Sugar Crunch Cake

As I am organizing recipes for the Family cookbook, my siblings and I are testing all of the recipes. My grandmother sometimes had 2 or 3 versions of a recipe on file.

Yesterday I began my testing with a coffee cake; The Sugar Crunch Cake.

The original recipe calls for "Spry". No doubt a depression era cake. I substituted butter with great results. The only part of the recipe I was not complete happy with is the sugar topping. Because the recipe is rather incomplete in its directions, I sprinkled the sugar topping on before placing it in the oven. It resulted in a light crunchy topping, but I wonder if the results would be even better if the topping were added during the last 3 or 4 minutes of baking. Just enough time to allow the sugar to caramelize. If anyone tries it before I have the chance let me know the results.

Sugar Crunch Cake

 350 degree oven preheated.

1 9" pan - prepared

1 3/4 c flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

3/4 cups milk

Sugar Crunch Topping

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tabelspoons butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Stir together into a crumbly mixture. Set aside.

 

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter. Beat together in a separate bowl, combine eggs, milk, vanilla. Add 1/2 the liquid to the dry mix. Beat to incorporate. Add the remaining liquid. Beat until smooth. Pour batter into pan. Top with sugar mixture. Bake about 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

My Next Big Project

Since my paternal Grandmother, Ann,  passed away a few years back, I have been planning to take all of her recipes and the rests of the family favorites and create a cookbook. 

  I finally figured out what is holding me back. Too many recipes too little time! 

Lucky for me I have 3 sisters one brother and 10 nieces and nephews. Not to mention 2 sons and a husband who cooks.  

  I now have a plan. I am now in the process of distributing the recipes for everyone to test and update. Many of them are so old the call for Spry as the fat.  Others or only cryptic outlines. Some only list the ingredients, no instructions included.

Right now I am looking at "Blurb.com" for my template.  The most important aspects for my cookbook are flexibility, the ability to add photos-black and white, color and as many as I wish, the ability to design my own cover and page style,  ability to order only 40 copies or so.  If any one knows of or has used software that can do all of these things, lease email me or comment.

   Thanks.

I will certainly keep you updated about the process. I'll share recipes and photos along the way.  I'll let you know about the disasters too.