Lovin’ from the Oven Cake Recipe

I made my famous “Lovin’ from the Oven” cake last night, and it was a huge hit! As we enjoy the holiday season, and many of you are looking for a variety of treats to bake, I wanted to share with you one of my faves! I have even used this as our “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake several years. My kids like this because they are not too big on icing, and this cake doesn’t need any. It is super rich and moist without it!

I have had this recipe for so many years, and I have made it so many times, that I have forgotten the source. I cannot claim this as my own, but I also do not know to whom to give the credit. So sorry about that.

Here goes…

Ingredients:

• 3 sticks of butter, room temperature (real butter, not margarine)
• 3 cups of sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 8 oz sour cream (I have substituted a can of evaporated milk whipped with 1 tbsp of lemon juice. It also works well.)
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• confectioner’s sugar for sprinkling on top

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease and flour, or spray Baker’s Joy onto a 10 inch tube cake pan.
3. Cream butter.
4. Gradually add sugar and beat well.
5. Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition.
6. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, soda, and salt.
7. Alternate adding small amounts of flour mixture with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat well after each addition.
8. Add boiling water and mix well.
9. Stir in vanilla.
10. Pour batter into tube pan. I like to place it on top of a cookie sheet to avoid a potential mess.
11. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. You may need to add up to 15 more minutes, depending on the consistency of your oven’s temperature. (Once I took it out early, and it sank into a flat mess!)
12. Cool cake in pan for 10 to 15 minutes.
13. Remove from pan and cool completely before sprinkling powdered sugar on top.
14. You can garnish the cake with sprigs of holly, candies, chocolate curls or sprinkles, marshmallows… Use your imagination. You may also serve individual slices with a dollop of whipped cream and a pinch of cocoa powder.

This is an elegant dessert that can be used for special occasions, formal dinner parties, pot lucks, and large groups. It goes a long way!

I hope you enjoy it!