9 layer cake, that is actually good for you!

Hi friends!
I am feeling very festive this month, and since it is mine and Andrew's 5th (dating, we've been married for 5 months) anniversary tomorrow, I wanted to share with you a family recipe.

     *Note: I posted this recipe 2 years ago, but have changed it around to meet my personal nutrition preferences.

I have a wonderful down-home recipe to share with you all this afternoon.  My grandma (aka Mamaw) has shared this stack cake with me and our whole family for generations (literally!  This cake has been in our family since I don't even know when!).  It was truly an honor to be able to learn how to make it, especially because that is where most of the fun is. But the taste, texture, and love you get while eating this cake is pretty awesome too!

I am going to give you the recipe that I created from the one she gave me she gave me (because her's used eggs and cow's milk).  This cake can also be made gluten free by substituting gluten-free flours for the wheat.   The most important part of this cake is to take the time to make it with a loved one and share memories through food together!

This link takes you to some history of Stack Cake!  What a history this cake has!

 

Old Fashioned Stack Cake:

• 3/4 c vegan butter or solid coconut oil (if you have liquefied coconut oil, measure it out and stick it in the freezer until it is firm)
• 3 "flax eggs" or other egg replacement (1 T flax meal and 2 T water per "egg")
• 1/2 c sugar
• 4 c flour
• 1t ground cinnamon
• 1t ground ginger or allspice
• 1/2 t ground cloves
• 2 large jars unsweetened apple sauce (sweeten to taste and add the same spices as above to taste)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Cream together the eggs, butter, and sugar.  Mix together the flour and spices, then slowly add to egg mixture, alternating with milk.  
• Once mixed, knead it really well with lots of flour to form a stiff, roll-able dough.  (Note:  the dough will be really sticky and runny before kneading, so make sure to have plenty of extra flour)
• Roll out 10-14 paper thin rounds.  Bake in 9" pizza pans, or any pan with shallow sides, for 8-10 minutes or until they are light brown and dried out.
• Once all the rounds are baked and cooled, mix the apple sauce and spices until a desired taste is met.  Place one round on a cake plate and generously spread with applesauce.  Top it with another round and continue by layering with apple sauce and rounds.
• When finished layering, cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the apple sauce to soak in and make the cake super moist and delicious!

Stack cake in all its applesauce-covered glory!!

If you were wondering, yes this recipe makes a HUGE cake!  Feel free to make smaller rounds or even halve the recipe if you don't think you can finish the whole thing.  This cake lasts about a week if you keep it refrigerated and covered, but after that it starts to become too soggy and mushy.

This recipe is wonderful for family gatherings and celebrations.   Half the fun is actually making the cake with your kids, grand-kids, and all loved ones.  Share some baking memories this holiday season with those you love.

What are some of your favorite old family recipes?  Let me know in the comments, I love traditions that revolve around food!!