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…
Holiday Gift Cakes made in Soup Cans!
Holiday 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?
We 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!)
Holiday Gift Cake Recipe
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.
So, 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
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!
Candy 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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kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
My aunt made something super similar every year at Christmas! It wasn’t a holiday without eating one of these! Such a fun tour…loving everyone’s traditions!
Kelly Rowe says
Thanks so much Kristi! I appreciate it. Traditions are a wonderful thing. Have a great weekend. HUGS.
Brie says
Well these look and I bet taste divine! Wowza! What I fantastic idea!
Kelly Rowe says
Thanks so much Brie! Appreciate it. 🙂 xo.
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.
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.
Rachel @{i love} my disorganized life says
Baking in cans is so much fun! And OM GOSH- these cakes look irresistible! Featuring at this week’s Wednesday Whatsits!
Kelly Rowe says
Thanks so much Rachel! I appreciate it. Happy Holidays. xo.
Krissy Allori {self proclaimed foodie} says
Hi! I’m featuring this post as one of my favorites on our Wednesday Whatsit Link Party this week. It will go live tonight at 8pm PST. Thanks for submitting such great content. Keep it coming!!! Krissy
Kelly Rowe says
Thanks so much Krissy! I really appreciate it. 🙂 Happy Holidays. xo.
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!!
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!
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!
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