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Recipe(tried): Grandma's Ribbon Cake (Jam Cake, many layers, pressed)

Desserts - Cakes
GRANDMA'S RIBBON CAKE (JAM CAKE)

"My grandmother from the midwest made this cake every Christmas, and called it "Ribbon Cake" - apparently the recipe was from her mother who brought it from North Carolina.

My grandmother always made her batter from scratch, but I use cake mix these days for mine. I remember this as being the BEST part of Christmas. This cake is dense, sweet and very rich. As kids, we only got thin slices of it. It's a bit of work - but well worth it." - Jan Engan

1 batch sweet white cake batter (or 1 box 2-layer-size commercial white cake mix prepared according to directions- I'm using French Vanilla this year)
1 (16 oz) carton sour cream
3 to 6 different types jam or jelly (apricot, green apple, raspberry,
blackberry - the more colors the better)*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees or to setting indicated on cake mix package. Grease and flour the BACKSIDE of 2 cookie sheets.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter on the back of a cooke sheet and spread evenly to a thin layer. Put in oven and check after five minutes. Cake should be slightly brown on the edges. When cake is done remove from oven and let cool a few minutes on the sheet.

Pour 1/4 cup on the BACKSIDE of the second cookie sheet, and spread as before. Pop this one in the oven and bake like the first.

While the second one is baking, spread a large piece of foil on the countertop. Remove the first baked layer, and place it on the foil.

Spread the layer with 1/8 to 1/4 cup sour cream and 3 to 4 tablespoons of jam or jelly. (Depending on how much sweet you like!) It's OK if it's goopy or a little runny.

Using a dish towel or paper towels, wipe the crumbs and excess oil/flour from the first cookie sheet. (My grandma calls for washing the sheets completely between baking - but I found that just wiping them seems to do ok.) Grease and flour the BACKSIDE again.

When the second cake layer is done, remove from oven and let cool a few minutes, while you prepare and bake the third layer as above.

Place the second layer on top of the first - and spread sour cream and a different type of jam/jelly as above.

Continue baking the layers, and stacking them with the sour cream/jam/jelly spread until the cake batter is used up. Always bake the layers on the BACKSIDE of the cookie sheet, and remember to wipe, grease and flour the sheets before each new layer.

When you are done, the stack will look a little raggedy, and probably lop-sided. Don't worry about it! It will be beautiful!

Now - here's the fun part. Wrap the finished cake stack in the foil. Wrap several more layers around it - making sure that it is securely sealed all the way around. Place on the floor in a cool room and set 5 heavy books on the stack. Nice big ones - like the Dictionary. Leave overnight.

In the morning, remove the books and take the flattened stack back to the kitchen to unwrap. Trim off the brittle brown edges. (My grandmother always made hers perfectly square.) Frost the cake with your favorite cream cheese icing.

*The only jelly that I found that doesn't work too well is the green
mint jelly - it overpowers the other flavors in the cake.

Source: Janyce Engan, December 21, 1996
MsgID: 0037486
Shared by: repost
In reply to: ISO: Ribbon Cake
Board: Cooking Club at Recipelink.com
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