Best Aunt Esthers Favorite Cake Recipes

ESTHER'S ORANGE-MARMALADE LAYER CAKE (MITFORD SERIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment or waxed paper, and butter and flour the paper, shaking out the excess. In a bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter until combined, add the sugar, a little at a time, and beat the mixture until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, orange zest, and vanilla. Beat in 1/3 of the dry ingredients alternately with 1/2 of the buttermilk until combined well. Add half the remaining dry ingredients and the remaining buttermilk and beat until combined well. Finally, beat in the remaining dry ingredients until mixture is smooth. Evenly divide the batter between the pans, smooth the surface, rap each pan on the counter to expel any air pockets or bubbles, then transfer to the oven. Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to racks and cool in the pans for 20 minutes. To Make the Orange Syrup: In a bowl, stir together the orange juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved. With a toothpick or wooden skewer, poke holes at 1/2-inch intervals in the cake layers and spoon the syrup over each layer, allowing the syrup to be completely absorbed before adding the remaining. Let layers cool completely. To Make the Filling: In a small saucepan set over moderate heat, heat the marmalade until just melted. Let cool 5 minutes. To Make the Frosting: In a bowl, whisk the heavy cream with the sugar until it forms firm peaks. Add the sour cream, a little at a time, and whisk until of spreading consistency. To Assemble the Cake: Arrange one of the layers on a cake plate, carefully peel off the waxed paper, then spread 2/3 of the marmalade over the top, smoothing it into an even layer. Invert the remaining layer onto the top of the first layer, peel off the waxed paper and spoon the remaining marmalade onto the center of it, leaving a 1 1/4-inch border around the edge. Frost the sides and top of the border with the frosting, leaving the marmalade on top of the cake exposed. Or if you prefer, frost the entire cake, adding the marmalade as a garnish on top. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

ESTHER'S ORANGE MARMALADE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Sift flour, baking powder, & salt twice in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat butter on MEDIUM (~4 minutes). Add sugar steadily with mixer running; beat until light & fluffy. Add eggs & yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; scrape down sides at least once. After eggs are added, continue to beat on MEDIUM for 2 minutes; add oil & beat for 1 minute on LOW. In a third bowl, combine orange zest, vanilla, & buttermilk. Using a rubber spatula, fold in half of dry ingredients. Scrape down sides of bowl, add half of the buttermilk mixture - repeat. Pour batter in pans, smooth surface, rap on counter, & place in oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans on racks for 20 minutes. Orange syrup: In small bowl, stir together orange juice & sugar until dissolved. While cakes are still in pans, use a toothpick or skewer to poke holes at 1/2-inch intervals in the cake layers. Spoon syrup over each layer, allowing syrup to be completely absorbed before adding the remainder. Let layers cool completely in pans. Filling: Heat marmalade in a small saucepan over medium heat until just melted. Let cool for 5 minutes. Frosting: In a chilled mixing bowl, whisk heavy cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Add sour cream SLOWLY & whisk until mixture is a spreadable consistency. Cake assembly: Invert one layer on a cake plate & peel off parchment. Spread 1/3 of marmalade over top, smoothing into an even layer; repeat with second layer. Place third cake layer on top, remove parchment, & spoon remaining marmalade onto the center, leaving a 1.25-inch border around the edges. Frost sides & top border, leaving the marmalade on top of the cake exposed. Or, frost entire cake first, adding the marmalade as a garnish on top. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

AUNT ESTHER'S SECRET RUM CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300. Grease tube pan with removable bottom. Add a ring of wax paper to bottom of pan to ease release after cooking.
• Beat butter and sugar thoroughly. Add yolks.
• In another bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda.
• Alternately add flour mixture and sour cream to butter mixture.
• Add extracts and rum, if desired.
• In separate chilled bowl, beat whites to stiff peaks.
• Fold whites into batter.
• Spoon into pan.
• Coat top with additional sugar.
• Bake at 300 for 1.5 to 2 hours until cake tester comes out clean.

AUNT ESTHER'S SUGAR COOKIES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whisk the dry ingredients together, and set aside. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together 3 to 4 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and mix for about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time Add the vegetable oil and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients, a bit at a time, just until combined. Don't over-mix. For best results, line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or a Silpat). NOTE: The dough will be soft, so a cookie scoop makes the task a lot easier. Otherwise, chill the dough for at least 15 minutes, if you don't have a cookie scoop. I like to use a 2-inch cookie scoop to measure 12 cookies per sheet, spaced about 2" apart. With the flat of your palm (I lightly moistened my hands with water so the dough doesn't stick), gently press the cookie down just enough to flatten it out to be even. Sprinkle sugar on top. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. The cookies should be slightly brown around the edges. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack. Once the cookies are completely cool, they will be crunchy, with a tender texture on the inside. Yield: 3 dozen cookies. If you make 1-inch cookies, you should have 5 to 6 dozen.

FAVORITE AUNT'S POUND CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Cream together butter and oleo. Add 2 eggs, then cream cheese and sugar. Mix in 1 cup flour. Add 2 eggs and mix in 1 cup flour. Mix in last 2 eggs and vanilla. Pour into greased and floured tube pan. Bake in cold start oven 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees.