Live Laugh Rowe

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Holiday Gift Cake Recipe

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It’s day three in the Christmas Spectacular series and have I got a treat for you!!  Today I’m not only sharing a Holiday Gift Cake Recipe, but I’m also sharing a favorite Christmas tradition!  My sweet friend Rachel coordinated this Christmas Traditions Blog Tour and I thought it was a fantastic way to share something yummy and some fond memories!  If you’re stopping by from What Meegan Makes, WELCOME!!  I’m tickled silly you’re here.  Now let’s take a look at what I’m sharing today…

Delicious Holiday Gift Cake Recipe to serve during holiday entertaining. Doubles as a perfect holiday or hostess gift too! Recipe at livelaughrowe.comHoliday Gift Cakes made in Soup Cans!

Doesn’t that look delicious!!  Frosting drizzled over the cake with chopped pecans aaaand a cherry on top!  What makes this cake so special?  Well, I remember my mom making these when I was too little to help — then I remember helping her make them each Christmas — and now I enjoy making them for holiday gifts!  These holiday cakes have been a tradition in the making for years and we always make them in soup cans!  I think that makes them a little more unique than your standard loaf.  Don’t you agree?

Holiday Gift Cake RecipeWe not only made these cakes for gifts, but we always kept a couple for us to indulge in as well.  On Christmas morning, we always enjoyed a slice or two (amongst other cookies) while opening presents! I guess you could say it was a breakfast appetizer since we always ate breakfast between opening gifts and diving into our stockings.  Since I don’t have children, some traditions aren’t quite the same, but they were fond traditions and memories of my childhood.  And it’s a delicious memory at best!  (Love you, Mom!)

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Holiday Gift Cake Recipe

A delicious holiday treat that will have your family and friends asking for more! The perfect holiday or hostess gift too.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Author: Kelly Rowe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1 pkg. 8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 cup 2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 2-1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries well drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. milk
  • 3-4 maraschino cherries halved

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325F.
  • Grease approximately four to six 14-16 oz (empty, clean and dry) soup cans. Place 1/2 tbsp to 1 tbsp of flour in each can and throughly coat the inside. Set aside.
  • Beat cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition; set aside.
  • Sift 2 cups of the flour with the baking powder. Gradually add to cream cheese mixture, beating well after each addition.
  • Toss remaining 1/4 cup flour with the cherries and 1/2 cup chopped pecans; gently stir into batter.
  • Pour into prepared cans. Fill each can 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center(s) comes out clean.
  • Cool 5-10 minutes. Loosen cakes from side of can with spatula or knife; gently remove cakes from cans. Cool completely on wire rack.
  • Mix powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over each cake. Sprinkle 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans over cakes and top with 1/2 of maraschino cherry.
Loved this recipe?Mention @livelaughrowe or tag #livelaughrowe!

Delicious Holiday Gift Cake Recipe to serve during holiday entertaining. Doubles as a perfect holiday or hostess gift too! Recipe at livelaughrowe.comSo, tell me, what is one of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Be sure to swing by Primitive and Proper to see what Cassie is sharing!

And find other great traditions here:  Christmas Traditions Blog Tour

Christmas Traditions Blog Hop with Live Laugh Rowe and Friends

Here’s to spreading a little extra merry!
Don’t forget to see what the other ladies are up
to in the Christmas Spectacular series too!

Christmas Spectacular with Live Laugh Rowe and FriendsCandy Cane Brownie Bark @ Shabby Creek Cottage
Vintage Style Snow Globe @ My Fabuless Life
DIY Brushstroke Ornaments @ Desert Domicile
Elf Hat Tree Topper @ Rain on a Tin Roof

Care to stay in the loop? I’d love to have you!
Catch me snapping + sharing pictures over on Instagram.
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https://betweennapsontheporch.net 

about kelly

ABOUT KELLY

A DIY fanatic, Kelly shares her journey through her blog, Live Laugh Rowe, where she showcases her recipes, tutorials, crafts, home projects, and all things DIY. This East Coast Girl at heart believes family is number one as she finds the perfect balance of being a daughter, wife, sister, entrepreneur, writer and woman of God. Be sure to follow along as she shares her passion for life, love and family! Read more...

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Comments

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Hi Lida! Thanks so much. We lay the cake on it’s side and cut into slices. So, they’ll be round slices 🙂 Depending on how thick you cut them, will determine how many servings you’ll get. Cheers!

    • Linda says

      I’d want the top for myself with all that yummy icing! Thanks, I’m gonna try it.

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Thanks Julie! You need to make them…you will love them. Enjoy putting the ornaments on your tree. This time of year is wonderful! HUGS.

  10. Chaney says

    YUM! These look delicious and I love how out of the box they look coming out of soup cans! I’m definitely going to have to try these :).

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Thanks Chaney! I’ve always loved making these in cans over a bread pan…it gives it that “old fashioned” feel. You’ll love them! Enjoy. xo.

  11. Sarah says

    Kelly,

    I love that you remember watching your mom make them, helping her and now enjoy making them yourself. That is exactly what a special Christmas tradition should be all about. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    ~Sarah

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      I couldn’t agree more Sarah! It’s definitely a wonderful Christmas tradition full of memories. 🙂 Have a great weekend. HUGS.

  15. Shelly says

    Ohhh cake looking so much good and delicious. I definitely try it in this weekend. Thanks For sharing.

    Reply

  16. Carrie says

    Yum! This looks delicious! And why haven’t I ever thought to eat breakfast appetizers – I’ll have to get on that!

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Thanks so much Carrie! I know…breakfast appetizers are a wonderful thing. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your evening. xo.

  18. FABBY says

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful cakes Kelly! I would love to know what size tin or tins you used for it!

    Thank you for sharing and have a happy holiday season.
    FABBY

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Thanks so much! I appreciate it…and the Pin. 🙂 I used the regular sized soup cans (10 3/4 oz) and just a small bread pan. Happy holidays! xo.

  20. Katie @ Upcycled Treasures says

    Kelly, these look absolutely AMAZING! Oh my goodness they look straight out of a magazine and I love that you started making them with your mom when you were a little girl. It looks like this is such a fun tradition filled with beautiful memories, and I also love that you give them away in soup cans, how creative! Thanks for sharing and happy holidays!

    Reply

  23. Tammi says

    I have never heard of baking in a tin can. I love how rustic chic and practical it is. Your cakes are beautiful! I plan to make these this week.

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Thanks so much Tammi! Appreciate it. These bake wonderful in the tin cans and are the perfect size too! 🙂 Happy Holidays. HUGS.

  26. Bonny Piantino says

    I made this cake in individual ceramic baking dishes for my family gift exchange. I followed the cake recipe as is, but instead of the glaze I used traditional frosting because I made gelatin snow globes for the top. The cake was wonderful, even better the next day after the flavors had a chance to meld. Next time I will try the glaze. Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply

    • Kelly Rowe says

      Hi Bonny!! Thanks so much for sharing what you did. I agree (and we say it every year), the cake is even better the next day. Happy New Year. Hugs!

  27. Michelle says

    My mother has this same recipe. We use to make this each year for Christmas. The original recipe was published a while back in the TV Guide. My mother still has the original page, now yellowed and starting to fade, held together with tape. I wanted to make this as a gift to her this year and was unable to read some of it. I’m so glad I came across this. You have saved me. We make ours in a fluted pan. Thank You!

    Reply

    • Conni says

      This just brought tears to my eyes. My mother used to make these every year for my teachers for Christmas because money was so tight and this was all she could afford to do. I too have the yellow copy from the TV guide and can’t read all of it. Just came across this and it brightened my day. Thank you. Xoxo