Grandma Russell's Yellow Cake with Maple Frosting


Now, this recipe was a staple in my life as a child.  Every year my dad requested it for his birthday.  And none of us were ever disappointed with the results.  It's a nice moist yellow cake with the lightest and fluffiest maple frosting.  Are you salivating yet?  Out of a scale of 1-10, it's an off the charts 11. Seriously, this is good.

Well, my grandmother had a tendency to hide her recipes.  I'm not sure why, but even I wasn't allowed to peek.  Obviously, I'm exactly opposite of her...I tend to share everything I have!  No secrets here.  When cleaning out her house after my grandfather died, my dad came across the recipe.  Of course, he knew the perfect home for it.  For the first time in 10 years, a maple cake was coming his way.  And boy was he excited!  The whole time I was making it for the first time (which it takes over an hour to make), he was looking over my shoulder with a permanent grin on his face.  I think inside he was singing for joy, although he never admit it.  His visits often accompany some real maple syrup now.  As a 'gift' so he says, but I know better.  I know his motives.

MMMMMMMMMMMM!

Grandma Russell's Yellow Cake

2/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all in above sequence.  Whip for 3 minutes.  Placed in greased round cake pans.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Maple Syrup Frosting (her recipe is very vague, I tried to add times)

1 1/2 cup maple syrup
3 egg whites
pinch cream of tarter (I used 1/4 tsp).

Beat egg whites until stiff (maybe 4-5 minutes).  Set aside.
Boil syrup until string like threads fall from a spoon.  Then boil 2 more minutes (I think this took me 45 minutes or so).
Add cream of tarter to eggs.  Gradually pour maple syrup over egg whites.
Whip on high speed until it's light and fluffy (I'd betting this took 5 minutes or so too).
Spread on cake once cool enough.

2 comments:

  1. Oh, Jackie. I really try to stay away from your recipes, but this one - this one I'm going to have to try. Maple frosting? Mmmmmm.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm going to try this one too! Yummy!

    ReplyDelete

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