I love simple old fashioned desserts. You know, the kind our grandmothers used to make. The simple, frugal kind. Sure, I like fancy cakes, pies, and cookies. I have quite a few of those recipes posted, but there is something about a simple dessert that I also really enjoy.
Many of the desserts from years ago were so simple and yet so good. They called for everyday ingredients. No fancy or gourmet ingredients were in them. They used and made due with what they had. What did they have? Simple yet good ingredients like eggs, butter, and milk. These were things they could easily get. They did not/could not run to the store for special ingredients.
We could and should learn a lot from those times. I know I need to learn a lot. I love to bake, but it is much more frugal to keep my baked goods simple. And I am learning that you don’t have to sacrifice taste in order to make a simple and frugal dessert. Simple and frugal can still be really good.
One old fashioned recipe that I have found is a version of a depression recipe. Simple, but oh so good. I made this the other day and it was so good. It is a great example of a dessert that does not cost a lot, but is still really good. It is really good served plain, but I also think this would be really good served with fresh fruit or berries.
Hot Milk Cake
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan. In a bowl whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Heat butter and milk in a saucepan until butter melts and mixture is hot but not boiling. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until tripled in volume. This takes about 6 minutes. Make sure to do this step mixing for this length of time is important. Then slowly add hot milk mixture until well incorporated. Add flour mixture beating just until incorporated.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake about 10 minutes then turn out onto rack and finish cooling. Slice and serve.
For more frugal ideas and recipes see Frugal Fridays and Grocery Cart Challenge.
This recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated Lost Recipes.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
looks simple, easy and delicious. thanks for sharing.
{ Reply to this comment }
i will be trying this one too!
{ Reply to this comment }
I just found your blog. I love hot milk cake. I havent made it in awhle.
{ Reply to this comment }
Lynn, Would it be alright for me to post this recipe on our new Hands & Hearts for Him frugal blog? I will link to you on it.
Susan
{ Reply to this comment }
Susan that would be just fine.
{ Reply to this comment }
Lynn, this cake is going to be made at my house tonight! My sister gave me a bundt pan for my birthday and I have yet to use it. This recipe (I have all the ingredients in my cupboard right now!) is the perfect inaugural recipe! Thanks so much. I’m going to take your suggestion and thaw some frozen berries and serve them for people to drizzle as they wish. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jill
{ Reply to this comment }
I make something very similar to this but I add a hot sauce over it. It is made with butter, brown sugar and thickened with cornstarch. It is so good poured over warm. It was my great grandmothers recipe and has been passed down. Still a favourite. If you would like it you can e-mail me at minimalistmommy@gmail.com
{ Reply to this comment }
This sounds so good and moist. I love vintage recipes too. So much, in fact that I have just started Vintage Recipe Thursday. You’re warmly invited to join all of us.
Joy
http://joyofdesserts.blogspot.com
{ Reply to this comment }
Yum. I've never even heard of hot milk cake before. This sounds great.
{ Reply to this comment }
Oh! Wow! I love hot milk cakes! I make them at four times a week during mornings. My family love it. Sometimes I make variations – like instead of vanilla, I put banana extract. Or at times, I put grated cheese. Love the taste of it! Thanks for this post!
{ Reply to this comment }