Aunt Louises Fruit Cake Recipes

AUNT TC'S LEMON-LIME SODA CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a fluted 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan.
• Beat the granulated sugar and butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the flour 1 cup at a time, blending well after each addition, until the batter is smooth; stir in the lemon extract. Mix the lemon-lime soda into the batter and pour into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• For the glaze: Beat the confectioners' sugar, milk, lemon-lime soda and extracts together in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the glaze is smooth.
• Pierce holes in the cake with a skewer. Pour 1/4 cup glaze over the cake. Flip the cake onto a serving plate to remove from the pan, then pour the remaining glaze on top. The cake can be served immediately, but tastes even better the longer it sits.

AUNT LOU'S FRESH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan., In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt and baking powder; gradually beat into oil mixture. Stir in apples. Transfer batter to prepared pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run a knife around sides and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

AUNT LOUISE'S BAKED KIBBEH

Steps:

• Place bulgur in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir 1/4 cup onion, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, basil, and pepper into the bulgur. Add ground beef and 1/2 pound lamb; mix well. Divide mixture into 2 portions. Pat 1 portion over the bottom of a 12x7-inch baking dish.
• Pat the other portion into a matching rectangle on a piece of waxed paper. Set aside for the top.
• Cook and stir remaining 1/4 cup onion and 1/2 pound lamb in a skillet until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease from the skillet. Stir in pine nuts and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spoon lamb-pine nut mixture over the meat layer in the baking dish.
• Invert top layer over the filling. Peel off waxed paper. Score top layer into diamond shapes by cutting diagonally in both directions, leaving about 3 inches between cuts. Press a small dab of butter into the middle of each diamond.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and mint.

AUNT NORMA'S NUTCASE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• To deep-fry fruitcake garnish: Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to about 375 degrees F. In a shallow dish, whisk 1 egg. Place the chopped nuts in another shallow dish. Dip the fruitcake cubes in egg and then roll in nuts. Put the fruitcake on a skewer or place in a small fry basket. Carefully place the fruitcake in the hot oil. Hold it under with a spider strainer to ensure even browning. It should turn golden in 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the fruitcake to paper towels and let drain. Allow the fruitcake to sit and cool for about 5 minutes. To make the cocktail: Combine the applejack brandy, hazelnut liqueur, black currant liqueur, cherry liqueur, cinnamon liqueur, grenadine, and cream in a Colins glass, fill with ice and stir. Garnish drink with a cherry and a cube of deep fried fruitcake on a cocktail pick.

LOUISE'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 10-cup Bundt pan; dust pan with flour. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Mix in 1/3 cup rum. Let stand at room temperature until liquids are almost absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine flour, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in fruit mixture. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out dry, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Turn out cake onto rack and cool.
• Stir corn syrup and remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons rum in heavy small saucepan over low heat until warm. Brush warm glaze twice over entire cake. Wrap cake in heavy-duty foil and let mellow 1 day at room temperature. Refrigerate. (Cake can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store in refrigerator.)

AUNT LOUISE'S APPLE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except fruit.
• Adding the cream gradually into a smooth thick texture.
• Pour over fruit in unbaked pie crust.
• Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

AUNT LOUISE'S RED VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with waxed or parchment paper. Butter and flour the paper. In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Set aside.
• To prepare the batter, in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the oil and the sugar on medium speed. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, add the food coloring. Add the flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix until just combined.
• To bake the layers, divide the batter among the prepared pans. Bake until firm and a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans on a rack for 5 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, to prepare the frosting, in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth. Sift over the confectioners' sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. If too stiff, add the milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to achieve the correct consistency.
• To assemble, place one layer on a cardboard cake round. Spread with frosting. Repeat with the remaining 2 layers, placing the final layer bottom-side up. Finish with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle over the pecans. Serve the cake immediately, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

AUNT LOUISE'S BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Melt butter and chocolate over hot water or in the microwave.
• Add the eggs and sugar and mix well.
• Add the flour, baking powder, salt, nuts and vanilla.
• Mix well and place in a greased and floured 9x13 cake pan.
• Bake for 30 MINUTES ONLY!
• Remove from oven and cool.
• -----------FROSTING-----------.
• Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl in the microwave.
• Add the remaining ingredients and blend well.
• Spread on the brownies and garnish with chopped nuts.

AUNT LOUISE'S FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together.
• Place 2/3 of batter into a pan.
• Spread 1 can blueberry pie filling onto.
• Top of with remaining batter and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.