Eldest child found this recipe on Pinterest, did some tweaks, made cupcakes instead of a sheet cake, and they were a hit at the office pot luck and at home aka there were none left over when Eldest came home. Ironically, Eldest is the only one who does not care for the taste. "Too coffee forward", but then, she's a "I'll have a little coffee with my cream and sugar" kind of gal.
Cake
Ingredients
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup hot coffee
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a medium mixing bowl, beat two eggs. Continue beating while adding the sugar gradually until fully combined and a fluffy pale yellow. Continue beating while adding the hot coffee and vanilla. Set aside.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until smooth.
Pour into a very well greased 9x13" pan, well greased Bundt pan, or well greased cupcake liners using a 1/3 cup measuring cup (made about 18 cupcakes). Emphasis on well greased. Cake will stick otherwise.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until done. Do not over bake. Set on cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting 1
Ingredients
1 lb/bag powdered sugar (also known as confectioners or icing sugar)
1/2 lb butter (1 cup/2 sticks), softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
Cream butter until light. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, then vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth and spreadable. Add a spoonful of milk if needed to thin the frosting.
Crumb Mixture to go with Frosting 1
Ingredients
1 lb ground walnuts
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
In a bowl, mix walnuts and crumbs together. Sprinkle over the frosted cake and gently press into the top.
Frosting 2
Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons coffee, or as needed
In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and coffee until a thin syrup. Add as much coffee as needed. Will be pale brown and smell vaguely like maple syrup. (I do not know why coffee plus vanilla and powdered sugar does this, but it does) Drizzle over the top of the fully cooled cake and let set. Crumb mixture optional.
A friend of mine, during my first marriage, was predictable when it came to potluck affairs as she always showed up with this dessert. Then again, she had 3 children under the age of 3 at the time so this was something she could quickly whip up to take somewhere.
List of Ingredients:
- 1 package of white cake mix; prepare and bake in a 9 x 13 cake pan per instructions; cool
- 1 large package of fruit flavored gelatin (lime, cherry, or strawberry is generally what I use)
- 1 to 1-1/2 cups whipped topping (i.e. Cool-Whip)
Preparation: After the cake is cool (leave it in the baking dish), take a fork or butter knife (my friend and I used both for variety) and randomly 'stab' or puncture the cake. You want to create small holes or slits that are random in location and depth in the cake.
Prepare gelatin mix per instructions then gradually pour across the top of the cake. Allow it to seep into the slits and punctures you made across the top before pouring more of the gelatin across the top.
Place cake in refridgerator and let chill for at least 30 minutes. Right before serving, or heading out of the house to the potluck affair, spread a layer of the whipped topping across the top. Slice and serve!
If you want to be fancy, divide the cake mix into 2 8-inch square baking pans and use two small boxes that are different, but complimentary, flavors of gelatin mix. Use one flavor of gelatin on one cake and the second gelatin on the other. After chilling, to let the gelatin set, gently remove one cake from the pan and put on a serving plate. Spread a layer of whipped topping across the top. Place the second cake on top, spread the remaining whipped topping across the top (and sides if you want to go an extra mile).
Servings: 8 to 10
Garnishments (optional): Place sliced strawberries or sprinkle some blueberries or rasberries across the top.
Family Rating: 5 out of 5 wanted seconds.
My parents enjoyed visiting a couple that lived near Chicago. The couple's daughters always had this cake, that they learned about from their Home Ec teacher, waiting on the kitchen table for our arrival.
List of Ingredients:
- 1 Chocolate Cake box mix (devil's food or regular chocolate)
- 1 16-ounces can of cherry pie filling
- Chocolate Frosting
Preparation or Cooking Instructions:
Prepare cake mix according to directions then mix in the cherry pie filling. Blend well. Bake according to the directions for the cake mix, let cool, then ice with the chocolate frosting.
Garnishments: (optional)
None.
Servings: 6 to 8.
Family Rating: 4 out 5 wanted seconds.
© Carol A. Wells