Grandma Sweets

Years ago, my Grandma gave me a wonderful cookbook of old time recipes. Some of the War Years entrees are not my thing, but the desserts are lovely.

1928 Award Winning Gold Cake (from Forgotten Recipes)

2 C sifted cake powder
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C sugar
3 egg yolks, beaten til thick and lemon colored
1/4 C milk
1 tsp vanilla or 1/2 tsp orange extract

This recipe calls for all measurements to be level. So sift your flour, then measure and then add your baking powder and sift the flour and powder together three times. Cream your butter well; slowly add your sugar and cream until the mixture is light and fluffy. Now, add your beaten egg yolks, mixing well. Alternate adding your flour mixture with your milk, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. When the batter is smooth, add the flavoring and beat well. Pour the finished batter into a well greased 8-inch square pan. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

This is very yummy cake. I do not sift anything. I use cake flour and whisk it together with the baking powder. I used the vanilla one round and the orange extract on the second round. The orange is very tasty and a little unexpected. I frosted it with basic white icing:

White Icing (from Forgotten Recipes)

1/2 tsp butter
2 TBSP hot milk
1 1/2 C confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (when I added orange extract to the cake, I used orange extract in the icing)

This is an easy frosting. Just add your butter to the hot milk, and add your sugar to it slowly until it is spreadable. Then add your vanilla at the last. Spread on the top and sides of the cake.


Sponge Cake (from Forgotten Recipes)

2 TBSP lemon juice
3 eggs, separated
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
a capful of vanilla or lemon flavoring

Beat your lemon juice and egg yolks together until they are very thick and light in color. Whip your egg whites until they are nice and stiff and then whip your sugar into them. Fold egg yolks into this mixture. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt and then add them to your egg mixture. Flavor with whatever extract or flavoring you've chosen. Pour batter into a 10-inch tube pan. Bale in a slow oven at 325, for one hour. Check at 45 minutes, and then at one hour for doneness.
Note: You can sprinkle confectioners sugar on the finished cake.

This is just like the sponge cake you used to get from your Grandma. It is delicious with vanilla ice cream.