National Bake Week…and Easter! What a week! Celebrate the goodness!

A Holiday coming up and National Bake Week!  What a great combo!

I have been busy baking..I wake ‘n bake! I baked nearly every day and so…time to get some of those wonderful goodies posted! I definitely wanted to share another childhood family favorite…Grandma Alice’s Gumdrop Cake. I have to tell you…Poppy is surprised at how tasty this cake is…gumdrops in cake? It is so delicious! This is a fun and festive cake. Very pretty. I just came by this recipe. Grandma liked making it for Christmas. But…I think it is just too pretty to wait until Christmas! No waiting!

Now…I have been accustomed to making goodies and dinner for loved ones that are now far away. It is almost like I’ve lost a limb or something…not being able to feed a crowd! I am testing out how and what to send in the mail (goodies, that is).

So…loved ones out West will be receiving from my Home…and my Range…a taste of my childhood memories…Grandma Alice’s Gumdrop Cake. I sure hope it arrives just as tasty as when it left my kitchen.

The Recipe:

1 cup butter

8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 large eggs

1 3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 (7.5 oz) packages Dots fruit flavored gum drops (which will yield 2 cups sliced gumdrops)

1 – 2 tsp’s lemon zest (I use 2 tsp’s and even Poppy, not a lemon fan, loves it).

1 cup crushed pineapple (drained…but not dry…leave slightly wet)

To Make: (this takes a bit of time…but worth it)

Slice the Dots.

Using a lightly floured knife…slice the Dots into thirds. Place about 1/2 cup of the total flour into a container with a lid. As you are working…put the sliced Dots, as you go…into the flour, put lid on container and shake (the Dots, of course). Once you have all of the Dots sliced and shaken up a bit…pour them out into an even layer on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.Work through them with your fingers, separating any Dots that are sticking together and keep working them into the flour. They need to be well coated. Place them back in the container…cover…and shake them up every now and then. Let them sit and absorb the flour a bit. When you feel they are well coated and not sticking together at all…you are ready to prepare this luscious cake!

Preheat oven…set between 325 and 350…if you have a digital thermometer…set at 335 or 340 degrees.

Cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each is added. Add vanilla and mix well.

In a separate bowl…combine the flour, baking powder. Zest the lemon and add to the dry ingredients, then add… alternately, with the pineapple, to  the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition (always start and end with the dry ingredients). 

And now…

add those pretty little gumdrops (dump in the flour you were using to shake them up in also).  Mix well and pour into a well greased tube pan. Grandma also baked this in loaf pans. Bake  for 1 and 1/2 hours, or until lightly browned and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack, slice, admire…enjoy!

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I hope your Easter basket is filled with the blessings of family…and memories (and some great goodies, of course)!

May your life be blessed…simply…and simply blessed!

Vee