Good N Easy Cake with Homemade Whipped Cream
I first had this cake when I was eight years old. How I know my exact age when first trying it is something I’ll get to in a minute - hang on folks, we got a tangent coming on!
When I was a little girl, my dad always bought us season tickets to the UAH Chargers hockey games. Yes, there is Hockey in Alabama. Hard to imagine, I know, but we have always had a great hockey team. In fact, the current “to do” in Charger Hockey right now is that Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s son, Wyatt, is now playing for UAH. So there is the dish on Happenings in Huntsville, AL in case any of y’all woke up this morning and were just DYING to know what was going on in my home town…
Where was I? Oh yes, season tickets to Charger Hockey. Daddy bought season tickets for the entire family and we went to every single home game, all five of us. Mama cross stitched, I read books, my sister took barbies to play with, and my brother sat somewhere near my dad, scarfing down nachos and concession stand pizza while waiting for a fight to break out on the ice. Oh, and my dad watched hockey. I guess he was the only one who didn’t have a hobby. 
I swear I read every book Judy Blume ever wrote with the sound of hockey in the background. If you’ve never been to a hockey game, you might not understand how well adapted I am to tuning out noise while focusing on a task. I know exactly how old I was because I remember reading Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - and I thought it was so neat that I was age eight at the time.
What does Hockey have to do with this cake? I’m getting to that part. Our season tickets were reserved seats and so were those of Mr. and Mrs. Hiles, who sat directly behind us. Mrs. Hiles was a lovely woman with a heart of pure gold. She was also the first person of the northern persuasion I had ever met and to me her Pennsylvania accent made her seem foreign and exotic.
Each week, as soon as we saw Mrs. Hiles, the first thing we’d ask was “Did you bring your SEWING KIT?”. Our eyes would light up as we searched around where she sat, hoping to spy it. I don’t really know why we even bothered asking, because I can’t remember a single hockey game that she didn’t bring her sewing kit to. Now some of you might be wondering why an eight, seven, and eleven year old would be so excited about seeing a sweet little old lady and her sewing kit but this wasn’t an ordinary sewing kit.
Mrs. Hiles would smile, giggling softly while she opened her kit, pulling out the top layer of thread and fabric, and revealing the bottom - filled with homemade chocolate chip cookies! The civic center didn’t allow outside food so she always baked these fresh and smuggled them in just for us!
She and my mother became fast friends and shared many recipes over the course of countless hockey games. This is my personal favorite from her collection. Serve this cake warm, with homemade whipped cream over the top, and you’re in for a treat unlike any you’ve ever known!
I really enjoy it because it isn’t too sweet. I’m not a big icing person, but give me fresh whipped cream oozing down over warm cake and you got a happy camper on your hands!
For the cake, you’ll need: a box of white cake mix, some chopped pecans, a can of apple pie filling, and three eggs.
For the topping, you’ll need: plain flour, white sugar, margarine, cinnamon, and more chopped pecans.
The original recipe said to “beat the apple pie filling” to break it up a bit but I guess apple pie filling must be sturdier these days than it used to be because the one time I tried to beat it, nothing happened except whole apple slices sloshed around in my mixing bowl for a minute or so.
What I do is just pour it out onto a plate like this and then get a knife and kind of coarsely chop it up a bit.
Until it looks like this.
Now, place all ingredients for the cake into a mixing bowl.
This is your chopped pecans, eggs, cake mix, and apple pie filling.
Mix it up well.
Spray your 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray.
This is my Fire King 2000 9×13 inch pan which I bought off of eBay and wrapped for myself for Christmas :). I have a nice collection of antique jade Fire King dishes and they came out with a few special pieces for 2000. I am slowly but surely adding them into my collection. I wanted this pan SO BAD. My sister in law has one and I have been coveting that thing for over a year!
Now I want the covered casserole, batter bowl, and pie plate but my sister in law doesn’t have those (that I know of) so at least I’m not coveting anymore.
Some women dream of castles and private beaches, I fantasize about casserole dishes and small counter top appliances.
Spread your batter into your greased pan. This pan is so pretty, isn’t it?
Ugh, I really want that covered casserole and pie plate….
Oh, cake. We’re making a cake! Alright, I’ll quit mentally shopping and finish up here before I go balance my account in hopes of eBay surfing later.
Now we need to make our topping. Make sure your margarine or butter is good and soft so this will be easy to mix up. I always use margarine for one very important reason: I am cheap.
Margarine is 1/4 of the price of butter and there are more practical things to spend our money on, such as Fire King dishes. I also have a thing for antique mixing bowls but I’ll do my level best to save that for another day. I have been wanting to devote a post to my antique dishes and mixing bowls but am trying to stay on point here- y’all want food. Southern Plate = food. Then again, it is Southern Plate.…….
Place all of your topping ingredients into a bowl and cut the margarine in with a fork. Just moosh it down over and over with the tines of the fork while stirring.
After a minute or two, add your pecans and continue mooshing.
Until it looks like this.
Now reach down and get you a pinch of it to taste because it is soooooo stinking good.
Take whatever you managed not to eat and sprinkle it over the cake.
Bake, according to the recipe at the bottom.
Ooh look at that! Lean in close and see if you can smell it?
I am working on getting that technology here at SP.
Top view of the same piece. I kinda got carried away with this. Wouldn’t you?
Now lets make us up some homemade whipped cream! Homemade whipped cream is SUPER easy. All you need is whipping cream and a few tablespoons of sugar. We’re just going to use about 16 ounces of whipping cream. You can get a smaller carton than I got and have plenty. There isn’t much of a science to this recipe.
Place your whipping cream in a chilled mixing bowl.
All I do to get mine chilled is run really cold water in it and then dry it out.
Now, add two tablespoons of sugar to your cream and beat it, on high, for about a minute. Its going to look like this, with soft peaks. You just need it firm enough to be able to dollop it on.
See how easy that was? Some people like to add a teaspoon of vanilla but I just like the taste on its own.
If you continued beating it after it formed soft peaks, it would actually turn into butter so this isn’t one of those things you want to walk away from - unless you want some of the best butter you’ve ever tasted. Mama used to let us make butter. We’d pour whipping cream into a mason jar and screw the lid on tight and shake it. I let my kids do that now, too. I’ll post them making butter on SP soon as I get around to it!
You may want yours sweeter but I like mine with just a hint of sweetness because I prefer to taste the whipped cream itself. Once you see how easy this is to make and how much better it tastes than store bought, you may be spoiled for life.
If you prefer not to be spoiled (or if “The Donald“ JUST bought you that mansion in the hills you batted your lashes at and you are feeling a little overly indulgent) you can just use store bought whipped topping.
Serve cake warm with fresh whipped cream on top.
This is one of the pink Fire King plates that I am collecting for my daughter. Brady will end up with my green ones :).
Good -N- Easy Cake
1 Box White Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1 can Apple Pie Filling
1 Cup Chopped Nuts
Pour apple pie filling out onto a large plate and coarsely chop it up a bit with a knife. Place in mixing bowl and add all other ingredients; mix well. Pour into greased 9×13″ pan.
Topping:
1/2 C Plain Flour
1/2 C White sugar
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Softened Margarine or Butter
Mix all topping ingredients well with fork and sprinkle over top of cake before baking.
Bake cake at 350 for 50-55 minutes. Serve warm with homemade whipped cream on top (or store bought if you prefer!).
Homemade Whipped Cream
1 - 2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
2-4 Tablespoons sugar
Place cream in chilled mixing bowl and add sugar to taste. I suggest starting with two tablespoons because you can always add more later. Mix on high for about one minute, until soft peaks and ripples form. Serve over warm cake (don’t forget to lick the bowl!)
Homemade whipped cream stores well in refrigerator for several days.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are dieting, trying to eat healthier, or just hoping to scale back a bit, my next post is going to be your new best friend!
We spent this afternoon painting my living room the most gorgeous shade of yellow! The shade is called “Daffodil”, which happens to be my favorite flower. Our walls look so sunny and cheerful and I just adore the new look. There is still trim work left to do and I am going to tackle the job of my kitchen next! I’ll show you all photos as soon as the project is complete.
I hope you have a wonderful week! This is going to be another super busy one for me with Southern Plate postings, articles to write for other websites and print, project planning and contacts to make for SP, emails and comments to answer, and more tutorials to do.
In my down time I’m going to focus on the more glamorous aspect of my life which is carpooling kids, doing laundry, washing dishes, and cleaning up a gazillion messes which seem to “re-mess up” themselves the moment you leave the room.
You know what though? I’ve never been happier.
Thank you all for giving me so very much. I love having you and Southern Plate in my life.
Gratefully,
Christy
Related posts:
- Chocolate Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Icing (And why you are a good Mama if your cake is ugly) I try to teach optimism to my kids. I’ve...
- Better Than “Have You Lost Weight?” Cake My mother has always called this Better Than Robert...
- Daddy’s Coconut Cake This is my Dad’s favorite cake at Christmas time...
- Apple Week Begins! Today’s Recipe: APPLE DAPPLE CAKE! Don’t you just love the taste of brown sugar?...
- Butterfinger Cake A.K.A. The Cake That Will Spark A Stampede To Your Door Warning: I think I hit more tangents than usual...
No way! I’m first to post, ha!
This sounds great and I’m going to make it for the family tomorrow. NO doubt it’s yet another keeper from you, thanks for sharing it.
Hey Socalmal! You are so sweet!!! I do love this cake but then again I guess y’all have noticed that I don’t post anything I don’t love! So far, that has worked for me so I figure I’ll keep it up!
Hope you are having a wonderful Monday!
My family loved this cake and do did I. There was even some cake left to take for lunches the next day and it’s not so fluffy that it will fall apart, just had to omit the whipping cream and eat it with milk or coffee. Fabulous!
My Dear Daughter turned me on to your site and I LOVE it, you always brighten my day with your great recipes and wonderful way of writing.
Thank You for adding so many happy moments to my life and I loved your Christmas video.
M
Hey Maxine!! Please thank your daughter for me!! I LOVE getting new readers and your kind words just made my day.
Thank you for sitting through the video, too! We had a blast this last Christmas and I love throwing little things like that together. I haven’t made that blog public yet so you must be one of my email subscribers! I needed a place to do little random writings and not have to stick to a certain niche or topic. I’m still trying to decide if I should put a link to it here or not!
I hope you have a wonderful day! I am sitting here looking at sunshine yellow walls and grinning from ear to ear.
Life is good, isn’t it?
This looks like a wonderful cake. I’m like you and prefer cakes that don’t have frosting. I’ll a real fan of pound cakes…any special recipes in your collection?
YES! I have a to die for chocolate pound cake on this site with a homemade fudge glaze that is my grandmother’s recipe, it is divine.
Also, my Aunt Sue makes the BEST pound cake. Mama makes a special custard to pour over it. I’ll try to get it up here soon!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! My husband’s b-day is Thursday and I was wondering what kind of cake to make for him; this will be perfect!
Michele
Oh Happy Birthday to your husband!! I love homemade cakes for birthdays! My husband likes to have Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake (its on here, too!) for his Birthday, which is at the end of next month. Mine is coming up soon and I have no idea what I want! Guess I need to get to thinking on that.
Gratefully,
Christy
This cake looks like my Great-Grandmothers Apple Cake. She is in heaven with Jesus now, but I still can taste her cake. Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless and Happy Cooking :o)
Thank you Tracy, I know you miss your grandmother and hope this made you smile a bit thinking of her. Thank you so much for commenting and being one of the people who makes me feel I have a purpose here.
Gratefully,
Christy
**Jumping up and down** Yay! I have everything to make this today! It looks so yummy and I’ve been craving cake so bad but couldn’t decide what kind. I’ll let you know how everyone likes it.
dora
Oh now that is just meant to be!!!!
I can’t wait to hear back! Save me a slice!
Oh goodness! Another cake recipe to add to my list - it looks delicious. I’m going to make the coconut cake you posted lately for this coming weekend … we’re spending the weekend at husband’s grandmother’s farm with my in-laws. She passed away a couple years ago, but his parents have kept old family place. They’ll be thrilled with the cake!
For years I didn’t cook because we live in an ancient house and our kitchen used to be the back porch. It has 8 doors coming in from various rooms and only had 6 feet of cabinets & counterspace with a sink in the middle, a microwave at one end, and a toaster oven at the other end. I had to do all prep work on my ironing board … try cutting biscuits on an ironing board! Anyway, we finally got the kitchen remodeled about 5 years ago … changed out the ugly dark paneling from the last remodel in the 60’s, relocated the backdoor, and had custom cabinets put in. My kitchen is now a sunny bright orange (think Tennessee orange) with bright white trim and it still makes me very happy every time I walk in there. A beautiful color can make all the difference in the world!
I love this recipe!!! I have a “do” to go to Sunday and I’m going to take this cake. I think it would be good with French Vanilla Ice Cream too. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with all of us. I loved the hockey story. I think that’s part of the reason I enjoy your site so much. If I’m having a bad day you always make me laugh. If I’m having a good day you always make it better. You’re the greatest!!!
I SOO have to try this! Once I get all those pecans shelled of course….
I love desserts that aren’t too sweet. I know..I’m kinda crazy. This one sounds heavenly with the apples and the homemade whipped cream. Yummy! And to top it off it’s made with a cake mix. I love easy, fast recipes. Thanks for another great one!
oh, christy, your stories sure are sweet, and really put you there in the moment. and it helps that so many of them include food, just like mine ; )
so glad you share.
Love the Fire King. Awhile back you told me a little about this cookware and my collection is growing (slowly!) I just love it. I am always checking ebay for new things.
Oh, and that cake! Yummy!
Sorry to tell you this Christy, but I DO have the pie plate, batter bowl AND the covered casserole dish. (I also have the covered biscuit bowl but I hate to gloat!)
LOL!!!!!!! You know you are WRONG for posting that here!
well blush! I just sent a comment on the pumpkin muffins that was very similar to this before I read this. Have you tried this recipe using the spice cake mix instead of the white? YUM!!!!
I love reading your stories - I’m a native of “Hunts-Vegas”, too - so I really enjoyed that taste of home.
Have you ever thought about doing another cookbook with the stories printed with the recipes? I think that would be great.
Amanda
OMG this sounds so good! My husband loves apple stuff I will have to make this for him.
Oh and I got the cookbook this week! I am so excited about it! I have so many cookbooks with not much in them I want to cook. However I will be using SP cookbook for a while! I have ckicken in the crockpot right now!!
Hmmm….Im not a baker, but I bet I can do this with no problem. Dont worry about your sister-in-law gloating about the Jade Fire King, I collect Fiestaware, Carnival Glass, and Milk Glass items. I really have to thank ebay for being able to find these items. Now if I can just find more of the Fiesta pasta bowls, I will be set.
Looks yummy as always!
The cake went over really good last night; husband and kids loved it. I’m thinking I might make this one for my daughter’s b-day party next weekend.
This looks delish & I cannot wait to try it out. My hubs doesn’t do apples, though, so I think I’ll try a peach or blueberry version. Love your sight & will definatly come back for more.
Made a Cherry version of this last night & it was DIVINE! Perfect dessert after our Lima Bean & cornbread supper. Your recipies (&stories) are inspirational & since dicovering your site my love of cooking is starting to return. We share a similar Southern Heritage & your twist on things is motivating.
I haven’t read the comments to see if anyone else suggested this, but to chill the bowl (and beaters) for making whipped cream, I put them in the freezer for a few minutes. Don’t even have to dry them! They stay cold for quite some time.
LOVED IT! Everyone loved it. My topping, though, came out more like paste. The margarine started to get very soft by the time I got done incorporating all the ingredients. It was also a warm night in Honolulu so that didn’t help. Half the cake is gone, and I just made it last night! Thank you for the recipe, it’s a keeper.
hey, you’re in Honolulu-who cares if the topping is a little pasty!
wish I was there!
OMG- PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a post about the casserole dishes and antique mixing bowls!!!! My hubby things my head is screwed on backwards because I think that cakes and brownies and cookies mixed in ANTIQUE bowls and baked in “heritage” pans have a better taste- and they do…..I think it has to do with years and years of seasoning….and LOVE that the foods have been baked with along the years. Oh and wooden spoons- everything has to be mixed with a wooden spoon- NOT a metal one.
I now know- I AM NOT ALONE!!!!!
well I tried sticking my nose to the screen but it didnt work. guess I am gonna have to make this to get a whiff.
I also still call my father “daddy”… I think it is a southern thing…although, I call my mother “mom”+what about you? I know in Eastern Kentucky the grown women still call their mothers “mommy” which I think is so cute!
Searching for a recipe for truly “southern” chicken n dumplings like we had as children, I chanced upon your column today and was delighted. With the recipes, of course, but as much by your writing. It’s so entertaining that I completely forgot to save and had to go back after going through more recipes just for the fun of reading.
I clearly remember stirring Mother’s dumpling pot (after she left the kitchen)…she had to throw it out and start from scratch! And, incidentally, I’m 75 years old and still refer to my Father as “daddy.”
Thanks for making me smile…a lot.
Jamie
Oh honey! My middle daughter inherited a 1950’s Airstream trailer that was loaded with vintage treasures. Among them were a set of Johnson Bros. english redware, and some fireking Jadeite. I was blessed to be gifted with the vintage batter bowl and the small swirl bowl. I too long for the covered casserole, along with the grease jar and s&p shakers. I must confess that I covet your 9 X 13 pan. Mea culpa.