Hoosier Home Cookin'

What holiday is complete without a scrumptious sideboard full of beautiful, rich and delicious desserts. To me, the most beautiful holiday cake is traditional Red Velvet, with its rich chocolate flavor and gorgeous deep red color. It was a Christmas tradition at my house, serving as the very special birthday cake honoring our Savior. My other favorite is Hummingbird Cake, another dense, rich cake chocked full of fruit and nuts. And, last but not least, the only version of fruit cake that most people actually like, Orange Slice Cake, very simple and great with a cup of hot coffee.

Happy eating!

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 C. flour
1 1/2 C. sugar
2 C. oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. milk
1 ounce red food coloring
1 tsp. vinegar
2 T. cocoa

Beat sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, vinegar and food coloring. Slowly add flour and cocoa, alternating with milk. Bake in two greased and floured round pans at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool slightly and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 box powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. nuts
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift sugar and beat with butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla. Frost cake while slightly warm and sprinkle nuts between layers and on top.

Hummingbird Cake

3 C. all-purpose flour
2 C. sugar

1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 C. vegetable oil
8-oz. can crushed pineapple,
undrained
2 C. bananas, chopped
1 C. pecans, chopped

Combine dry ingredients. Add eggs and oil, stirring until moist (do not beat or use mixer). Stir in vanilla, pineapple and nuts. Add bananas. Spoon batter into three well-greased round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and frost.

Frosting

1 8-oz. pg. cream cheese
half C butter
1 lb. box powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well and spread on cooled layers.

Orange Slice Cake

12 oz. orange slice candy, cut into
small pieces
10 oz. coconut
16 oz. dates, cut in pieces
1 1/2 C. chopped pecans
4 eggs, beaten
2 C. self-rising flour
1 C. butter, melted

Combine first six ingredients and pour melted butter on top, mixing well with hands. Place in tube or loaf pans and bake in a 250 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.