This recipe was part of the Food Fight: Holiday Desserts Challenge which ended Nov 6, 2009 04:00 PM. See winners »
Kaelin Santa Claus Cake Recipe
This is a family recipe that has been around for over a century, passed down in the Kaelin family for generations. The story goes that the cake was made and left out on Christmas Eve for Santa to sample instead of the traditional cookies. My grandmother used to put it into a Christmas tree shaped pan, and then decorated it with green frosting and red licorice. I can be made in a loaf pan, regular cake pans, or a 9″ × 13″ glass baking pan. Make sure to butter and flour the pan. Be creative with your shape.
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Crisco (the original recipe said "the size of an egg")
- 1 tablespoon cocoa
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in a little water
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Put the water, sugar, Crisco, cocoa, raisins, cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes and set aside to cool.
- Butter and flour cake pan–shake out excess flour.
- Once cooled, add flour, baking soda & water mixture, and nuts to mixture.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Test if the cake is done by inserting a clean toothpick into the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. Cool for 8-10 minutes, then turn out of pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Member recipes are not tested by the CHOW food team.
