08 April 2009

Lazy Daisy Cake


Vintage recipes fascinate me.  At times, they can be downright scary, i.e. jello with meat in it, but most of the time, they are fabulous recipes that have stood the test of time.  Lazy Daisy Cake has been around since the 30's.  In an era where hard working women were washing diapers by hand and hanging them on the line, and everything was made from scratch, the lazy daisy cake was a way to get a wonderful dessert on the table without too much effort or the fuss of a real frosting.  The topping on this cake is a broiled coconut topping which caramelizes milk, brown sugar, and butter.  I was able to put this cake together in about 10 minutes, and then watched as it broiled for about 4 minutes at the end.  Because the topping is so moist, the cake also lasted more than a week and tasted just as wonderful as the first day with a little zap in the microwave to re-warm the topping.  I'd totally recommend it.  I'm sending this one over to Joy at Joy of Desserts for her Vintage Recipe Thursday event.

Lazy Daisy Cake adapted from America's Best Lost Recipes

Ingredients:

For cake:
2 c. high gluten unbleached flour (or all purpose)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
4 Tbls. unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 c. granulated sugar

For topping:
9 Tbls. unsalted butter, melted
3/4 c. packed light brown sugar
6 Tbls. evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. sweetened, shredded coconut

Directions:

1.  For the cake:  Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9 x 13, broiler safe baking pan (Do not use Pyrex)
2.  Heat the milk slightly in a small saucepan and melt the 4 Tbls. butter in it.  Do not boil.
3.  Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.  Set aside
4.  In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium high until pale and thick, about 6 minutes.
5.  Fold half of the flour mixture into the egg mixture, then stir in 1/2 of the milk mixture, stir the other half of the flour mixture into the egg mixture, then stir in the other 1/2 of the milk mixture.  
6.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
7.  Remove the cake from the oven when done, pre-heat the broiler with the oven rack still in the middle of the oven.
8.  For the topping:  In a medium bowl, melt the 9 Tbls. butter in the microwave.  Add the brown sugar, evaporated milk, and the coconut.  Spread the mixture on top of the cake.
9.  Place the cake back in the oven and broil until the topping is bubbling and starts to brown, about 3-4 minutes.  Cool slightly before serving.





27 comments:

Cathy said...

It's amazing isn't it that the recipes back then taste so good and the women didn't have nearly the "luxuries" we do. I'd be lost without my kitchen aid yet I remember watching my grandmother whip eggs by hand!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Vintage recipes are fun. I'm not familiar with the Daisy Cake - it looks great.

Drop by my kitchen when you get a chance. I've passed an award to you for your book review of Mindless Eating. It has changed our lives - my husband and I are actually thinking about what we eat now. Thank you for bringing this fabulous book to our attention.
Sam

Sarah said...

I love old recipes, they remind me of family picnics growing up! This looks yummy!!!!

Donna-FFW said...

This cake looks fantastic.. my granny used to make it. Now Id like some.

Netts Nook said...

Oh that cake looks so yummy and sounds so easy can't wait to try it .

Admin said...

I've seen a recipe for this cake before, but I've never tried making it. I'm a coconut fiend, so I know I'm going to like this.

It's interesting that the recipe calls for high-gluten flour which I assume is the same as high-protein flour, i.e. bread flour. I suppose it's because the body of the cake has to be nice and soft yet strong enough to absorb the moisture of the topping. I figure the soft, fluffy, wimpy texture would just fall apart.

I'd like to try this. Thans for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I always thought vintage recipes are so intriguing, esp the ones with the funky jell-o creations! haha!
lazy daisy cake...what a sweet name for a sweet cake in spring!

Wandering Coyote said...

Thanks for the info on the cake! I have a L-D cake recipe that I use whenever I need a good basic sponge cake for a trifle or something. I've never made the topping though. In fact, I don't think my original recipe even mentioned the topping! Hm. Anyway, it IS a great cake I use quite often.

Chef E said...

Yum this looks delish! It looks familiar and maybe had it at a church function...my dad loved coconut, so maybe my mom made this before, I know she made layer cakes, because that is what my younger sister always wanted for her birthday each year.

Bob said...

Looks good to me, I love a simple cake. And caramelized coconut.:)

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I've never heard of that recipe, I like the coconut topping.

Jenn said...

Yummy! Love the coconut topping on it and only 10 min to make? I'll just have to try this myself.

The Duo Dishes said...

Curious who Daisy is who made this cake! She knew what she was doing. Love coconut on cake.

Nurit said...

What a wonderful recipe.
No mixer, food processors, blender either...

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I've never heard of this cake! It sure looks and sounds delicious!

Cheers,

Rosa

EMC said...

I described this to my mother and found out that she used to eat this as a child. She's so psyched to make it, and I'm going to have to give this a try as well!

Varsha Vipins said...

wow..loved the name..sounds cute..n ofcourse the cake looks super Yum Amanda..:)

Lori said...

Scary, I know like, aspic. Not exactly appetizing for me. Every once in a while you still see it pop up.

Lazy daisy cake doent sound scary- it sounds yummy.

Reeni said...

It sounds delicious! I love the topping! And the name!

vandana rajesh said...

Vintage recipes are great fun, the best ones are one that remain evergreen alltime favorite. The daisy cake looks great

Robin said...

This cake looks great! Perfect for company or just me hiding in my pantry eating it all by myself. I have some old cookbooks that have been fun to go through over and over to see what they made back in the day.

Tangled Noodle said...

I have the pleasure of having one of my husband's grandmother's recipe box and I love looking through all the vintage recipes going back through the decades! I've seen one for this cake as well - I'll have to try it out.

Besides, you've got to love any dish that has the word 'lazy' in it! 8-)

Joy @ Joy Of Desserts said...

I think I've had this cake before. One of our older parishioners made it at a church function. It was delicious. I really liked the caramelized coconut. Thank you for participating in Vintage Recipe Thursday!

Joy
Joy Of Desserts
http://joyofdesserts.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I have had this open on my computer to comment on for the last day! I love vintage recipes, they often taste the best!

;) amy

Elyse said...

This cake sounds fabulous!! Mmm, I love vintage recipes, too. The idea of broiled coconut frosting sounds too good to be true. I need to try this right away!

Maris said...

I agree with you on the vintage recipes - some evoke a lot of nostalgia and others make you say "I can't believe they ate that!"

Anonymous said...

First time here. What a wonderful blog! xox

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