I have NO idea who ate some of this before I could get a photo *blinks innocently*
I should know… I mean, look at my husband. Ok, I’m so gonna die for that but I couldn’t resist that one hehe
Seriously though… have you ever noticed that in the blogging world, it is always something new, something unique, something that is all about “OMG, I made elk tongues with a balsamic reduction and served it with bacony coleus plants sauteed in bear fat!”
Mind you, I love the new stuff; don’t get me wrong. I’m no different there than anyone else in trying to be unique and have something here on my blog that isn’t on 396 other blogs. Erhmmm, other than that elk tongue thing… you can have my share. Honest; I don’t mind.
Sometimes though, I just want something comforting, easy and old fashioned. Especially recently. I’ve been battling a fun fun fun tooth and jaw infection (thus my absence {didya miss me? ๐ } and also why no new posts recently) and have been taking massive doses of Penicillin. And while I’m not allergic to it, I’m sensitive to it big time and spent the better part of a week nauseous and unable to eat. I’m eating again but am still doing better with soft easy foods because my jaw isn’t 100%.
Point being (whining over lol) that when I’m down, physically or emotionally, I like, as I said, easy and comforting. One of my go to recipes for that (other than the ubiquitous mac and cheese that is practically everyone’s fave comfort food) is an old Amish recipe. I absolutely LOVE so many Amish foods. I have the same fascination with their culture, religion and foods that so many living in the mainstream world do.
I have a couple of Amish cookbooks and one of them has a recipe for a Sugar Cake (don’t worry… not as sweet as it sounds from the name lol). You can find this cake with different names (best known is Cinnamon Flop or Moravian Sugar Cake though that one is a yeast raised dough) and subtle variations all over the web but this one is my favorite. The cake is light and tender; the edges get slightly chewy, the butter melts into it and the brown sugar caramelizes on top. This reminds me of nothing so much as a large Snickerdoodle cookie. It’s beyond easy to make (if you have five minutes and a spoon, you can make this) and while not the fanciest looking cake, it makes up for it in taste. Simple, tasty, buttery, comforting. This makes a great breakfast, after school snack or even dessert. So give it a try and thank the Amish for this one ๐
Amish Sugar Cake (Coffee Cake)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/3 cups milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar (I’ve used both light & dark; prefer the more intense flavor of the dark)
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon (can use more; I usually do)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease two 9 inch cake pans.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, white sugar and baking powder.
- Dump in the egg, milk, vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons melted butter.
- Stir until well combines and smooth.
- Pour into the prepared cake pans. Sprinkle with desired amount of brown sugar, then the cinnamon. Drizzle the remaining melted butter over the tops of the cakes.
- Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until the top is firm and crackly looking and the cake is a nice light golden brown.
- This is best served warm but it’s still good cold and reheats nicely.
I am so with you; simple rocks! Take classic chocolate chip cookies for example. I don’t care how many Reese’s Cups/Twix Bars/Oreos you stuff into a cookie; you can’t beat the classic! This Amish Sugar Cake is the perfect example of that. I can’t get over how mouthwatering it looks, and so simple too!
Amish sugar cake is awesome. Do you by any chance have a recipe in your Amish cookbooks for sugar cream pie?
Looks delicious! I love older cookbooks. My favorite are from Midwestern church compositions.
This sounds amazing! The caramelized sugar on top is making me drool! And the name cinnamon flop is great. I need to make this just so I can tell people what it’s called (and then eat the whole thing of course). ๐ Hope you’re feeling better!
Ha-simple and old, I know some folks like that, but I have to be in the right mindset to deal with them. However, my mind set is always open to anything cinnamony, so simple and old in regards to that does not phase me! Yummy picture.
Sorry about your tooth, that can really cause all sorts of other bothersome things. I hope you are better time come Monday!
I love snickerdoodles and this cake looks awesome. So sorry to hear about the jaw infection–hope you’re doing better.
I just posted a sugar cake and was curious to see the differences. Very similar – very different taste. I do like the “snickerdoodle” take on this. And I love the simplicity.
I’m with you, Janet. My taste for elk tongue is somewhat diminished when I’m not feeling well ๐ And yes, simple is frequently best! Feel better.
Looks amazing! Can’t go wrong with simple, sometimes it’s the best ๐
Thus your *abscess*…?
LAUGH, dangit.
And what’s with the old remark…? I’ll admit to being simple, but I ain’t old yet :-p
WOW! I am also interested in the Amish culture and your sugar cake looks really tempting and yummy. Thanks for sharing! ๐
I’m fascinated with the Amish lifestlye and have an Amish cookbook as well. It’s called Cooking From Quilt Country and it was a PBS series a long, long time ago. I love the recipes in it and this one looks really good. Simple home cooking at it’s best!
I did miss you, glad you are feeling better! You are hilarious, if you ever make elk tongues like that, call me – I might actually try them!
Your cake looks delicious. simple is always good!
Get well soon! This looks so good. I also love old cookbooks. One of my old cookbooks has some of my great grandma and grandma’s recipes in it, I really need to get that cookbook out and share some of those recipes with the world.
This sounds delicious and I LOVE vintage and/or heritage recipes!
I think I would better have it as dessert ๐ otherwise I would have too much ๐
Ooo, that looks delicious! ๐ We’re not so far from an Amish region in Cleveland, so we get some stuff every once in a while ๐
Oh, I hope your mouth/jaw woes are over soon…ugh. My family would love this for simple cake!
PS…had to laugh at your simple and old comment. My hubby never reads my blog, but his coworkers love to tell him when I’ve dissed him ๐
This is way better then elk tongue. I think the fam would give this one two tumbs up and a gold star. Hope you’re feeling better.
Where does one get bear fat!??! ๐ I love the looks of this cake, it seems simple and delicious!
Oh I’m sure this is SO good. I’m honestly impressed you took such a tiny piece before photographing; half of mine would be gone!
This cake is so simple and yet so delicious! I am loving this dessert and I wish I had some to try right now. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Love it…straight up and to the point… sometimes those are the best desserts!
Most of the time, those heirloom recipes are best.
I went to intercourse and I fell in love with the Amish it was the last trip that I was with my ma ..We went there my ma .sister and myself they put such a feeling in me I would of moved in fact when I came home I made a set of Amish people dolls and I have been getting little things that they make I have people when they see the doll love them too..Like I said I love how they all help each other in need..I also painted a beautiful Amish clock …I loved the food served also, I am going to make this tomorrow and I hope it comes out like the picture…oh I have to go to the store and get the things I need…
I agree. Sometimes we try too hard to jazz things up. These cakes look truly delicious!
How interesting! I used to live in a area in PA that had Amish families all over the place. I miss it actually. They made some amazing food and all their farms were always so lush and beautiful.
This cake looks amazing!
Oh man, this looks good and comforting! Really classic and lovely.
“OMG, I made elk tongues with a balsamic reduction and served it with bacony coleus plants sauteed in bear fat!รขโฌย <~~~~seriously could you be any more hilarious??!!
I just stumbled over your blog via a pinterest post… thanks for sharing this recipe ๐ I am about to bust a move on it right now! i am TOTALLY diggin’ the old and simple it describes me … well, minus the ‘old’ part ๐
Me too Jen, me too. No oldness here *hides my Geritol*
made it!
ate it!
love it! ๐
thanks again!!
I just made this. But since I made it in a big loaf pan I had to bake it for about 50 minutes at 350. It came out perfect! Great and simple
Oh my this is good!! I just made it, it took all of 20 minutes, and now we are eating it hot from the pan with tea while watching the Gray Cup. What a great find, thank you.
I’m so glad you liked it, Yvonne! Tis one of my favorite treats too.
I so love the “Simple” world. And now I am into recycling and reusing. Lol guess my age is showing. Thank you for sharing