Grandmother Higbe's 'A Cake That Never Fails'

Submitted by Cindy Lynn

"I was going through my recipe files and found this forgotten treasure. It was signed originally by my paternal grandmother, so I believe Grandmother Higbe would have been 4 generations back from me. The recipe was dated '1885'. There is no time or temperature (Who knows what a wood cook stove's temperature would have been?). For cakes I default to 350 deg. F. and test with a toothpick for doneness."

 

• Ingredients: 8
• Yields: 3 8inch layers

ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 4 -5 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup water

directions

1. Cream butter, sugar and hot water.
2. Add vanilla.
3. Sift flour once.
4. Add baking powder to flour and sift again 4 or 5 times.
5. Add water and flour a little at a time to butter and sugar mixture, beating until smooth.
6. Last, add the well beaten egg whites.
7. Bake in large pan.
8. Makes 3 small layers or 2 large.
9. If you wish to use other shortening than butter, add a little salt.
10. Nuts may be added if desired.

Reviews

[Mirj2338]

Great, simple, plain cake, very good as a base for a more complicated dessert. I used 5 egg whites because I like my cakes airy and high. I served this under some orange ice cream with chocolate sauce, and it served it's purpose well, didn't overpower the ice cream, made a great dessert. I will definitely make this again, next time I'm going to try it in a trifle.