Home    1=beef/pork/Pasta&Sauces  2=Chicken/fish/ham/Eggs  3=Fried/Dips/Appetizers  4=Veg/soups/   5= Desserts 
6 New not tried

Carmel Frosting  (Dorothy - Mom)  This is incredible!!
Mix Together:
2 Cups Brown sugar, firmly packed
6 TBS Crisco (1/3 cup & a little)
4 TBS Butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 Cup Milk

Melt this in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil slowly for about 3 minutes stirring constantly.

Cool

Add 3 cups of sifted confectioners sugar and beat until thick enough to spread.

(If too thick, add a bit of milk and beat until the right consistency)

Bernard's Chocolate Chip Cookies  (my father)
Double      Single
4 1/2           2 1/4   cups flour
2                 1          level teaspoon Baking soda
2                 1          salt
1 1/2           3/4      cup white sugar
1 1/2           3/4      cup dark brown sugar, packed
4                 2         sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)
2                 1         teaspoon vanilla extract
4                 2         large eggs
2                 1         12 oz. package Nestle semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
1.   Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
2.   Use a stand-type electric mixer to mix the two sugars briefly at low speed.  Add the butter in small amounts, mixing first at low speed and then at high.  Beat the mixture until it is pale, light, and very fluffy
3.  Add the vanilla at the mixer's lowest speed, then beat at high speed for a few seconds.  Add the eggs, again at the lowest speed, switching to high speed for the final second or so.  the eggs should be well beaten in, and the mix should look creamed, not curdled.
4.   Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, one half cup at a time, mixing at low speed for about one minute, then at high speed for a few seconds.
5.   Add chocolate chips and mix at low speed for 10 seconds.
6.   Put tablespoonfuls of the mix on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake until the cookies are pale golden brown (about nine minutes).  remove and let cool on a rack.  Enjoy.

Yield about 8 dozen cookies (double receipt)

--------------------------------


Cherry Pie
2 1/2 TBS minute Tapioca
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2  cups red cherries and juice
3   TBS melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1  recipe pie crust

Combine tapioca, sugar, cherries, butter, and salt and let stand 15 minutes, or while passtry is being made.  line a 9 inch pie plate with one-half of pastry rolled 1/9 inch thick, allowing pastry to extend 1/2 inch beyond edge of plate.  Moisten edge and fold inward, even with the rim of plate.  Moisten edge again.  Fill with cherry mixture.  Roll other half of pastry to 1/8" inch thickness.  Fold and cut slits to permit excape of steam.  Place upper crust on filled lower one, opening out folded half and drawing snugly across top.  Press edges toghethr.  Trim off surplus pastry.  Bake in hot oven (450) for 15 minutes;  decrease to 350; bake 30 minutes

From Middletown High School cookbook  1939
---------------





Chocolate Sheet Cake  (Dorothy - Mom)

2 Cups sifted flour
2 Cups sugar
4 Tbs Cocoa
1 cup water
1 stick butter
1/2 cup Wesson oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp Soda
2 eggs
2 tsp Vanilla

Sift together flour, sugar, and cocoa
Mix water, butter and oil, bring to a boil in a sucepan

Pour over flour mixture and beat
Add buttermilk to which soda has been added.
Add eggs and vanilla - Beat Well
Pour in cookie sheet (10 x 15 with sides)

Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees

if you are using a dark cookie sheet, reduce temperature to 375 degrees and cook three minutes loner.

make the toothpick test, if you are not sure it's not done
----------------------

Hot Buttermilk Icing ( For Sheet Cake)
1 stick of butter
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla
1 lb of sifed powered sugaar
2 1/2 TBS cocoa

melt 1 stick of butter, 1/3 cup buttermilk and 2 tsps vanilla and beat

pour in 1 box sifted - powered sugar and 2 1/2 TBS cocoa.  Beat well, spread over hot cake.

Pie Crust
Mix together:
Single         Double
  1 1/3          2 2/3      Cups sifted flour
   3/4            1  1/2      tsp salt
   1/3              2/3        Cup oil  (Best wesson)
    4 Tbs  half and half

Slightly dampen flat surface where dough is to be rolled.  Place sheet of waxed paper on dampened surface.  Place one half of dough in centr of paper.  Place another sheet of undampened waxed paper on top of dough and roll out with a rolling pin until dough is wider than pie plate.  Slowly peel off paper and turn over onto pie plate.  (A small sharp knife helps to peel paper off)

Pour the filling (fruit or whatever) into pie plate.  Then place another sheet of waxed paper on dampened surface and roll out second half of dough and place this on top of the filling.  Trim off excess dough, flute edges, cut a few slits in top crust.

Fruit pies are usually baked at 425 for 15 minutes and then temperature is lowered to 350 for about 30 minutes, but you will have to get the proper temperatures from your recipes.

If crust is to be baked before filling (such as for banana cream pie), stick a fork into about five places and bake at 425 for about 14 minutes or until brown.

-------------


Chocolate Soda

Tall Glass
1/4 cup of Cold Club Soda
1/4 cup Chocolate Syrup
1/8 cup vanilla Ice cream into the Soda Chocolate Mix
Stir until ice cream is Melted
Add Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and add Club soda to top
Stir and Enjoy   (amount of chocolate can vary)


Creme Brulee

Separate the eggs and whisk the yolks after the cream has finished steeping; if left to sit, the surface of the yolks will dry and form a film. A vanilla bean gives custard the deepest flavor, but 2 teaspoons of extract, whisked into the yolks in step 4, can be used instead. The best way to judge doneness is with a digital instant-read thermometer. The custards, especially if baked in shallow fluted dishes, will not be deep enough to provide an accurate reading with a dial-face thermometer. For the caramelized sugar crust, we recommend turbinado or Demerara sugar. Regular granulated sugar will work, too, but use only 1 scant teaspoon on each ramekin or 1 teaspoon on each shallow fluted dish. If you don't own eight individual ramekins, see the related Family Style version.

Ingredients

4 cups heavy cream , chilled
2/3 cup granulated sugar
pinch table salt
1 vanilla bean , halved lengthwise
12 large egg yolks
8 - 12 teaspoons turbinado sugar or Demerara sugar

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Combine 2 cups cream, sugar, and salt in medium saucepan; with paring knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into pan, submerge pod in cream, and bring mixture to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure that sugar dissolves. Take pan off heat and let steep 15 minutes to infuse flavors.

3. Meanwhile, place kitchen towel in bottom of large baking dish or roasting pan and arrange eight 4- to 5-ounce ramekins (or shallow fluted dishes) on towel. Bring kettle or large saucepan of water to boil over high heat.

4. After cream has steeped, stir in remaining 2 cups cream to cool down mixture. Whisk yolks in large bowl until broken up and combined. Whisk about 1 cup cream mixture into yolks until loosened and combined; repeat with another 1 cup cream. Add remaining cream and whisk until evenly colored and thoroughly combined. Strain through fine-mesh strainer into 2-quart measuring cup or pitcher (or clean medium bowl); discard solids in strainer. Pour or ladle mixture into ramekins, dividing it evenly among them.

5. Carefully place baking dish with ramekins on oven rack; pour boiling water into dish, taking care not to splash water into ramekins, until water reaches two-thirds height of ramekins. Bake until centers of custards are just barely set and are no longer sloshy and digital instant-read thermometer inserted in centers registers 170 to 175 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes (25 to 30 minutes for shallow fluted dishes). Begin checking temperature about 5 minutes before recommended time.

6. Transfer ramekins to wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Set ramekins on rimmed baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours or up to 4 days.

7. Uncover ramekins; if condensation has collected on custards, place paper towel on surface to soak up moisture. Sprinkle each with about 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar (1 1/2 teaspoons for shallow fluted dishes); tilt and tap ramekin for even coverage. Ignite torch and caramelize sugar. Refrigerate ramekins, uncovered, to re-chill, 30 to 45 minutes (but no longer); serve.



Banana Cream Pie
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
3 TBS cornstarch
3 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla
2  bananas sliced thin

Mix cornstarch with 1/2 cup of the milk and get out the lumps.  Then add all the ingrediants except bananas together and cook over medium heat until thickened.  (This takes about 30 minutes.  Stir constantly.

Pour into baked pie shell and add sliced bananas.
Cover pie with merange and bake at 350 about 20 minutes.
-----------------------

Never-Fail meringue
1  TBS cornstarch
2 TBS cold water
1/2 cup boiling water
3 egg whites
6 TBS sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 pinch of salt

Blend cornstarch and cold water in a saucepan.  Add boiling water and cook, stirring until clear and thickened.  Let stand until completely cold.  With electric beater at high speed, beat egg whites until foamy.  Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff but not dry.  Turn mixer to low speed, and salt and vanilla.  Gradually beat in cold cornstarch mixture.  Turn mixer again to high speed and beat well.  Spread over colled pie filling.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Variations:
Chocolate Pie
Make bvasic filling and add 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips to hot fillng in pan.  Stir well

Butterscotch Pie
Use 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar instead of white sugar in basic filling recipe.  Increase but to 3 TBS.  Cook the same as the basic filling.

Coconut Pie
Stir 1 cup flanked coconut into basic filling before pouring into pie shell


White Cake with Coconut
1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist White Cake & 1 tsp vanilla - Cook as per directions.

Frosting
1 cup mild
(paste)  4 tbs. flour - stir out lumps cook till very thick, then cool
Cream 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup solid Crisco
add 1 cup superfine granulated sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla
Pour in paste  Beat till very thick.
Add coconut, if desired
Refrigerate.



Creme Brulee Sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Combine both sugars, then spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet.  After baking the brulees, turn off the oven and place the sugar pan inside the oven for an hour to dry out the sugars.
Transfer sugar to a food processor and pulverize until fine.  Store in an airtight container until ready to caramelize.




Peanut Butter Roll
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
4 lbs. confectioners sugar
1 12 sticks butter
1  12 oz jar peanut butter

Melt butter and mix with 2 1/2 lbs of conf sugar.  Add milk and vanilla
Use the remaining sugar to spread on table surface.  Roll the mixture out and spread peanut butter on top.  roll up and put in freezer for 10 minutes.  Take from freezer and slice into pieces.
--------------------------------


Strawberry Surprise (Pauline Hess - Peg's mom)
1 box white cake mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
1  pkg. strawberry jello
1 cup crushed strawberries

Grease and flour pans
Bake at 350 approximately 30 mins.  Check with toothpick for doneness.
Cool completely.

Mix 1 cup crushed strawberries
1  8 oz cool Whip
1  8 oz softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar (opt.)
Cover cake with above and refrigerate
-------------------
Bernard Candy
1 stick butter
5 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup fresh whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
12 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate

Beat butter and half of powdered sugar with electric mixer.  Gradually add cream, vanilla, remaining sugar, mixing well.  Knead until smooth and roll into balls.
Refrigerate.
melt chocolate, stirring often.  Insert toothpick in each butter cream ball and dip into chocolate.  Set on wax paper until chocolate firms.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

---------------------------------------

Banana's Foster

While the bananas cook, scoop the ice cream into individual bowls so they are ready to go once the sauce has been flambéed. Before flambéing, make sure to roll up long shirt sleeves, tie back long hair, turn off the exhaust fan (otherwise the fan may pull the flames up) and turn off any lit burners (this is critical if you have a gas stove). A dark rum like Myers will give this dish a potent rum flavor, for less intense rum flavor, use a variety like Bacardi Gold.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), melted
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 strip lemon zest (1 inch long by about 1/2 inch wide)
1 large, firm, ripe banana , peeled and halved lengthwise and then halved crosswise
2 tablespoons rum (see note above)
1/2 pint vanilla ice cream

Instructions

  1. 1. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed 10-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon zest; stir to dissolve the sugar, about 1 minute. (If the heat is too high, the butter and sugar will separate instead of combining to form a sauce.)

  2. 2. Add the bananas and spoon some sauce over each piece. Cook until the bananas are glossy and golden on the bottom, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn the bananas and continue cooking until very soft but not mushy or falling apart, about 1 1/2 minutes longer.

  3. 3. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the rum and wait until the rum has warmed slightly, about 5 seconds. Wave a lit match over the pan until the rum ignites, shaking the pan to distribute the flame over the entire pan. When the flames subside (this will take 15 to 30 seconds), divide the bananas and sauce among the two bowls of ice cream, discarding lemon zest, and serve.



---------------------
Chocolate Whipped Cream Icing
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 TBS baking cocoa
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam, warmed

beat cream in mixing bowl until soft peaks form.  Add sugar and cocoa, beating until stiff peaks form.   Beat in vanilla. 
--------------------------

Dorothy's Fudge
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
3 cups sugar
2 TBS corn syrup
1 cup Carnation mild (undiluted) or 3/4 cup carnation and 1/4 cup Half and Half
5 TBS Butter
2 tsps vanilla

Cut chocolate over sugar.  Add corn syrup and mild
Place over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and chocolate melts (about 10 minutes) Bring to boiling, cover and cook l 2 minutes.  Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft ball forms in cold water.  Remove from heat and add butter.  Cool till pan is cool  enough to hold in palm of hand.  (About an hour and a half)  Add vanilla and beat till thick.  pour into greased pan.
--------------------------



Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients and stir until well blended.  Form into 1 inch balls.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheets in preheated 300 F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  makes 2 1/2 dozen.




Fluffy Tapioca Pudding (Dorothy)

Mix together let stand for 5 minutes
6        3     tablespoons Minute Tapioca
1/4     1/8  teaspoon Salt
6        3     tablespoons sugar
4        2     cups milk
4        2      egg Yolk
Cook mixture together over medium to a full boil, stirring constantly (6 to 8 minutes)  Full Boil is when it boils continuously even when stiring.  Remove from heat and quickly add the egg white (below)

Beat egg white until foamy; gradually beat in sugar, beating to soft peaks.
4        2      egg White
6        3      tablespoons sugar
Gradually add egg whites stirring quickly just until blended

Add vanilla 
3        1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Cool 20 minutes Stir (serve warm or chilled.
-------------------------





  • Chocolate Mousse
  • 6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, or a mixture, finely chopped
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder, optional (No)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • Pinch fine salt
  • 11/3 cup sugar

Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)

Whip the cream in a medium bowl until it holds soft peaks. Take care not to over whip the cream or the mousse will be dense. Cover and refrigerate while you cook the eggs.

Whisk the water and espresso powder together in a small bowl.

Put the eggs in another bowl that also sets over the water in the saucepan. Beat the egg yolks, pinch of salt, and sugar until foamy and light, about 30 seconds. Set the bowl over the water and whip with an electric mixer or whisk, moving in a circular motion around the bowl, until the eggs get very fluffy and hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue beating on high speed until the thick ribbons fall from the beater when lifted out of the bowl, about 5 minutes more. Fold in the espresso.

Fold about a quarter of the eggs into the chocolate to lighten it, then fold in the rest of the egg. Finally fold the whipped cream into the chocolate base to make a smooth light mousse. Pour the mousse into 4 serving dishes or wine glasses. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Serve.

For a dark, double-rich mousse, use all bittersweet chocolate instead of the semisweet, and decrease the cream to 3/4 cup.

Chocolate Mousse Cake - Click Here

French Silk Chocolate Pie - Claudia
1  stick butter or margarine
3/4 c sugar
1  square unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 eggs
dash of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8" baked pie shell

Cream butter and add sugar gradually, creaming very thoroughly.  Add cooled chocolate, salt & vanilla.  Add eggs, one at at time, bveating 5 minutes after each addition.  Pour into pie shell and chill.  Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

This cake wast winner in the 1st Pillsbury Bake-oo.  It was introduced back in the 50's. 

Sift both the cake flour and the granulated sugar before measuring to eliminate any lumps and ensure the lightest possible texture.


 

 

Carot Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup Wesson oil
4 eggs

Grease the bottom and sides of 2 round cake pans; line bottom with wax paper, and also grease and flour wax paper
Mix dry ingredients, add oil, stir well.
add eggs and carrots.  Beat well.
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.  If you bake in dark pans bake at 325.  Cool then frost.

Frosting
8 oz Philadelphia cheese
1 stick butter
1 box confectioners sugar - sifted
2 tsp vanilla
Mix cheese, butter   Add sugar, mix in mixer until creamy.

If you want to bake the cake in a 9 by 13 pan, bake for 50 minutes.

Special-Ocassion White Cake
3/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup cold water
4 egg whites

Frosting
2 cups shortening
5 cups confectioners's sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 to 3 TBS milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream shorteing and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Beat in extracts.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with water.  Beat jsut until combined.  in another mixing bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.
    Pour into to greased and floured 9 in round baking pans.  Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to rire racks to cool completely.
Chocolate Almond Cake

1/3 cup butter - softened
1/3 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Frosting 
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 TBS baking cocoa
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 TBS seedless rasberry jam, warmed
1 1/2  cups sliced almonds
Resh raspberries

Line two greased 9 inch round baking pans with waxed paper; set aside.  In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each additon.  Add vanilla.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add to the creamed mixture alternatively with the buttermild; mix well.
     Pour into prepared pans.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.   Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
    Frosting, beat cream in mixing bowl until soft peaks form.  Beat in vanilla. Add sugar and cocoa, beating until stiff peaks form.  Beat in vanilla. Spread about 2 TBS jam over each cake layer.  Place on a serving plate.  Spread 1 1/2 cups whipped cream mixture drizzle with remaining jam.  Top with remaining cake layer; spread the remaining whipped cream mixture over top and sides of cake.  Press almonds onto sides and top of cake.  Garnish with raspberries.  Store in the refrigerator.

  1. Pumpkin Pie (Mom)
    2 eggs, slightly beaten
    1 3/4 cups pumpkin
    3/4 cup sugar
    1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp cinnamon
    1/2 tsp ginger
    1/4 tsp cloves
    1 2/3 cup carnation milk

    9" unbaked pastry shell.
    Mix ingredients in order given.  Pour into pastry shell.  Bake in hot oven 425  - 15 minutes, Reduce temp to 350 and continue baking 45 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.

    1. 6. Bake until the cake is golden brown and the top springs back when pressed firmly, 50 to 60 minutes.

    2. 7. If cake pan has prongs around the rim for elevating the cake, invert pan onto them. If not, invert pan over the neck of a bottle or funnel so that air can circulate all around it. Let the cake cool completely, 2 to 3 hours.

    3. 8. To unmold, run a knife around edges, being careful not to separate the golden crust from the cake. Slide cake out of pan and cut the same way around removable bottom to release, or peel off parchment or wax paper, if used.

    4. 9. Place the cake, bottom-side up, on a platter. Cut slices by sawing gently with a serrated knife. Serve the cake the day it is made.

     

Butter Cream Frosting for Angel Food Cake
5 Tbs milk
2 Tbs margarine
3/4 cup plus 2 T Crisco
1  lb confectioners sugar (sifted)
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp. vanilla or 12 tsp almond

Beat together till weell blended.

To Make chocolate  add 3 ozs melted bittersweet chocolate.

 

Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2010
  • Yield Makes 6 cups batter (you will need 3 batches)

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 sticks (14 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
  • 3 1/4 cups sifted cake flour, plus more for pans
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 5 large egg whites, room temperature

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two each 5-, 7-, and 9-inch-diameter cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust pans with flour, tapping out excess. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix milk and vanilla in a measuring cup.

  2. Cream butter in a mixer bowl on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. With mixer running, add sugar in a steady stream; beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes more.

  3. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with milk mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; mix just until combined.

  4. In a clean mixer bowl, whisk egg whites just until stiff peaks form. Use a rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter to lighten. Gently fold in remaining whites in two batches. Divide batter among pans (see batter amounts, below); smooth tops. Firmly tap pans on a work surface to release any air bubbles.

  5. Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean and tops are springy to the touch(see times, below). Let cool in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks, and remove parchment; then reinvert, and cool completely.

  6. Batter amounts and cooking times: 9-inch tier: 4 1/2 cups batter per 2-inch-high pan (9 cups total), bake about 40 minutes; 7-inch: 3 cups batter per pan (6 cups total), 30 minutes; 5-inch: 1 1/2 cups batter per pan (3 cups total), 22 minutes.

Wedding Cake Icing

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons clear imitation vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. Mix shortening, water, vanilla, almond extract, and half of the powdered sugar with a mixer for 5-10 minutes. (it's very important to mix this long)
  2. Add the rest of the powdered sugar and beat just enough to mix in.
  3. Add additional water for desired consistency.