I just got back from a week in rural Ohio, learning about the Amish people and exploring the beautiful countryside. Being back in the Midwest felt like I was going home. My folks were both from Indiana and people from the Midwest always remind me of my family. Friendly, welcoming, funny, strong, opinionated, and compassionate … I love the Midwest!
Being there brought back memories of my childhood trips to visit our grandparents and extended family in Indiana. We always traveled during the summer vacation from school when the weather was hot and steamy. I learned to love the balmy evenings when we chased fireflies and watched thunderstorms light up the night skies.
The Midwest is very different from where I grew up – and I relish the differences. The pace of life is slower, the people nicer, and there is incredible value placed on family heritage. I love that I am called ma’am and that young men rush to open doors for me. Trust is built on relationships in a small town. The last time I was there I ran short on a prescription. I went to the local drugstore, explained who my cousin was and they took care of me without any hassle. You are welcomed like a long lost friend when you have family who live there.
There is an honesty and friendliness unique to Midwesterners that I am naturally drawn to. I am often called “down to earth” and this is because of my upbringing. I was taught that no one was better than me, and I was no better than anyone else. Equality in everything was a strong message in my life. When you sit down to dinner, stories are told around the dinner table just like we did in our family and I always have tears running down my face from laughing so hard. The last time I visited with my aunt and uncle I discovered that my great-grandfather was a notorious moonshiner. His house was built on the creek where he had an ample supply of fresh water. There was a trick wall in his house that hid the still when the revenuers came to call. No wonder I grew up to be a spunky gal who sees the humor in nearly every situation.
In honor of my Indiana roots, today’s recipe is for Hoosier Cake, a sweet chocolate cake common in the Midwest. The term Hoosier, though initially considered a negative term of sorts, has become a friendly label embraced by the wonderful people of Indiana. This is a relatively light chocolate cake enhanced with coffee, which intensifies the chocolate flavor. Sweeter than a lot of the cakes I share here on The Heritage Cook, it will definitely appeal to the sugar addicts in your lives. It is traditionally paired with a “Gravy” Icing which gets its name from the technique of cooking milk and flour together before whipping it into a frosting. Beating the frosting for a long time makes it extremely light and billowy. I like the combination of a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting because I think it makes them both stand out more. Sometimes when you have a rich chocolate cake with intense chocolate frosting, it can be a bit overwhelming. I think this cake is perfectly balanced. You can make a chocolate buttermilk frosting if you prefer.
You can divide this cake into three thinner layers or turn it into cupcakes. The frosting is easy to work with and would be a good one to let new bakers or children practice their frosting skills with. It stays soft and pliable a long time, allowing them time to go slowly and correct any mistakes they make. You can leave the frosting white or tint it with gel food coloring. The cake can be left plain, sprinkled with chocolate shavings or chocolate jimmies, drizzled with caramel sauce, or even topped with crumbled Oreo cookies if you want.
The recipe comes from one of my most cherished cookbooks, Lost Recipes by Marion Cunningham. If you don’t know Marion’s name, you might recognize the Fanny Farmer Cookbook … Marion rewrote the original book, updating the terms, techniques, and ingredients for today’s environment, and adding 325 recipes of her own. She is a hero of mine. She started out as an ordinary home cook just like everyone else in the country, and then with a stroke of good luck, she met James Beard. They instantly connected, sharing their passion for food and cooking. She worked with him for 11 years, assisting him as he taught cooking classes across the country. He was the one who recommended her to the publishers of the Fanny Farmer Cookbook, suggesting she would be the perfect person to edit it.
Marion is an award-winning author, acclaimed columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, and her television series “Cunningham & Company” aired over 70 episodes on the Food Network. In 1993 Marion received the Grand Dame award from Les Dames d’Escoffier “in recognition and appreciation of her extraordinary achievement and contribution to the culinary arts.” In 1994 she was named Scholar-in-Residence by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). The author and editor of many cookbooks, such as The Fanny Farmer Baking Book, The Breakfast Book, The Supper Book, Cooking with Children, Good Eating, Learning to Cook with Marion Cunningham, and today’s sample from Lost Recipes, Marion is truly one of a kind.
I was lucky to meet Marion and had a chance to speak to her. I had an idea for a cookbook that I wanted to write and she couldn’t have been more supportive, lovely, and gracious. She signed her cookbook and included her home phone number telling me to call her whenever I wanted any advice or help. That day was the beginning of what is now The Heritage Cook and hopefully one day a Heritage Cook cookbook!
- Hoosier Cake
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cold strong coffee (you can use espresso powder dissolved in 1 cup water)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- White Gravy Icing
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter, softened
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
- Decorations, optional
- Chocolate shavings
- Chocolate Jimmies
- Toasted Coconut
- Crumbled Oreo cookies
- Caramel Sauce
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour two 8 or 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, and butter, beating until blended. Add the eggs and beat for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- In another bowl, combine the cocoa and boiling water; stir to blend into a thick, creamy paste. Add the cocoa mixture to the creamed butter and beat until thoroughly blended. Sprinkle the flour over the top and mix in just until no white flour still shows. Add the coffee, baking soda, and vanilla, and beat until the batter is smooth and well blended.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans, smoothing the tops with an off-set spatula. Tap on the counter a couple of times to dislodge any hidden air bubbles.
- Bake the 8-inch layers for 20 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Bake the 9-inch layers for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the layers cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, prepare the icing and assemble the cake.
- Make the White Gravy Icing (makes about 3 cups): Place the milk and flour in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan, and whisk vigorously until perfectly smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. The mixture will be very thick. Remove from the heat and let stand until cool.
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the cooled milk and flour mixture and continue beating until frosting is soft, light, and fluffy, about 5 minutes longer. Add the walnuts if using.
- Can be made up to 1 day in advance. Refrigerate, covered, if not using immediately. Return to room temperature before frosting cake layers.
- Makes enough to frost an 8 or 9-inch double layer cake.
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Thank You!
Barbarainnc
This fosting is great on a Red Velvet cake or any cake. It is not as sweet as other frostings. I use 1 cup milk, 5 T flour, 1/2 c butter, 1/2 shortening, 1 c sugar and 1 t vanilla. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook
I agree Barbara, this icing would be amazing on Red Velvet as well. Send me photos when you make them!!
sippitysup
Family stories and… cake! GREG
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook
<3 Greg!!!
Maria Springer/Maja's Kitchen
What an interesting title for a cake….I have never heard of this cake and a “gravy” icing…
Being from Europe…I am not very familiar with American traditional pastries….and reading the ingredients and the method of making this cake seems pretty simple…it must be delicious…definitely one cake I must make soon……….
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook
I know you will make it look stunning Maria with your eye for detail!
Rhonda
I totally agree with “down to earth” description of mid-Westerners. Super nice people! Even though I’m not a cake fan…your cake is calling my name, maybe it’s because it has gravy in the title?
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook
If cake doesn’t call your name, maybe cupcakes do, LOL!! And I’m with you, gravy on anything makes it better :o)
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What a great family you have. I forgot I am only looking at a picture. Now drooling over the cake =)
Jane Bonacci, The Heritage Cook
Thank you Raquel! I hope this helps make your Chocolate Monday bright and sunny!!