Homestyle Spice Cake

By Addie

“This is my idea of a homemade cake: spicy, substantial, and spread with a sweet frosting.”

Ingredients

• 2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar, divided
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon each baking soda and allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup prunes, cooked, chopped
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 (16-ounce) package confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease three 9-inch cake pans.


Combine 1 cup brown sugar, shortening, whipping cream, sour cream and eggs in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at medium speed until well blended.


Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, allspice and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Add to brown sugar mixture and mix well. Stir in prunes. Spoon equal portions of batter into prepared cake pans.


Bake layers until a toothpick inserted in centers of layers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.


Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining brown sugar and stir until brown sugar is dissolved. Stir in evaporated milk and remaining salt. Remove from heat. Beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread filling between the layers and over the top and sides of cake.
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Grandma's Secret Trick:

Here's a trick Grandma used for getting the lumps out of baking soda: She measured the baking soda into the palm of her hand, then held both hands over the flour bowl and rubbed them together, letting the baking soda fall into the bowl. The lumps were gone, and she didn't have to wash a sifter.