Lane cake

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A Lane Cake is a baked cake traditional in the American South. A traditional Lane Cake is a layered white cake. The outside usually has a white frosting, and each layer has different ingredients. For example, one layer may have pecans and coconut, the next layer almonds. Due to the complicated preparations and multiple ingredients, Lane Cakes are considered difficult to make.

Recipe

Ingredients

General ingredients follow-

1/2 lb Butter, at room temperature

2 c Sugar

3 1/2 c Flour, all-purpose

3 1/2 ts Baking powder

1/2 ts Salt

1 c Milk

8 Egg whites

FILLING

8 Egg yolks

1 c Sugar

1/2 lb Butter, at room temperature

2 tb Brandy

2 tb Water

1/2 c Candied cherries, finely chop

1 c Raisins, seeded, coarsely chop

1 c Pecans, chopped

1/2 c Coconut, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour four 8 inch round cake pans.

2. Cream 1 cup of the butter or margarine, 2 cups of the white sugar, and vanilla together until light and fluffy.

3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts alternately with the milk in two parts, beginning and ending with flour.

4. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Spread the batter evenly into the four prepared pans.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool. Once cool spread Lane Cake Filling between layers and frost with Seven Minute or Butter Frosting.

6. To Make Lane Cake Filling: Put 1/2 cup of the butter or margarine and 1-1/4 cups of the white sugar into the top of a double boiler away from the heat. Beat together. Add egg yolks and beat well. Stir in water and brandy flavoring. Place over boiling water. Cook and stir until thickened. Add pecans, raisins, cherries and coconut. Stir filling until all ingredients are well combined. Remove from heat. Allow filling to cool before spreading between cooled cake layers.

Lane Cakes in Literature

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a Lane Cake is given as a thank you gift.

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