Tropic Aroma Cake

Zurie's Note:

As far as I recall this cake was published by Royal Baking Powder way back in the 50's. My mother made it regularly and it was our favourite cake. Do not substitute and do not cut down on the spices: rather choose another recipe! The spices are what makes this cake just that bit extra special! I lost the recipe, and recently found it again in a very old recipe book! I'm posting this as it was written, except I tried to make the directions a little clearer.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

Cake batter

• ¾ cup shortening (or use butter)
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon warm water

Filling and icing

• 3 tablespoons butter , soft
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar (icing sugar)
• 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 5 tablespoons coffee , strong (or use milk)

Directions:

1. Grease 3 cake layer tins well, and heat oven to 375 deg F/190 deg C,.
2. Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl: the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. (NOT the cocoa).
3. Cream the shortening, and beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
4. Add the sugar a little at a time, beating well. Add the beaten eggs; beat in well.
5. Add half the sifted dry ingredients.
6. Add the milk. Mix well.
7. Add rest of sifted dry ingredients, and mix well.
8. (You might have to eyeball this next step).
9. Fill 2 greased layer tins, keeping back 1/3 of the batter. Tap the tins lightly on the counter to remove air bubbles.
10. Mix the cocoa powder and warm water (1 tablespoon each), add to the leftover one-third of the batter, and mix in well.
11. Scrape into the 3rd cake tin.
12. Bake the layers for 15 - 20 minutes, but test with a skewer before removing from oven.
13. Cool, and make the filling and icing.
14. Use the cocoa layer as your middle layer when assembling.
15. Cream the butter, adding the confectioners' sugar very slowly with the cocoa, and beating very well until really light and fluffy.
16. Add the vanilla, and then add the coffee 1 tablespoon at a time (in case you do not need 5 tablespoons) until the mixture is soft enough to spread. (If you'd prefer a milder taste, use milk instead of coffee).
17. Use the layer with the cocoa added as your centre layer.

Reviews

[Baby Kato]

What a great cake Zurie. It worked perfectly for me. It was light and tender with a beautiful crumb. I love the cinnamon in the chocolate, it gives the cake a new depth of flavor. The chocolate coffee frosting is to die for and sends the cake right over the top. If, possible, its even better the next day. I halved the recipe and made mini cakes for dh & myself. Made for ZWT7 Witchin Kitchen

[Marcasite Queen]

Overall, the cake was pretty good, but turned out a little dry and crumbly for me. The frosting was the best part: chocolate and coffee, yum! (I used instant espresso) Also, although I followed the recipe exactly, I did not have enough frosting for the entire cake, so I had to make 1/2 a recipe more. The directions for the frosting also did not work for me as written: I had to add some of the liquid while added the powdered sugar so that it would come together. I added chopped dark chocolate covered espresso beans to the top for a little extra crunch and coffee flavor.

[Sydney Mike]

An intriguing recipe & it makes for A VERY TASTY CAKE! Wasn't as difficult making it as I thought it would be & even if it had been, it is well worth the preparation! A neighbor couple was happy with it to, since I realized it's time to start sharing more of my baking with more of my neighbors! I did make it with milk instead of the coffee, but my other half insists that NEXT time . . . Thanks for posting the recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed in Zaar Chef Alphabet Soup tag]