Recipe Talk

I am new to RecipeLand, and I am hoping someone can rescue me in time for my dad's birthday.

My dad was born in 1945. When he was growing up my grandmother made him a black walnut cake with what he describes as "hard" white icing for his birthday.

My grandmother is no longer living, and no one seems to have the recipe although he has a friend who recently also described having the same type of icing made by an aunt or older relative when he was younger too.

My dad describes the icing as a very hard coating that was thick, and "you had to take a hammer to crack it!" :) He says you would suck on the icing to help it dissolve.

Does anyone have an idea or an old family recipe that sounds like this?

My dad's birthday is on Thanksgiving this year so I am hoping to find something that sounds right and surprise him.

Thank you in advance for you time and help.

Kristie

BLACK WALNUT CAKE
1/2 c. softened butter
1/2 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
5 eggs, separated
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 9 c. chopped black walnuts
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 (3 oz.) can flaked coconut
Cream Cheese Frosting with
chopped walnuts

Cream butter and shortening. Gradually add sugar,
beating until light and fluffy and sugar is dissolved. Add egg
yolks, beating well. Combine buttermilk and soda; stir until
soda dissolves. Add flour to creamed mixture alternating with
buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in
vanilla. Add 1 1/2 cups walnuts and coconut, stirring well.
Beat egg whites (room temperature) with cream of tartar until
stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour batter
into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round pans. Bake at 350 degreesF. for
30 minutes or until cakes tests done. Cool layers in pans for
10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Frost cake
with Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle remaining walnuts on top
of cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting For Black Walnut Cake:
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 (16 oz.) pkg. sifted
powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Soften cream cheese and combine with butter beating
until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until
light and fluffy. Spread between layers and on top and sides.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of nuts on top.
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not managed to locate icing recipe yet, here is the cake recipe. lets know ifit is the one your dh remembers
Angel

Hi Kristie,
I'm new here, too. I can't help you on the cake cake recipe, but I'm almost certain the icing you're looking for is royal icing. Try these links:

http://www.joyofbaking.com/RoyalIcing.html

http://www.pastrywiz.com/season/royal.htm
It's pretty easy to make.
Good luck

GRANDMOTHER'S BLACK WALNUT CAKE

1 c. butter

1/2 c. shortening

3 c. sugar

5 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. milk

1 tsp. lemon

3 c. flour

1 c. black walnuts

1 tsp. baking powder

Cream butter, shortening and sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Add flavorings, mix flour and baking powder and add to creamed mixture, alternately with milk.

Stir in nuts. Pour into a greased and floured tube pan.

Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

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

Black Walnut Cake

Servings Calories % from Fat Fat Sodium Carbohydrates Protein Cholesterol

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter or margarine 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar

5 eggs, separated 1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups sifted flour

1/3 cup cornstarch 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup milk 1-2 cups chopped black walnuts


1 In large bowl, cream butter;

gradually add granulated sugar, then gradually add brown sugar,

creaming well after each addition. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla thoroughly.

Sift together flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder.

In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture.

Fold in chopped nuts; gently fold in egg whites.

Bake in greased and floured 12-cup Bundt Pan at 325 F. for 1-1/4 hours or until cake test done.

Cool in pan 10-15 minutes; turn out on wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling. Top with Vanilla Glaze.

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SOUR CREAM BLACK WALNUT CAKE

3 c. sugar

6 eggs

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. butter

3 c. flour

1 c. sour cream

1 c. chopped black walnuts

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until fluffy.

Beat in eggs. Add flour with soda.

Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in nuts.

Pour into prepared pan and bake until cake springs back when pressed lightly near center, 1 1/2 hours or longer.

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

WHITE SATIN ICING

Do not prepare until cake is cool and ready to frost.

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1 c. milk

Mix and cook over low to medium heat - stir CONSTANTLY. Cool. (Can put in ice water BUT stir CONSTANTLY to cool.)

1/2 c. Crisco

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

Add:

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. vanilla

Mix. Add cooled cornstarch mixture - beat on high - 10 minutes. Frost immediately.
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