Although some of us may be good cooks, it takes a special amount of skill to be an expert baker. When it comes to making cookies or cake, we typically cut corners and buy pre-made mixes and doughs when we’re in a hurry. Still, to make something truly special takes time, precision, patience and a whole lot of love. For those that are willing to spend the extra time, baking can result in some of the best food you’ve ever had—food like our grandparents used to make. In that spirit, here are 10 old-fashioned cake recipes that grandma would approve of.
1. Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of canola oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
3 cups of shredded carrots
1 cup of chopped walnuts
cream cheese frosting
Steps:
2. Beat together your sugar, canola oil, eggs and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
3. In another bowl, combine your flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mix.
4. Stir in the carrots and walnuts as well.
5. Pour the batter into your Bundt pan and bake it for 50 to 60 minutes.
6. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool.
7. When it’s done, frost the outside with cream cheese frosting and enjoy!
2. Traditional Red Velvet Cake
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of softened butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
2 bottles of red food coloring
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups of cake flour
2 tablespoons of baking cocoa
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of buttermilk
Frosting:
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
1/2 cup of cold water
2 cups of softened butter
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
Steps:
2. Cream together your butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy.
3. Add in your eggs one at a time and beat well between each one.
3. Beat in your food coloring, vanilla and vinegar also.
4. In a side bowl, whisk together your flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
5. Gradually mix in your dry ingredients and your buttermilk, alternately.
6. Flour and grease two nine-inch rounds before pouring your batter into each one.
7. Bake the cakes for 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool all the way.
9. Make your frosting by mixing the water and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat.
10. Stir and cook for about two or three minutes, until the mix thickens. Cool the whole thing to room temperature.
11. Separately, beat your butter and vanilla together until it turns light and fluffy.
12. Beat the butter and cornstarch mixture together before gradually adding confectioners’ sugar.
13. When the frosting is light and fluffy, frost the cake between layers and all around.
3. Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients:
2 cups of mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups of canola oil
3 eggs
1 can of crushed pineapple, undrained
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 cup of chopped walnuts
Pineapple Frosting:
1/4 cup of shortening
2 tablespoons of softened butter
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon of salt
6 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup of unsweetened pineapple juice
2 teaspoons of half-and-half
chopped walnuts
Steps:
2. In a side bowl, mix your flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon.
3. Gradually add the dry mix into the wet ingredients until it’s blended. Stir in your walnuts as well.
4. Grease and flour three nine-inch round pans and pour your batter into them.
5. Bake the cakes at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes; cool them for 10 minutes before taking
4. German Black Forest Cake
Ingredients:
1 cup of whole milk
3 eggs
1/2 cup of canola oil
3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour (plus two tablespoons)
2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup of baking cocoa
1 1/2 tablespoons of baking powder
3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
3/4 teaspoon of salt
Filling:
2 cans of pitted, tart cherries
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of cornstarch
3 tablespoons of cherry brandy
Whipped Cream:
3 cups of heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup of confectioners’ sugar
Steps:
2. In a big bowl, beat together your eggs, milk, oil and vanilla until they’re well-combined.
3. In a side bowl, whisk together your flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat that gradually into the wet mixture.
4. Pour the batter into the pans and bake it for 30 to 35 minutes.
5. When they’re done, cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool the rest of the way.
6. Make your filling by draining the cherries and keeping half a cup of the juice. In a saucepan, whisk together your sugar, cornstarch and cherry juice. Add the cherries and cook over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring throughout.
7. Take the pan off the heat and add the brandy before letting it cool all the way.
8. In a big bowl, beat your cream until it thickens and add confectioners’ sugar. Keep beating until it forms stiff peaks.
9. Finally, cut each cake in half horizontally to make four layers. Top each layer with one and a half cups of whipped cream and three quarters of a cup of the filling, leaving an inch at the edge. Repeat this with all the layers and frost the outside with the whipped cream!
5. 7-Up Pound Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of softened butter
3 cups of sugar
5 eggs
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3 cups of flour
3/4 cup of 7-Up
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice
1-2 tablespoons of 7-Up
1/2 teaspoon of lime or lemon zest
Steps:
2. In a big bowl, cream together your butter and sugar until they turn light and fluffy.
3. Add your eggs one at a time and beat everything together.
4. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla as well.
5. Add your flour and 7-Up alternately, beating everything together after each addition.
6. Pour the batter into your Bundt pan and bake it for 65 to 75 minutes.
7. When it’s done, cool the cake for 20 minutes in the pan before transferring it to a wire rack.
8. To make the glaze, mix together your confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and 7-Up in a bowl until it reaches the right texture. Stir in the zest as well.
9. Finally, drizzle the glaze over the cake and serve!
6. Lady Baltimore Cake
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups of cake flour
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
2 cups of sugar
16 tablespoons of softened, unsalted butter
1 cup of whole milk
1/2 teaspoon of rose water
8 egg whites
Icing:
4 cups of sugar
6 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon of rose water
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
3/4 cups of minced raisins
2 tablespoons of candied orange peel, minced
5 dried figs, minced
Steps:
2. Cover the bowl and let it sit for two hours so the brandy absorbs. Give the bowl a stir occasionally.
3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and put parchment paper in the bottom of three eight-inch round cake pans. Grease the paper as well.
4. In a big bowl, mix together your flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
5. Add your buttermilk, butter and vanilla before beating everything on low for 30 seconds so it is just combined.
6. Beat the mixture on medium for two minutes. Add the egg whites and beat for another two minutes.
7. Pour your batter into the prepared pans and bake them for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool them in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks.
8. In a big bowl, cream your butter so it turns fluffy.
9. Beat in your confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and cream until it reaches the right texture.
10. To make the filling, take a cup of the frosting out, put it in a bowl and add your pecans and raisins.
11. Finally, assemble the cake by spreading your filling on the top of the cakes and stacking them. Spread frosting all around the outside and serve.
7. Banana Cake
Ingredients:
2/3 cup of shortening
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
2 cups of mashed bananas
1 cup of whole milk
3 cups of flour
1 1/4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 package of softened cream cheese
1/4 cup of softened butter
4 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
salt
Steps:
2. Add your egg yolks individually, beating the mix after each one.
3. Add bananas and milk as well, mixing everything until just combined.
4. In a side bowl, mix your flour, baking soda and salt. Add it to the creamed mix and beat it for two more minutes.
5. In another bowl, beat your egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold the egg whites into the batter as well.
6. Pour the batter into a greased baking pan and bake it at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool it on a wire rack when it’s done.
7. To make the frosting, beat your cream cheese and butter together.
8. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and salt and beat everything until it turns smooth.
9. Finally, spread the frosting over the cake and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
8. Butter Pecan Cake
Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups of chopped pecans
1 1/4 cups of softened butter
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of milk
Frosting:
1 cup of softened butter
8-8 1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1 can of evaporated milk
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Steps:
2. Bake everything at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes until toasted and set it aside.
3. In a bowl, cream together your sugar and butter until it turns light and fluffy.
4. Add your eggs in one at a time and beat the mix together well. Add vanilla as well.
5. Mix your flour, baking powder and salt together in a side bowl.
6. Add the dry ingredients to the mix gradually, alternating with the milk. Beat everything together between each addition.
7. Stir in one and a third cups of toasted pecans as well.
8. Pour your batter into three greased and floured nine-inch round pans.
9. Bake the cakes for 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Let them cool for 10 minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool.
10. Make your frosting by creaming together butter and confectioners’ sugar in a bowl.
11. Add milk and vanilla and beat everything until it turns smooth. Stir in the rest of the pecans.
12. Spread the frosting between the layers and all around the cake.
9. Lazy Daisy Cake
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of cake flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of butter
Frosting:
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of melted butter
2 tablespoons of half-and-half
1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
Steps:
2. Mix together your flour, baking powder and salt and gradually add it to the egg mix. Beat everything on low until it combines.
3. Heat up your milk and butter in a saucepan until the butter melts.
4. Add the butter mix to the batter and beat everything together so it turns thin.
5. Pour the batter into a greased baking pan and bake it at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. When it’s done, let it cool slightly.
6. Make the frosting by beating together the ingredients in a bowl.
7. Spread the frosting over the top of the cake while it’s still warm and broil it in the oven for three to four minutes. Serve when it’s done!
10. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients:
2/3 cup of brown sugar
1 can of sliced pineapples
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
3 eggs, separated
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
9 maraschino cherries
Steps:
2. Combine your butter and brown sugar in an ungreased square baking pan. In the meantime, drain your pineapple and keep a third of a cup of juice.
3. Put nine of the pineapple slices in a single layer on the bottom of the baking pan.
4. Sprinkle pecans on top of the pineapples and set the dish aside.
5. In a bowl, beat together your egg yolks until they turn thick. Add sugar and keep beating together.
6. Add vanilla and pineapple juice and keep mixing everything together.
7. Mix your flour, baking powder and salt together and add that to the batter as well.
8. Scoop your batter into the pan and bake it for 30 to 35 minutes.
9. When it’s done, let it stand for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a plate.
10. Put a cherry in the middle of each of the pineapple slices and enjoy!
No matter what your dessert preferences are, this list of old-fashioned dishes is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy. Whether it’s a sweet, nutty Southern-style dish or a light and fluffy fruit cake, all of these desserts are time-tested, easy to make and so delicious. While all of these recipes are guaranteed to work as they are, feel free to make them your own once you’ve made them a few times. Have you given any of these recipes a try for yourself? Which ones were your favorites? Even if you’ve never made any of these before, all of these recipes are worth a try at least once. Happy baking!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.