REQ: Spice cake recipe

[jeffg]

To Kelly or anyone else, if you know of a great spice cake recipe, can you please share it? My other half is a spice cake fanatic and we've tried lots of different recipes, but they've all been mediocre. We're looking for one that includes a traditional frosting (spice, maple, brown sugar or something else autumn-y).

Thanks in advance.

 

[turquoisedude]

A favourite of mine from the 50's!

Here's a wonderful recipe from my old BH&G cookbook - with a couple of 'extras' in the spice department. This is my father's fave too!

Spice Layer Cake

3/4 shortening (Crisco or similar)
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sub with 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour if you don't have cake flour)
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
3 eggs

- Prepare two 9-inch cake pans (grease and flour or line with baking parchment); preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Place shortening in large mixer bowl; beat at low speed to soften
- Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, granulated and brown sugar
- Pour 3/4 cup of the buttermilk or sour milk into bowl; mix at very low speed for about 30 seconds to moisten ingredients; increase speed to medium-low and beat for 1 1/2 minutes, scraping bowl frequently.
- Stop mixer, scrape beaters and add the eggs and remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk. Beat with mixer at medium-low for 2 minutes, scraping bowl often.
- Pour batter into pans, bake for 30 to 35 minutes until cake tests done.
- Cool in pans 5 minutes, then remove. Allow cake to cool before frosting with Sea-Foam Icing.

Sea-Foam Icing

2 unbeaten egg whites
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons dark corn syrup OR 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup cold water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp maple extract)

- Combine first four ingredients in the top section of a double-boiler. Set over boiling water and cook while beating constantly with electric mixer at high speed for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the icing forms stiff peaks.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla (or vanilla and maple) extract; beat until icing is of spreading consistency, about 2 minutes more.
- Frost cake and garnish with walnut halves, if desired.

Enjoy!!

 

[mixfinder]

Mom's Standby


Applesauce Cake
Heat
I cup butter
2cups applesauce
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups raisins
When butter is melted removed from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Add
3 1/2 cups allpurpose flour
2 teaspoons soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
Mix until smooth
stir in
1 cups chopped walnuts or pecans.
Pour into a greased 9X13 or tube pan and bake at 325 until toothpick tests clean. Oblong 65-70 minutes and tube pan 55-65 minutes. (Cake contains no eggs)
Caramel Icing
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
bring to a boil over medium heat. Add
1/2 cup cream
boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and beat in
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
I use a mixer because the cornstarch in the powdered sugar lumps from the hot mixture. Icing sets as it cools. If too thin, cool in an ice bath and if too thick at a few teaspoons cream or heat again over a water bath.

 

[jeffg]

Thanks guys, it's much appreciated!