Dear Reader,
It's been my favorite cake since I was a kid, but I never knew the name of it. To me, it was always the "funeral cake." I know that sounds a little strange, but I grew up in a small town and whenever someone passed away, neighbors would take food over to the bereaved family, so they didn't have to worry about cooking. Even if they didn't have much of an appetite, most likely there would be a steady stream of friends and relatives stopping by, and they could offer them something to eat.
I was an only child so I’d always tag along with my parents and while they were talking to the other adults, I'd look for the "funeral cake." Oh boy, was it good. A devil's food cake with a buttercream frosting.
When my mother passed away and her friends and neighbors brought food over to the house, guess what showed up--the funeral cake. I wasn't hungry, couldn't eat a thing, but how could I resist? So after everyone left, I ate the rest of the cake myself.
Months later I got a note from Betty, the funeral cake baker: "Suzanne, I was thinking of you and your mother today, and I remembered that you asked me for the recipe."
Of course, I couldn’t resist. I baked "the funeral cake" later that day, and it tasted just like I remembered.
The Devil's Food Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Cream 1/2 cup shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
Add 1 egg.
Add 1/2 cup milk alternately with the following ingredients that have been sifted together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cocoa
Add 1 cup boiling water and 1 tsp real vanilla.
Grease and flour pans, add the cake batter and bake at 350 degrees for the following times:
Loaf pan: 40 minutes
Layer cake: 2 round pans - 30 minutes
Cupcakes: 17 minutes
Frosting
Cook until thick, stirring constantly:
1/2 cup milk and 2 tablespoons flour (then let the mixture cool)
Whip together: one stick of soft butter and 1/2 cup sugar Then whip the two mixtures together.
*If you make a layer cake, then double the frosting recipe.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
* Congratulations to the winners of With Love From London by Guest Author Sarah Jio: Deanna R., Lisa A., Ruth V., Joan A. and Marianne J.
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