Chocolate Depression Cake

Chocolate Depression Cake

Depression cake is a type of cake that was commonly made during the Great Depression. The ingredients include little or no milk, sugar, butter or eggs, because the ingredients were then either expensive or hard to obtain. Similar cakes are known as "War Cake," as they avoided ingredients that were scarce or were being conserved for the use of soldiers. This cake has no eggs in it.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
1 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Cup water

Frosting:
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine vanilla, vinegar, oil and water. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until completely combined.
Pour batter into a greased 8x8 square pan.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cake cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
Melt butter in a small saucepan (or in the microwave using a microwave safe dish.) Stir in cocoa powder, mixture will form a thick paste. With mixer on low speed, add in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.
Once ingredients are incorporated, turn mixer to medium high speed and beat about 5 minutes, until frosting is smooth and creamy. Spread on top of cooled cake.

Old Style Texas Tornado Cake

Texas Tornado Cake

It may go by many names, but this wonderful cake with it's coconut and walnut frosting is moist, delicious, and very easy to make!
Texas tornado cake contains fruit and nuts, with coconut icing. It’s not clear when this cake was invented, or where it’s from. Some insist that “Texas tornado cake” is another name for an “earthquake cake.”

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs 3 cups fruit cocktail with liquid
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
Frosting:
1 Stick butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk 1 cup flaked coconut

Directions:
Cream together sugar, eggs, fruit cocktail, baking soda and flour. Pour into lightly greased and floured 13x9x2-inch cake pan. Mix brown sugar and nuts together and sprinkle onto unbaked batter in the pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top. While still hot, poke holes into the cake to allow the frosting to seep inside. Ice cake while hot.
Frosting Directions:
Boil margarine, sugar and milk 2 minutes. Stir in coconut. Spoon over cake as soon as cake is taken from the oven. I am sure you will be enjoying this delicious cake just as much as I, and others did!

No Butter Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookie

Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar (or brown sugar)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:
Preheat oven at 350 Fahrenheit.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.
In a separate bowl, combine the vegetable oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth.
Add the flour mixture into the wet mixture and blend. Fold in the chocolate chips. Take about one teaspoon of dough and drop the dough on a baking sheet.
Bake for about 10 minutes. Not only are they chewy on the inside, but the outside is crispy. You will love these!

The Making of a Blue Ribbon Butter Cake

A Blue Ribbon Butter Cake Recipe

The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order of knights. In some fair competitions in the U.S., particularly 4-H and FFA livestock and horticultural events, blue ribbons may be awarded to any project or exhibit which meets or exceeds all of a competition's judging criteria.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

BUTTER SAUCE:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup water
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake at 350° for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges and center tube of pan. Invert cake onto a wire rack over waxed paper.

For sauce, combine the sugar, butter and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in extracts.
Poke holes in the top of the warm cake; spoon 1/4 cup sauce over cake. Let stand until sauce is absorbed. Repeat twice. Poke holes into sides of cake; brush remaining sauce over sides. Cool completely.

Homemade Blueberry Snickerdoodle Bars

Blueberry Snickerdoodle Bars

If you feel guilty eating the traditional Snickerdoodle's you could try this delicious, and slightly healthier alternative! Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world and contain large levels and a broad range of antioxidants. So why not do yourself a favor, and try these today they are absolutely wonderful!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Sticks Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 Cups Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Cup Blueberries
For Topping:
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

Directions:
Heat oven to 350° F.
Spray or grease bottom only of a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside.
In large bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in sugars. Gradually beat in eggs and vanilla into sugar mixture until combined. On low speed, beat in dry ingredients until combined. Fold in cup of blueberries, and pour into baking pan.
Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon for topping in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

The Amazing White Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

White Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

You have probably have has a taste or two of sheet cake in your life, but if you haven't had a piece of White Texas Sheet Cake, please do it soon! This may be one of the best sheet cakes that I have ever tries, and I like cake! One note, I did not have a sheet cake pan so I made it in a regular cake pan.
It's easy to make, even for a first try, and your guest will rave about it. So without further gushing, let's get started. (Photo below is an original recipe with sour cream instead)

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, cubed
1 cup water
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon almond extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup milk
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan.
In a large bowl, whisk the first five ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine butter and water; bring just to a boil. Stir into flour mixture. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, yogurt and extract until blended; add to flour mixture, whisking constantly.
Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Allow to cool.
For frosting, combine butter and milk in a large saucepan; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat; gradually stir in confectioners' sugar and extract. Stir in walnuts. Spread over cooled cake.

Valentines Day: Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake Recipe

Nothing say's valentines Day like chocolate, at least for me, and nothing is baked as well as grandma use to do it. So for your happiest of days why not try this vintage old fashioned Chocolate cake recipe.

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
*CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe below)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin, it's o.k.). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with Chocolate Frosting.
2 LAYER CAKE: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round baking pans. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup Cocoa Powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
I hope you enjoy this made from scratch chocolate cake as much as I did. Personally I think you will love it!

The Best Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

The name is first found in print in 1703, spelled moofin, it is of uncertain origin but possibly derived from the Low German Muffen, the plural of Muffe meaning a small cake, or possibly with some connection to the Old French moufflet meaning soft as said of bread.
The type of English muffin sold today was popularized in the late 1800s by English-American baker Samuel Beth Thomas (whose baked-goods company Thomas' survives to this day).

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 large eggs
1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin puree
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Whisk to combine and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin puree, coconut oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold to combine. The batter will be thick.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan.

Making A Traditional Yorkshire Pudding

Traditional Yorkshire Pudding

Yorkshire pudding is an English food made from batter consisting of eggs, flour, and milk or water. It is often served with beef and gravy and is part of the traditional British Sunday roast.

You will need a solid roasting tin measuring 11x9 in.

Ingredients:
6oz of flour
2 eggs
6fl oz milk
4fl oz water
2 tbsp beef dripping
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 425F
Begin by placing a sieve over a large mixing bowl, then sift the flour in, holding the sieve up high to give the flour a good airing as it goes down into the bowl. Now, with the back of a tablespoon, make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Add the salt and pepper.
Now measure the milk and water into a measuring jug. Then begin to whisk the eggs with an electric whisk and as you beat them the flour around the edges will slowly be incorporated. When the mixture becomes stiff simply add the milk and water mixture gradually, keeping the whisk going. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula so that any lumps can be pushed down into the batter, then whisk again till all is smooth. Now the batter is ready for use and although it's been rumored that batter left to stand is better, I have found no foundation for this - so just make it whenever is convenient.

To cook the Yorkshire pudding, remove the meat from the oven, and turn the oven up to the above temperature. Spoon two tablespoons of beef fat into the roasting tin and allow it to pre-heat in the oven. When the oven is up to temperature remove the tin, and place it over direct heat (turned to medium). Then, when the fat begins to shimmer and smoke a little, pour in the batter. Spread it evenly all round and then place the tin on a high shelf in the oven and cook the Yorkshire pudding for 40 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.

Wonderful Gooey Butter Cookies

Gooey Butter Cookies

A clever twist on Gooey Butter Cake is making it into cookies. Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Add cake mix, and stir until well blended. Roll into 1inch balls and roll the balls in the confectioners' sugar. Place 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

Alternate Recipe that I used.
Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
1/3 cup powdered sugar
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese and butter. Beat together with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
Slowly add the sugar to the cream cheese mixture while continuously beating. Beat the sugar into the cream cheese mixture until light and fluffy, 1 minute.
Next, add the vanilla, whole egg, and egg yolk. Beat until combined.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the cream cheese mixture in three increments, beating in between each addition.
Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. This should not be optional.
Preheat the oven to 325-degrees, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Have the powdered sugar ready in a shallow bowl nearby.
Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of dough, roll it in your hands to form a ball. Roll the dough into the powdered sugar before placing them evenly on the baking sheet.
Bake for 14 minutes. Keeping a close eye on these cookies, they should not brown in the oven. The top of the cookies will be puffed and slightly wet.
I think, no matter the recipe, you will be very pleased with these cookies. As will your guest.

Old Fashioned Potato Chip Cookies

Pecan Crunch Cookies (Also known as Potato Chip Cookies)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup crushed potato chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
Directions:

Cream together butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla. Add crushed potato chips & pecans. Stir in flour. Form into small balls, using about 1 tbsp. dough for each. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press balls flat with bottom of a tumbler dipped in sugar. Bake in moderate oven 350 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes or till cookies are lightly brown.

Photo above from The Clara Project

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Cookies

Sweet potatoes are thought to be one of the oldest consumed vegetables, dating back thousands of years ago in areas across Central and South America. Today there are many advantages to eating and cooking with various types of sweet potatoes.

1. They are inexpensive.
2. They last a long a time in your refrigerator.
3. They are extremely versatile in recipes.
4. They are packed with important nutrients too, and we are going to use that to our tasty benefit now! Let's get started.

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Cookies
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 Cans Sweet Potato, drained
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,
nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of
butter and white sugar. Add Sweet Potato, egg, and 1
teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until
creamy. Mix in dry ingredients.
Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

Perfect for summer, you will want to try these Orange Creamsicle Cookies. just the refreshing touch you need for those hot summer days.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tablespoon orange zest
2 cups white chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl cream together your butter and sugars.
Stir in your vanilla and eggs until well mixed. Stir in your orange juice.
In separate bowl combine your flour, baking soda, salt and orange zest.
Stir in your white chocolate chips.
Allow your dough to chill for an hour before scooping out teaspoonfuls of dough. Drop your cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 9 minutes until cookies are golden.
Allow to cool for several minutes on your cookie sheet, before removing to a cookie rack to cool completely.

Fresh Blueberry and White Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies

Looking for a different cookie to serve your guest? These Blueberry and White Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies may just be it.

Perfect for the summertime when those fresh blueberries are in stock.
Blueberry and White Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoons lemon extract
6 oz. white chocolate chips
1 cup blueberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening, sugar, egg, milk, almond and lemon extracts. Mix well after the addition of each ingredient. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; blend into the sugar mixture. Mix in white chocolate chips. Fold in the blueberries.
Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I line them with aluminum foil.)
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Let the cookies cool.

Lemon Squares, A Great Summer Treat

Lemon Squares

Dessert bars, or simply bars or squares, are a type of American "bar cookie" that has the texture of a firm cake or softer than usual cookie.
The term "bar cookies" or "squares" originated in the 20th century. The earliest examples we find in American cookbooks are from the 1930s [Date bars]. A survey of cookbooks suggests these recipes gained popularity as decades progressed. Lemons are ancient foods enjoyed in many cultures and cuisines from the beginning of time through present day. They figured prominently in custards, pies, cheesecakes, candies, and baked goods. They were also used to flavor savory dishes (lemon chicken, etc.). Lemon bars, as we know them today, evolved from Renaissance times. Why? The ingredients provide the answer. This is when shortbread/crust was developed, lemon custard was very popular and sugar was sprinkled on everything.

Ingredients:
Crust
1 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Topping
2 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons of Flour
Pinch of Salt
Directions:
Heat oven to 350ºF.
Mix flour, butter and powdered sugar. Press in ungreased square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches, building up 1/2-inch edges.
Bake crust 20 minutes.
Beat granulated sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice, baking powder, salt and eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Pour over hot crust.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched lightly in center. Cool; dust with powdered sugar.

Gooey Butter Cake

Hot and humid summers may be an unpleasant St Louis tradition, but there is another that is a little more fun, and very much more tasty...Gooey Butter Cake!
Gooey butter cake is a type of cake traditionally made in the American Midwest city of St. Louis. It is a flat and dense cake made with wheat cake flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, typically near an inch tall, and dusted with powdered sugar. Yum! At the bottom of the article is the Real St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake Recipe.

As the story goes, it is believed to have originated in the 1930's as a mistake by a St. Louis-area German American baker. The original bakery, owned by a John Hoffman, hired a new baker who accidentally inverted two ingredients (he was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of butter and flour) resulting in a gooey cake that became a best seller in bakeries throughout the St. Louis area.
Another St. Louis baker, Fred Heimburger, also remembers the cake coming on the scene in the 1930's, as a slip up that became a popular hit and local acquired taste. He liked it well enough that Mr. Heimburger tried to promote Gooey butter cake by taking samples of it with him when he traveled out of St. Louis to visit other bakers in their shops. Are you ready to try your hand at it now?

Gooey Butter Cake Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 (18-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar
Powdered (confectioners') sugar for dusting top
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, combine yellow cake mix, egg, and butter. Press mixture onto bottom of prepared baking dish; set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy; add the 2 eggs and vanilla extract. Blend in powdered sugar until well mixed. Pour batter into the crust-lined baking pan.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until cake is nearly firm when you shake if (you want the center to be a little gooey, so do not over cook the cake). Remove from oven and let cake cool in the cake pan on a wire rack.
When cool, remove to a serving plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Real St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake Recipe