Fresh Fruit Trifle

Fresh Fruit Trifle English trifle is traditionally assembled in a large clear glass bowl, so that all the layers can be seen. We prefer to use fresh fruit, rather than the customary jam, but our trifle still conjures up images of Victorian English holidays. This dessert has a place in Italian cuisine also, where it is called Zuppa Inglese (English Soup). The variations are endless. Ingredients: 5 to 6 cups leftover pound cake, broken into slightly...

Special Pound Cake (Recipe)

Special Pound Cake Moist, dense, and buttery pound cake is our standard for cake at Moosewood — perfect unadorned, or served with fresh fruit and whipped cream, or frosted, or in a trifle. Once you've mastered the basic cake, try one of our variations and then make up your own. Ingredients: 1 pound butter, softened 1 cup milk 3 cups sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla, almond, or lemon extract 6 eggs 4 cups unbleached white flour...

Amaretto Cake (Recipe)

Amaretto Cake If you love the fragrance of almonds, this cake will drive you wild with its heady triple almond whammy — essence, nuts, and liqueur. A cup of capuccino is the perfect partner. Igredients: 1 pound butter, softened 3 cups sugar 6 eggs, well beaten 2 teaspoons pure almond extract 4 cups unbleached white flour 3/4 cup milk 1 cup amaretto (almond liqueur) 2 teaspoons baking powder, sifted to remove the lumps 2 cups toasted almonds,...

Mississippi Mud Cake (Recipe)

Mississippi Mud Cake This is a very dark, moist, adult chocolate cake. It keeps well and travels well. The recipe is from Sarah Begus, a famous Baltimore hostess. Ingredients: 2 cups unbleached white flour 5 ounces unsweetened chocolate 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup butter 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups sugar 13/4 cups strong freshly brewed coffee 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 cup bourbon, brandy, or a coffee,chocolate, or mocha...

Russian Chocolate Torte (Recipe)

Russian Chocolate Torte Dense and moist with potatoes, crunchy with almonds, frosted with mocha, flavored with rum, oozing with preserves, this is a rich, rich, rich, Russian sweet. Ingredients: CAKE 1 cup softened butter 2 cups sugar 4 eggs, separated '/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup mashed potatoes 1 cup ground almonds 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons rum 1 teaspoon cinnamon 11/2...

Perfect Chocolate Cake (Recipe)

Perfect Chocolate Cake Yields a 3-layer 9-inch cake This cake is a fantasy fulfilled of that perfect, one-cherry-on-the-top cartoon cake served by Minnie Mouse at Pluto's birthday party. We have on occasion doubled this recipe (baking it in 13-inch round cake pans) and satisfied masses of chocolate lovers. Ingredients: CAKE 1 cup cocoa (unsweetened) 2 cups boiling water 23/4 cups unbleached white flour  2 teaspoons baking...

Spice Cake with Prunes and Pecans Cake (Recipe)

Spice Cake with Prunes and Pecans A rich, dark, nutty cake that will stay moist almost forever. It's particularly good for the holidays, with all its spices and nuts. With this cake you never know.  is one slice enough? Are three too many? Ingrdedients: 1 cup prune purée 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups flour (a mixture of unbleached white flour and...

Aunt Minnie's Fresh Apple Cake

Aunt Minnie's Fresh Apple Cake Our Sara Robbins' Aunt Minnie was a renowned Southern cook. This easy-to-make, homey, and moist cake is one reason why. Ingredients:11/2 cups vegetable oil2 cups brown sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract3 eggs 3 tablespoons apple juice, milk, orwater3 cups sifted flour (half whole wheat 3 cups chopped apples white flour works well)  pastry flour and half unbleached 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts,or almonds) 1...

Special Ginger Mouse Cakes

Special Ginger Mouse Cakes Yields 1 cake or 12 muffinsMaureen Vivino was given this old Irish family recipe by Stella Malloy, her grandmother. We like it because it has all the dark spiciness of gingerbread with the bouyant spring of a cake. Ingredients:1/2 cup butter scant 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger1 egg 1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup molasses 11/2 teaspoons baking soda21/2 cups unbleached white flour 1 cup hot...

Jewish Honey Cake (Recipe)

Jewish Honey Cake This is the traditional Jewish honey cake or lekach eaten at the beginning of a new year to ensure a sweet year. Once you try it, you'll want to have it much more than just once a year. Ingredients: 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 31/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour  2 teaspoons baking powder  1 teaspoon baking soda  1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger  1/2...