recipes.com].

Cake Recipes

When deciding on what cake recipe you would like to create you must keep in mind that there are two types of cake - butter and foam. Butter cakes are made with butter or shortening and foam cakes are made with eggs or egg whites. These two categories are just the general, umbrella, or catch-all terms. There are actually dozens or even hundreds of variations on cakes that you can learn about and enjoy.

Butter cakes are light and fine textured, while foam cakes are fluffy. Foam cakes can be angel food, chiffon or sponge, depending on your preference. Both form the basis for most cake recipes with variations and special touches adding to the taste and presentation.

\"Cake Recipes\"

There are hundreds and hundreds of cake recipes. All time favorites include white cake with chocolate frosting, chocolate cake with white frosting and carrot cake. A basic cake recipe calls for butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, flour and baking powder. Frosting should always be created to the right consistency that is smooth and soft enough spread. Glazes should be thinner, but not drippy. Food coloring can be used to tint frosting and garnished with goodies like chocolate or multi-colored sprinkles, animal crackers, nuts, raisins, coconut, jelly beans, fresh or dried fruit, etc.

Cake Recipes

Wonderful cake recipes can be found in most cookbooks and on the web. Family shared recipes are the best, so ask your favorite grandma or aunt for their "special" cake ingredients. If you're brave, you can even try your own hand at creating the next big thing in cake recipes.

Cake Recipes

Cake provides detailed information on Baby Shower Cake, Birthday Cake, Cake, Cake Decorating and more. Cake is affiliated with Birthday Cards.

Wedding Cake Recipes Sweeter Than Sweet - Cheap Wedding Cake Mixes & Tasty Ingredient Ideas

How important is the wedding cake. I am afraid I can't answer this, however if we stay with tradition then it's essential to have a wedding cake if it is a perfect wedding you desire. And isn't this what every bride-to-be wants "perfection." If you've asked this question because you're not fond of the ingredients included in a traditional wedding cake then you don't have to have them. Wedding cakes can be tailor designed around your wants with ingredients and decoration of your own personal choosing.

For the perfect wedding add a wedding cake to your wedding to-do-list.

\"Cake Recipes\"

Preferences for wedding cakes will differ, as they do with wedding dresses, wedding music, wedding locations and wedding guests because people have different likes and dislikes. Nonetheless in most cases the bride and groom always get what they want. The cake is the main focus of the wedding reception making a fabulous centerpiece. Choosing the right wedding cake is important for guests that have a sweet tooth because their focus will be on the cake at all times.

Wedding Cake Recipes Sweeter Than Sweet - Cheap Wedding Cake Mixes & Tasty Ingredient Ideas

There is more to choosing a wedding cake than just pointing to a picture and agreeing that is what you want. Things need to be considered that are often overlooked like the color of the icing and cake design to match your wedding gown or theme. The ingredients used to bake the cake are also very important indeed; after all we have a lot of people to please.

Make light work of choosing your wedding cake and follow the tips listed below. With this daunting prospect in mind, let us make your wedding cake planning less of a hassle.

First of all you need to be aware there is more than just taste and color of your cake to consider. Planning a wedding on a budget can cause issues regarding the cake but you shouldn't let this worry you. Cheap is just as tasty as expensive, and just as pretty too.

Before planning gets underway sit down with your partner and ask yourselves.

How much money your prepared to spend on your wedding cake, or if you`re counting the pennies then what type of cake you can afford?

The cake is to feed the mouths of many so plan the size of the cake around how many guests you're likely to invite.
Doing the above will save you money. Too much cake is a waste if you go for big. The type of wedding cake you can realistically have should be determined on the pointers mentioned above.

Choosing a wedding cake should have you think "shape, color, ingredients and decoration.

A great place to start for ideas on cake appearance is to browse pictures in magazines, books and wedding cake websites. Visit the bakery and see the real thing. This will give you the opportunity to talk about your desired cake.

It helps if you know the reason for wanting a wedding cake. Is it to use as a piece of eye candy. If so concentrate on design and prettiness.

If it's for hundreds of guests to feed on? Then size of the cake is important.

Do you want the wedding cake to match your color scheme, if so speak with the baker in advance so he/she can advise on what will work and ideally suited to your request?

In the world of wedding cakes decorations come in vast variety. Cake accessories like ribbons, flowers, wedding cake toppers, edible rosebuds to candles are a few to mention.

Most "essential" in any wedding cake is the flavor. You can have the loveliest creation made but what's the point of pretty without taste, it doesn't' make sense and neither does it make good eating. Traditionally wedding cake filling is fruit. But if you prefer chocolate as your selected flavor then there's no reason why you and your guests can't have chocolate.

Out with tradition to make way for new scrumptious wedding cake flavors eaten at weddings. The white wedding cake with white butter-cream icing is not as common as it was judging by modern day weddings.

Remember this is your day and your cake.

Cheesecake goes down well. It's an ideal choice for the not so grand wedding, but is fabulously appropriate and cheap for a small wedding. Meringues, baked Alaska, fruitcakes, chocolate cake, and angel food cake are also increasingly popular.

You never see a guest turn their nose up at carrot cake, is it because it's moist and spicy? Carrot cake is usually based on oil instead of butter. If you're not a lover of raisins you don't have to add them. Swap with pecans or walnuts. If you're doing your own decorating then cream over with white icing adding pecans here and there with other edible cake decorations.

Pumpkin cake another favored sweet confectionery. Decorate pumpkin cake with cranberry and greenery. At its best when iced with cranberry butter cream.

Chocolate-Raspberry - a yummy chocolate cake with a raspberry filling. Icing is chocolate butter cream. The cherry on the cake for the chocolate-raspberry (excuse the pun) is to pipe cream with chocolate curls and decorate with edible floral cake accessories. Pressed and crystallized flowers are fabulous cake decorations.

Do you think your guests will fancy a slice of coconut cream pound cake, if so do them a favor and serve up this cake because a little of what you fancy does you good.

Coconut Cream Pound Cake Recipe

Ingredients

225 g softened butter
224 g softened cream cheese
600 g white sugar
Half a dozen eggs
5 ml coconut extract
375 g all-purpose flour
2 g baking powder
150 g coconut flakes
Baking Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.

Cream the butter and cream cheese until thoroughly blended. Add sugar and whisk to light fluffy texture. Add 1 egg at a time and whisk followed by coconut extract. Pour flour and baking powder in until lightly moistened, then the coconut. Mix is ready for the baking pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before moving.

Another cake simple to make and goes down well with wedding guest and their gullets to is the (Easy Light Fruitcake.)

Ingredients
455 g candied cherries, halved
5 candied pineapple rings, finely minced
870 g golden raisins
360 g candied mixed fruit peel
170 g almonds
125 g all-purpose flour
455 g softened butter or margarine
400 g white sugar
Half a dozen eggs
5 ml vanilla extract
60 ml orange juice
625 g all-purpose flour
9 g baking powder
3 g salt
6 split almonds
Baking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line the bottom and sides of two greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans, and 1 round 4 1/2 inch x 3 inch deep pan with brown paper. Grease the paper.

2. Mix cherries, minced pineapple pieces, raisins, mixed peel, 1 cup pecans, and 1 cup flour in a basin. Blend all ingredients until fully coated with flour and stand to aside

3. Using a separate bowl, cream the butter/margarine and sugar. Whisk in 1 egg at a time. Add orange juice and vanilla and stir. Take 5 cups flour, your baking powder and salt and add to creamy mixture. Add floured fruit and nuts. Carefully pour mix into baking pans. Fill each pan 3/4 full. Add split almonds over the top.

4. Usual baking time 3 hours. Pierce cake with a toothpick and if done the toothpick comes out clean. If the top of your cake darkens before the sides cover with foil.

My suggestion: plain sponge. Nearly every cake base is sponge mix. If a person says they don't like a particular cake, it means they're not fond of certain ingredients used to fancy up and flavor. Keeping it plain allowing your guest to choose their own fillings, is the key. Fill glass bowls with a variety of flavored fillings (chocolate sauce, custard, jelly, and butter cream, raisins, mixed fruit, syrup, treacle and different flavored jams and fruit sauces? Do this and your guests won't have to wait for you to turn your back before spitting out cake chosen by you.

Wedding Cake Recipes Sweeter Than Sweet - Cheap Wedding Cake Mixes & Tasty Ingredient Ideas

Want to sweeten the guests up with Wedding Cakes or just looking to have the perfect Wedding

Bundt Cake Baking Tips

Bundt cake recipes are cake recipes that use a "bundt" cake pan or a round baking pan that with a hole in the middle and ridged, decorated sides. Bundt cake recipes use a dense cake such as a butter or pound cake recipe. These cakes are sturdy and last well. Recipes often call for a simple glaze or fruit topping. The name Bundt comes from the German word bund, which means "a gathering of people."

Bundt cake recipes have grown in popularity since 1966 when a "Tunnel of Fudge" cake recipe used a bundt pan to win second place at a Pillsbury sponsored baking contest. Bundt cake recipes have since been quite popular and bundt cake pan sales have increased.

\"Cake Recipes\"

Because bundt cakes are baked in these intricate pans, there can be mishaps when turning the pan upside down and separating the cake from the pan, ruining a wonderful cake. These mishaps can be avoided by following a few simple steps.

Bundt Cake Baking Tips

In order to stop your bundt cake from sticking when you turn it upside down you must prepare the pan by brushing it with vegetable shortening and a dusting of flour, alternatively use a non-stick spray with flour, stay away from sprays that contain lecithin as is will leave a residue. If you use the first method, tap the pan lightly over the sink to get rid of surplus flour.

You want the structure of your cake to be consistent throughout so you must avoid trapping air bubbles in the batter. This can be done by pouring the batter slowly, allowing it to fill the crevices of the bundt pan. It is prudent to only fill the pan ¾ of the way to allow the batter to rise. Use a spatula to press batter into the detailed walls of the bundt pan. Lightly wobbling the filled pan and tapping it against the counter will allow any remaining air bubbles to escape.

The cake should be placed in the center of the oven to allow for air circulation and even cooking. If the pan is dark colored it will absorb heat more quickly and the cooking temperature should be reduced 25 degrees fahrenheit from what the recipe calls for.

Once the cake has finished baking the correct time, let it cool for 10 minutes. If you turn the cake over now and it is stuck to the pan it may break so be sure to wobble the pan to indicate if it is loose. The cake should move freely from side to side letting you know it is ready to turn over. If the cake is sticking around the sides use a butter knife to gently pry the cake from the sides. Then turn the pan over on to a cooling rack and allow to fully cool.

While the cake is cooling sprinkle powdered sugar or pour your glaze on top.

Bundt Cake Baking Tips

Leona runs a small cake business and has been baking for over 30 years. She has published a number of bundt cake recipes at bundt-cake.com.

Holiday Baking - Gumdrop Cake Recipes Worth Making

Now that the Holiday countdown has begun, our thoughts have turned to buying presents, pulling out the decorations and lights, making lists for our upcoming parties, and to Holiday baking.

My mother loved baking for the holiday season; when I was growing up, she started early in the fall, making light and dark fruitcakes that she prepared, steamed and baked then wrapped in aluminum foil before placing in ceramic crocks for six weeks or more, to allow the variety of flavours to meld together.

\"Cake Recipes\"

These days most of us don't have time to bake cakes that take hours to prepare and six weeks or more of maturing to be flavourful; I have mom's small, medium and large fruitcake pans with their removable bottoms but confess that I have never made fruit cake. But I have made many other recipes of hers, such as her Gumdrop Cake; this cake is a delicious choice for today's busy cook who still wants to serve special treats to family and friends during the holiday season. For those who like raisins, I'm also including a Gumdrop Cake recipe that not only uses this fruit for added flavour but also uses applesauce to replace the milk found in most cake recipes.

Holiday Baking - Gumdrop Cake Recipes Worth Making

If you're beginning your search for recipes to make this Holiday season jolly, please come back often to check out the cakes, cookies, squares, breads and other treats I'll be publishing in the upcoming weeks. Who knows, you may just find new 'family favourites' of your own that one day you'll want to pass on to your loved ones.

Mom's Gumdrop Cake

1 cup shortening

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs (drop one at a time and beat well before adding the next one)

1 cup warm milk

3 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon

1 ½ lbs. gumdrops cut into chunks and floured with ½ cup flour.

Method

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating well each time. Add liquid and dry ingredients alternately. Add floured gumdrops last. Spoon batter into a greased and lined tube pan. Bake 1 ½ - 2 hours at 350°F oven; cover with foil for first ½ hour. When cake is done, remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes in pan before turning out onto wired rack to cool completely. Wrap cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to retain moisture.

Flora's Gumdrop Cake

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 cups applesauce

2 ½ cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. almond flavouring

1 tsp. vanilla

1 lb. gumdrops

1 lb. raisins

Method

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Add applesauce and dry ingredients alternately. Cut gumdrops into chunks. Mix together with raisins and ½ cup flour. Add to batter last. Spoon batter into greased and lined funnel pan (tube pan), and bake in 350°F oven for 2 - 2 ½ hours. Cool for 10 minutes in pan before turning out onto wire rack to cool completely.

Holiday Baking - Gumdrop Cake Recipes Worth Making

©2009 Sylvia Morice. Sylvia Morice is an instructional designer and facilitator. She designs curriculum and workshops for a corporation, and writes fiction and non-fiction in her personal time. Sylvia has had prose and poetry published in literary magazines and periodicals, and has had one chapbook of short stories published. Sylvia invites you to find more recipes, memories and articles at: http://sylviamorice.wordpress.com Thank you for reading.

Coffee Cake Recipes

Mention coffee cake and images of Grandma's house sitting around the table with a fresh baked streusel cake and lots of family chatter. It's doubtful that many of the cakes considered coffee cake today actually contain coffee. Some recipes do and some don't. Many consider a crumb cake served with coffee a coffee cake while others insist that the recipe contain coffee to be considered a coffee cake.

History

\"Cake Recipes\"

The coffee cake as it is today is an evolution across time and continents. Cakes have been being baked since the Biblical days of honey cakes. Next came what is known as the fruitcake, a culinary invention of the French known as galettes. These same galettes led to sweetened yeast breads or rolls which finally evolved into Danish coffee cakes that were made with coffee.

Coffee Cake Recipes

As time progressed and recipes changed and were handed down there were inevitable alterations. Perhaps more coffee was added or even taken out all together. By the time the late 1800's rolled around the coffee cake was a household name in America with countless numbers of recipes and variations with most being either streusel, crumb or streusel-crumb combination.

Today's coffee cake hasn't changed that much from those of the late 1800's. The recipes have been changed and there are literally thousands of variations, but overall, it is still either a crumb cake or a streusel cake or some combination. Add pot of piping hot coffee and no one really cares what it's called.

Following are two recipes for simple yet scrumptious coffee cakes. Bake one up and gather the family together and swap stories while enjoying great food and even greater company.

Simply Cinnamon Coffee Cake

* 1 cup sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* Dash of salt
* ¼ cup butter
* ¼ cup shortening
* 1 small can evaporated milk
Topping
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* ½ cup sugar, mixed with the cinnamon
* ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. Pour half of batter into greased 8x8 inch pan. Sprinkle with half the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Pour remaining batter into pan and sprinkle with the other half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Add chopped nuts, if desired. Bake in 350-degree oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Serves 10-12.

Chocolate Swirl Coffee Cake

* 1 cup sugar
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* ½ teaspoon salt
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup sour cream
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* ¼ pound butter
* 1 small can or bottle chocolate syrup

Topping

* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* ½ cup sugar, mixed with the cinnamon

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, stirring until fully blended. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Add vanilla and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into greased 8x12 inch pan. Cut chocolate syrup into batter in pan (using knife to cut into a decorative pattern). Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar topping. Bake in 375-degree oven for 35 minutes. Serves 10-12.

Coffee Cake Recipes

Katya Coen provides coffee cake recipes shown on Coffee Info Sites - your guide to quality coffee related sites!