An antique cake pan, 98 years old. Growing up, our family birthday cakes were Happy Day Cakes almost a 1-2-3-4 Cake
Happy Day Cake
2½ cups sifted cake flour
1½ cups sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
Sift flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir shortening to soften. Add flour mixture, ¾ cup of the milk and vanilla. Mix until all flour is dampened, then beat two minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and remaining ¼ cup milk. Beat one minute longer. Pour into two 9-inch layer pans that have been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.
This cake also may be baked in three 8-inch layer pans for 25 to 35 minutes, or in a 13- by 9-inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Batter may be spooned into 36 medium paper baking cups in muffin pans, filling half full. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Penuche Frosting Butter is Key
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, more or less
- hot water, optional
Preparation:
In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium low and continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little hot water. Frosts top and sides of a 2-layer cake or a 13×9-inch cake.
Oh this is such a keepsake!
I know. It was fun to open.
🙂
My mom made the same cake.
Classic!
How precious! My mom had a cake pan very similar. Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks Darlene.
What a beautiful gift from Mary. I’ve never made this before, it’s definitely now on the list for must try. Sounds delicious.
It’s good. Let me know how you like it.
Will do, Peter’s anxious to try it.
He’s going to be happy!
Wonderful gift
I agree, Sheree.
Excellent wow fantastic 😍😍😍😍😍😍
I agree.
Happy Mother’s Day. Dc
Thank you dc
Printed and ready for a try! Love the penuche frosting.
You’ll love it!
Beautiful
Thank you.
Love this Ruth. My- mother- in law made a six layer bday cake for her two sons, on each of their bdays; white cake, white icing but each layer a different color, so when you cut in it was a rainbox cake, just beautiful. And in similar cast iron pans which I still have. She passed the family tradition down to me, but alas I am no baker so I carried on using store bought cake mix but still, always a hit! She stopped adding layers, thankfully, when her sons reached six years and my layers gratefully thanked her. They were always a bit like the leaning tower of Pisa…
They sound fun! Thanks for sharing your memories today.
Amazing cake pan. I love the old things that have stood the test of time. I bought an antique bundt pan at a flea market in Germany years ago. It is still one of my favorite pans.
Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Happy Mother’s Day Kristin.
What a wonderful gift. It’s not just about the cake pan. It’s also about the memories.
Your pan is a real treasure!
The happy cake recipe sounds delicious, I need to try it.
Happy Mother’s Day Ruth!
Happy Mother’s Day Pat❤️
Where did she find it?
A thrift store.