Mom's Best Cake Recipes

Ukrainian Festive Walnut Torte-

It's something you can remember for as long as you can remember. First, she let you lick the spoon or scrape the bowl. Then, when you were old enough to reach the counter, she had you add the eggs, carefully, one at a time. Finally, you got to mix the batter, while she watched and encouraged you. She might have started teaching you right there. And later, much later, you came to realize Mom had taught you not just how to follow a recipe, but self-confidence, satisfaction in a job well done, and the pleasure of expressing love without words. As for the cake, well, it was more than a cake. It was a family tradition that renewed itself every time it was baked--for birthdays, graduations, and just to remind you Mom was thinking of you when you came home.

It is these memories that sparked us at Country Living to ask our readers to share their favorite family recipes for "Mom's Best Cake Contest." The results astonished us. Five months and 904 recipes later (from all the 50 states!), after much testing, tasting, and discussion, Food Editor Cheryl Slocum sat down with a panel of fellow judges that included Editor-in-Chief Nancy Soriano, Senior Editor Jennifer Vreeland, and distinguished pastry chefs Claudia Fleming and Nick Malgieri. After evaluating each cake for its overall appearance, taste, appeal, and the recipe, and many forkfuls of cake later, they settled on a Grand Prize Winner, the Ukrainian Festive Walnut Torte, and six finalists.

While all of these cakes--indeed, all of the entries we received--are very different, each one has something truly special to recommend it. And a reason to remember Mom.


Read more about the winning cakes here.


GET THE RECIPES:
Ukranian Festive Walnut Torte
Nanny's Full O'Love Glazed Carrot Cake
Gianna's Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake
Sponge Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Pineapple Meringue Cake
Praline Turtle Cake
Orange Chiffon Cake


Related Links:
Cake Baking Essentials
Autumn Desserts
Fresh Country Pies
Fun Halloween Cakes
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