Old Fashioned Apple Jelly Cake Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Christmas

by: walkie74

September1,2013

4.4

5 Ratings

  • Serves 12
Author Notes

My mother used to make this cake for holidays when I was a child. It's a basic pound cake, but there is no creaming in this recipe, which results in flat, thin layers as opposed to light, fluffy ones. The preferred jelly is apple, but really, any will do. For best results, make the cake a few days ahead so that jelly can be absorbed by the cake layers. (Picture will be forthcoming when I make one again.) —walkie74

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 layer cake pans
  • 2 1/2 cupssugar
  • 1 cupmilk
  • 3 1/2 cupsall purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoonbaking powder
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tablespoonvanilla flavoring
  • 2 sticks of butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 jar of apple jelly
Directions
  1. To make the cake:
  2. Butter the cake pans or treat them with non stick spray. Set aside.
  3. Combine all dry ingredients into the mixer.(you may want to drape a kitchen towel over the mixer for the next step.) Blend for five seconds.
  4. Stop mixer and add half the butter pieces. Blend butter in, then add the rest of the pieces. Keep mixer running and add eggs one at a time, beating each one in well before adding the next. Add milk slowly, then add flavoring
  5. Once all ingredients are blended, pour mixture into cake pans. Bake at 325 for 15-20 minutes per layer, or until layers are golden around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow layers to cool in pan, then turn out onto a clean dish towel or cooling rack.
  6. To assemble the cake:
  7. Place the bottom layer of the cake onto a serving platter. Spread apple jelly over the layer, then place the next layer on top of it. Continue until all the layers are used up. Frost cake with the rest of the jelly, then serve to an appreciative audience.

Tags:

  • Cake
  • American
  • Jam/Jelly
  • Apple
  • Milk/Cream
  • Christmas
  • Thanksgiving
  • Dessert

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Bruce Yanoshek

  • Simone Simon James

  • cadskie

  • 4patsy

Popular on Food52

8 Reviews

cadskie April 16, 2023

M y grandmother made a similar cake. She baked two thick layers of yellow cake. After it cooled she cut the layers horizontally to make four pretty much equal layers. She spread a thick layer of apple jelly (as she put it, she smushed the jelly with a fork to make a soft layer.. The first layer was placed cut side down on the jelly layer. she did the same with the next 3 layers smushed jelly with cut side down..She said it was important to cut the layers so the cake would absorb the jelly. she then used aluminum foil to cover and seal the cake. It had to sit in the refrigerator at least overnight to let the cake properly absorb the jelly. The final cake had no jelly visible since it had all been absorbed. As a kid I like to peel off a layer and eat it like a pizza slice. It was incredibly moist and delicious. An aunt tried for years to improve on it using different jellies and lemon curd. Some were pretty good but none were as good as the original with a tart apple jelly.

4patsy December 26, 2022

This cake was so so, but it was toooo crumbly when it was cut. It set for 2 days before I cut it. Needs improvement.

Foodie1986 October 29, 2020

This is an excellent layer cake! I was able to follow the instructions very well. In order to cut the butter into pieces I used cold butter. Thought it would compromise the overall product since the butter was not at room temperature. Didn't make a difference at all! I used guava jelly instead of apple jelly. OMG! Delicious! This layer cake is versatile. It can be used as a base for a coconut cake, lemon cake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, or Italian cream cake ---- just add coconut and almond flavorings for a coconut cake or add lemon flavor and zest for a lemon cake.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Erika September 3, 2018

I tried it, not as much flavor as I would like in the cake.

Bruce Y. March 15, 2018

It sounds good, but this person needs to learn how to write a recipe. The ingredients should be listed in the order they are used, not just randomly, as these are. Also, the baking instructions aren't well written. 15-20 minutes per layer actually means 60-80 minutes, since there are four layers. It would be better to leave "per layer" out, unless you are baking them one at a time. Most experienced bakers can figure all this out, of course, but it would be good if an inexperienced baker could use the recipe, too, without getting confused.

Simone S. December 24, 2016

Omg I have searched and searched for this recipe and I kept finding apple stack cake which is not the same!! growing up in Alabama my grandma used to make this and no one could get the recipe from her! Thank you I can't wait to try this recipe!!

Yvonne November 11, 2014

I have been looking for this recipe to surprise my husband for the holiday,
sounds like the one his grandmother
will give it a try . Thank you

didi February 9, 2014

This sounds just like the apple jelly cake that my grandma made, and it was sooooo yummy! She added coconut between the layers and it was to die for. I will be baking this cake soon. I was thinking about it several days ago. thank you for this website
Dee

Old Fashioned  Apple Jelly Cake Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to put jelly on top of cake? ›

Once the cake layers are cool, add the strawberry jelly to a small bowl and microwave in 10-second intervals, just until the jelly becomes spreadable. To assemble, place a layer of cake on the serving dish, then spread ½ cup of jelly on top.

What is jelly cake made of? ›

Jelly cake makers today combine multiple layers of gelatin using a large mold as the base. For example, after a clear gelatin layer is set for the canvas, colored gelatin (often flavored with fruit) can be injected into that already-set clear layer using a culinary syringe ($20).

How long can jelly cake last? ›

The cake can last up to 3 days if stored properly in refrigerator.

Does jam go on the top or bottom of a cake? ›

Once your cake has cooled completely; warm your jam for about 20 seconds in a microwave (this isn't essential but it does make it easier to spread). Spread your jam over the top of your cake, being careful to get right into the corners and edges.

What is the flavor of a jelly cake? ›

Jelly flowers can be flavored with the likes of dragonfruit, strawberry, and green tea, while coconut or coffee jelly often serves as the cake's base. There's some debate over the taste of jelly cakes. The flavor tends to be so mild that some call them bland.

Why is my cake like jelly in the middle? ›

The weight of the batter is too heavy for the tin. Often, a loaf cake can sink in the middle. This can be due to the nature of the cake batter and the dimensions of the tin and the way the heat in the oven is conducted.

Why is my cake jelly like? ›

Odds are you didn't bake it long enough, or you added too much leavening. Underbaking is easy if you don't know what temperature your oven is at. Home ovens can vary a bit from the temperature shown on the display. Always use a tester to check that the midfle of a cake is done.

How do you know if cake has gone bad? ›

How To Tell If A Cake Has Gone Bad. If the cake has fruit, the fruit will start to look less fresh and potentially start to mold. “Most cakes are going to get dried out rather than spoil in another way, unless they have fresh cream and are left at room temperature,” Edwards says.

What size is the secret recipe cake? ›

All Secret Recipe cakes are 8inch – 9inch in diameter. Secret Recipe cakes (1 recipe) are available in standard round or square shape only.

What cake has the longest shelf life? ›

Nowadays fruitcakes are a holiday delicacy still prized for their long-lasting freshness. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these seemingly indestructible pastries typically stay fresh for six months in the pantry and up to a year when refrigerated.

How do you put jelly between cake layers? ›

Yes of course , you can use jam as a filling between cake layers along with chilled whipped cream. First of all you cut the layers of the cake, then simply take jam and stir it to soften if it's too thick. You apply jam on half side of the cake and other half side apply the whipped cream, this combo is so yummy.

How do you use edible glue on a cake? ›

To apply, slowly squeeze directly from the tube. apply a small amount of glue to your decoration before adding to the cake. Top tip being that if you hold your decoration in place for a few seconds it will secure better. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat.

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