Your Favorite Home-Made Cake Recipe

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their favorite homemade cake recipes, particularly focusing on vanilla and chocolate options. There is a specific interest in sturdy cakes suitable for cutting into shapes for events, such as a baby shower. Participants express their preferences and experiences with various cake types and recipes.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a cake snob, expresses a strong preference for homemade cakes over cake mixes and seeks recommendations for good vanilla and chocolate recipes.
  • Another participant shares their fondness for their mom's chocolate pound cake and carrot cake, noting that these wouldn't work for the requested cake shape.
  • One participant mentions enjoying plain pound cake, especially with ice cream and fresh peaches.
  • A participant references a butter cake recipe from the show Good Eats and shares an orange cake recipe, although they haven't made it themselves.
  • Another participant describes a family tradition of making pumpkin bread, which they consider a cake, and highlights its moistness and the cinnamon butter served with it.
  • One participant lists several recipes from Allrecipes.com, emphasizing that they do not use cake mixes and have received positive reviews.
  • Another participant shares their experience with Crazy cake (Wacky Cake), noting its moistness and ease of preparation directly in the pan.
  • Some participants discuss the idea of freezing the cake before cutting it to prevent crumbling, along with suggestions for using fondant for decoration.
  • One participant expresses concern about the taste of fondant, sharing mixed opinions about its flavor.
  • Another participant provides two recipes from Betty Crocker's Cookbook, detailing ingredients and preparation steps for a sour cream chocolate cake and a yellow cake.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best types of cakes for cutting into shapes, with some participants sharing specific recipes while others express uncertainty about their own cakes' suitability for this purpose. No clear consensus emerges on a single preferred recipe.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal anecdotes and family traditions related to cake making, highlighting the importance of homemade cakes for special occasions.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for cake recipes for events or those interested in sharing personal experiences with cake baking may find this discussion beneficial.

pamperedlinda
Gold Member
Messages
10,156
What is your favorite home-made cake recipe? I need a couple of good vanilla and chocolate cake recipes.....other flavors are welcome too. I am a cake snob and I do not like cake-mixes:o so don't bother telling me about those. I want the real deal. I've always made the basic 1-2-3-4 cake, but that one dries out and gets stale really quick. I am making the cake for a friend's baby shower next weekend and I want a really good tasting cake. I'll be making it in a 9 x 13 pan and cutting it into the shape of a 'onesie' so it needs to be sturdy enough to cut and transport. Thanks!
 
My two favorite cakes in the world are my mom's chocolate pound cake and carrot cake. Neither would work for your cake, though (which I saw the picture you were basing your cake off of - too cute!)Funny "cake snob" story - before I started with PC I bought my mom a new bundt pan at Williams-Sonoma. She had had hers for over 30 years and is a pound cake fiend - she's beloved for her vanilla pound cake, but renowned for her chocolate pound cake. The clerk was just trying to do her job and offered an upsell of one of their (rather pricey, IMO) pound cake mixes. I replied that I thought my mom would be rather insulted by that!OK, maybe it was just funny to me, but I chuckle just trying to imagine my mom's face if I had given her a box of pound cake mix (no matter how good a mix it may be).
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Pound cake is my favorite too! Just plain ole pound cake - no icing - maybe a scoop of ice cream and some fresh peaches....yummy!
 
I've always had good luck with recipes from the show Good Eats. There was an episode with a butter cake recipe. I haven't made it, but it's probably yummy.Ok- couldn't find that one, but I found an orange one.Aunt Verna's Orange Cake
1 cup orange blossom honey
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch baking soda
Butter, for greasingPreheat oven to 350 degrees F.In a large bowl, whisk together honey and eggs until thoroughly integrated. Stir in orange zest. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add slowly to egg mixture. Lightly grease a loaf pan with butter. Add the mixture to the pan and bake. After 30 minutes check for doneness with a wooden skewer. (If it comes out clean, you are done. If not, give it another 5 minutes and check it again).
 
My mom makes this pumpkin bread (which is really a cake, made in the bundt pan) every Thanksgiving. She will ONLY make it on Thanksgiving, and by Nov. 1 we are itching to eat it. This year I had to make my own, since I got married, but it is soooooooo good and moist.

To top it off, you make a cinnamon butter to put on it.

Its the once a year cake we all look forward to.
 
Linda...here are some recipes off of Allrecipes.com
All of them have TONS of super reviews, none of them use a cake mix...
Let us know what recipe(s) you end up using, and how you like them!!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Moist-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-Cheese-Pound-Cake-III/Detail.aspx

Dark Chocolate Cake I - Allrecipes

Butter Cake - Allrecipes (one of the reviews says it holds together well on themed cut out cakes...)

Crazy Cake - Allrecipes

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Crazy-Chocolate-Cake/Detail.aspx

Barb's Chocolate Cake - Allrecipes

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Kentucky-Butter-Cake/Detail.aspx

Black Magic Cake - Allrecipes
 
My favorite cake is the Crazy cake (we call it Wacky Cake). It is so moist, and you can mix it right in the pan with a fork. Top it with some whipped topping and it is good to go.
 
Most of the cakes I make wouldn't probably work well for a cut out cake - and I don't usually do cut out cakes. If I did, and I needed a good recipe, I would do what Kelly did, and go to Allrecipes.com - that is the best site for whatever recipe you need!
 
pamperedlinda said:
I'll be making it in a 9 x 13 pan and cutting it into the shape of a 'onesie' so it needs to be sturdy enough to cut and transport. Thanks!

If you freeze the cake before you trim it into the shape it shouldn't crumble as much. Good luck with the cake. Please post some pics of it when you get it done so we all can see :)
 
ChefTess said:
If you freeze the cake before you trim it into the shape it shouldn't crumble as much. Good luck with the cake. Please post some pics of it when you get it done so we all can see :)
That is a good idea...plus, you could cover it in fondant (very easy to make) and then decorate from there! Hold on...I will look for the fondant recipe!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #12
KellyTheChef said:
Here it is! I made this last easter for my easter egg cake...it was sooooo easy, and so professional looking!
I've never eaten or used fondant. I heard it doesn't taste too good - what do you think about the taste?

I really want this cake to be good :chef: . All of the attendees are my neighbors (one of which is a real snobby bi-atch and I want to be sure she only says good things about my cake - kwim?! :rolleyes: )

I'll check out the all-recipes site. I've had several recipes from there and they are good.
 
I have heard that the Marshmallow Fondant tastes good, but the regular kind does not. I would give the recipe Kelly posted a try.
 
mmm.... cake. Now I want some. :(
I guess I'll eat the last Rice Krispy Treat in the house. It's cereal, right?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #15
chefann said:
mmm.... cake. Now I want some. :(
I guess I'll eat the last Rice Krispy Treat in the house. It's cereal, right?
Yes it is - and dairy too!
 
It was also vegetable, because I pressed some M&Ms into the top before they set. And that's a veggie (cocoa BEANS). :DOf course, that's why I am the size I am. :grumpy:
 
  • Thread starter
  • #17
Oh, now you didn't say that they were homemade RKT's! That's even better for you - no preservatives!
 
Yeah- I could tell there were no preservatives. The container DH stored them in has a non-sealing lid (the bird chewed it up). So the RKT was a little crunchy. But still good!
 
Linda..I think regular fondant tastes like cardboard...this one tastes slightly of marshmallow and vanilla! Very good!
 
chefann said:
Yeah- I could tell there were no preservatives. The container DH stored them in has a non-sealing lid (the bird chewed it up). So the RKT was a little crunchy. But still good!

So you got your exercise in, too, having to chew it:D .
 
Linda,

Here are my two go-to recipes for cakes - both are from Betty Crocker's Cookbook:

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

2 c all-purpose flour
2 c sugar
3/4 c sour cream
1/4 c shortening
1 c water
1 1/4 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/2 t baking powder
2 eggs
4 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled.

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour 13 x 9 pan. Beat all ingredients on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 3 minutes. Pour into pan.

Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool. Frost as desired.

Yellow Cake

2 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c shortening (or 1/4 c shortening, 1/4 c butter - that's what I use)
1 c milk
3 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t vanilla
3 eggs

Follow the same directions as the chocolate cake above.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients do I need for a basic homemade cake?

For a basic homemade cake, you will need flour, sugar, eggs, butter, baking powder, milk, and vanilla extract. You can also add flavorings or additional ingredients like cocoa powder for chocolate cake or fruits for a fruity flavor.

How do I ensure my homemade cake is moist?

To ensure your homemade cake is moist, make sure not to overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dense texture. Additionally, using ingredients like buttermilk or yogurt can add moisture. Baking the cake at the right temperature and not overbaking it is also crucial.

What is the best way to frost a homemade cake?

The best way to frost a homemade cake is to let it cool completely before applying any frosting. Use a serrated knife to level the top if necessary, and apply a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) first to seal in crumbs. After chilling, apply a thicker layer of frosting for a smooth finish.

Can I make a homemade cake ahead of time?

Yes, you can make a homemade cake ahead of time. To do this, bake the cake, let it cool completely, and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It can be stored at room temperature for a couple of days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, consider freezing the cake.

What are some popular variations of homemade cake recipes?

Some popular variations of homemade cake recipes include chocolate cake, vanilla pound cake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, and lemon drizzle cake. You can also experiment with different fillings and frostings to create unique flavors and textures.

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