My Grandmother was known for her baking skills and I have her hand-written recipes. I love to look at them on the yellowed, brittle paper and imagine her cooking from them. Some just list the ingredients, other’s leave things out, like what to set the oven at and how long to cook it. I realize those are details that she just knew without needing to write them down.
1928. My grandmother, Jimmie Corrine holding my mom, Jimmie Dee.
I started baking from those recipes a few years back for special occasions for my Mom and her brother, my Uncle Dudley. I love to watch them close their eyes as they savor a bite. I eagerly await the ultimate complement, “It’s just how I remember Mama’s.” I treasure that I can give them this sensory memory of their youth.
Maw Maw’s Hot Milk Cake
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 stick margarine (I use butter)
1 cup milk
Directions:
Beat eggs, add sugar. Sift four and baking powder, add to mixture. Add vanilla. Heat milk and butter. Add last. Put in greased and floured tube pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.
This makes a very moist cake. The texture is slightly sticky. Enjoy. Goes well with Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream and a good cup of strong coffee.
I honor my maternal heritage: I am Connie Lee, daughter of Jimmie Dee, daughter of Jimmie Corrine, daughter of Minnie Mae; mother of Jade Lee-Mei.
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Connie McLeod 
How wonderful! I’ve got similar recipes from my mother (she knew how to make two things well: peanut butter cookies and white bread) and I treasure them. No oven settings on her recipes either, and certainly no “mix until blended” instructions; these were pragmatic women who didn’t waste their time stating the obvious! Your recipe looks delicious, I look forward to giving it a try myself. Thanks : )
W.
Let me know if you make it. It’s delicious and very moist. Google Hot Milk cake, it’s considered a vintage dish and there’s interesting history because it’s vintage.
Who tears up over a blog about a cake? Me, that who! Love the “feel” of your blog…and the pictures. Boy, your Granny was a looker! LOL. It’s the last line of your blog that makes me tear up…I love it.
Oh Lisa, you comment make me tear up! My grandmother was beautiful and the cake was delicious. I was part of a woman’s group and that’s how we started every meeting, reciting our maternal linage. I always loved that.
Love the photo of your grandmother. My mom taught me to make hot milk cake too! Great recipe.
Barbara, that is so special. My mom wasn’t that interested in baking, but she saved the repipes and passed them on to me. My daughter and I both love to bake. I love the connection to the past. Thanks for letting me know someone else out there knows about hot milk cake.
Looks delish! Would probably go w/ crushed strawberries too! Btw…your gma was beautiful!
Phoebe, it would be wonderful with fresh strawberries.The only reason I didn’t add them to the photo, is that I forgot to buy them.
OMG Connie, maybe it’s because I’m hungry but I don’t think so – that cake looks absolutely delicious, and it seems easy enough for even a cooking dolt like me to make. Must try!
Amanda, it’s not hard to make. The only technique is to just get the milk just warm enough to melt the butter and keep mixing while pouring it in so the eggs don’t curdle. You can do it. Send me a picture when you make it!
Will do! Thanks.
Wow, what a beautiful photo!
I’ve always loved that photo of my grandmother and my mom.
Oh, I want to go home and make that, this minute! Sounds yummy.
Pick up ice cream to go with it! It is yummy!
What a gorgeous photo of your grandmother and mother. Her smile is priceless. And the cake looks fantastic. I did a double take when I saw the recipe – your grandmother’s handwriting looks almost exactly like my grandmother’s! 🙂
People of that generation often have a similar handwriting. I bet it’s cause they all had to take penmanship in school.
Such treasures! And what a gorgeous photo of your grandmother and mom. Thank you for sharing… I’d love a piece of cake! 🙂
Thanks! I ate a piece for you!!!
Love this, Connie. The recipes and the love you so obviously enjoy in your family. Beautiful post.
Thanks Cathy! I do love them and its a treat for me to make these recipes.
Oh what memories you have stirred up of baking in my grandmother’s kitchen with her. I have two spiral notebooks in her penciled handwriting that have splotches all over them from spills when she was cooking. She, too, wasn’t into some details such as the size of the pan or the length of time to cook something- i.e. “cook until done”. So when I tried to make her Molasses Cake a couple years ago, I put it into a smaller pan than she must have because it overflowed the pan and made a mess in my oven. But I just had to chuckle. She taught me so much since she lived next door and watched me while my mother was working. I miss her even to this day.
Dorothy, what a treasure to have her live next door. Whenever I cook from her recipes, I get 2 or 3 cookbooks out and find similar recipes to make sure I’m not missing something vital. I’m glad I could stir up a sweet memory for you.
Looks divine!
Walker, it really is delicious.
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Totally hungry for this and just had to bookmark it, diet be damned!
Thanks to your maw maw!
http://carolcassara.com/2014/05/calling-mom.html
Carol, it is delicious. I should have made it for myself for Mother’s Day!
When you bake pound cakes, where do you place your oven rack, in the middle of the oven or bottom third??
It probably depends on your oven. But I always use the middle. Thanks for stopping by!
Never heard of a Hot Milk Cake before, so glad I made it. It is my new go to recipe. I just ❤ it. Gonna make another one today. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. Oh my. I did bake it in the middle of the oven. Just ❤❤❤ it.
I can feel my grandmother’s smile thanks for letting me know.
Just made this again. Momma loves the fine texture of the cake. We couldn’t wait, so we ate a piece hot from the oven. Just wondering is there a Chocolate version of this cake? Or do you have a great chocolate cake recipe I can bake in a tube or Bundt pan. Thanks again.
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