Thursday, March 3, 2011

Cakes Are On My Mind.

Bad weather and a toddler can make for a very long day especially when you are a one car household and... today you don't have the car. On most of those days we bake. It's always fun and nobody is going to complain about the end result! I was going to post the recipes for 2 more cakes and tricks on how to replace some ingredients when baking today but time is running away from me so that will be for tomorrow.
Back to today's cake.
This is a very easy old French recipe. It's actually at least a century old and I bet a lot more than that. Since my entire family still makes it that should say something. It has been the first birthday cake for all my children, even for my third who was sensitive to dairy and soy. I modify the recipe depending on what I have at home.  You do not use measuring cups or spoons for it. Just use a regular glass ( mine holds 1 1/4 cup ). You can use a smaller or bigger glass, the only thing that will change is the cooking time. Be careful, if you go too big the edges and top of your cake will brown too quickly and the inside won't be cooked. Split it into 2 baking dishes instead.

Here is the original recipe:
                                                      
                                                   The Simple Cake

Preheat the oven to 375 F

Mix 2 and a half glasses of flour
1 and a half glasses of sugar
3 tsp of baking powder
a pinch of salt
   Make a well and pour in the center:
1/4 glass of oil (I use olive oil ) and 3/4 glass of milk
2 eggs
2 tbsps of vanilla sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla extract or 1 tbsp of orange flower water (my favorite)

Here are some of the variations I have done:

Replace 1 glass of flour with 1 glass of almond meal
Replace the milk with hazelnut or oat milk
Replace the orange flower water with anise or almond extract
Add berries or fruit to the dough
Add a large handful of sliced almonds
Add 2 large handfuls of chocolate chips


Bake in the oven for 40 mns or until a knife in the middle comes out clean.

                                                                                                               The Simple Cake.

Join Rhonda at Down to Earth and post what is on your mind too.

5 comments:

  1. mmnnn...looks yummy!

    http://bettermebetterworld.blogspot.com/

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  2. Looks good to me I will try this. Easy and lots of variations just what I like. B

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  3. Looks delicious and sounds easy - 2 of my requirements when it comes to baking.

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  4. I love easy, delicious recipes. That looks like it fits the bill! I have never done well with substitutions while baking, so I look forward to hearing more about that.

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  5. Thank you all. Let me know if you try it!

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