Old Fashioned Syrup Cake – A wonderful old-fashioned cake recipe made with Steen’s cane syrup.
I have had this cake on my sharing to-do list for a while now. It was hard to hold out on sharing it this long, but I had Christmas recipes and then other January-ish recipes I wanted to share first. But I feel like we need a comforting, old-fashioned cake around here now.
My mom always sends us desserts she’s made (because she is such a sweetaholic like me and loves making dessert). And I always know it’s going to be a good one because she has a ton of old cookbooks and old hand-written recipes. Those are really my favorites. She sent some of this one for us to try, and I had to hurry up and put the foil back over the plate y’all! It was so good! I could have eaten it all and not let anyone else know we had it. I could have eaten it for breakfast and for a late night snack.
Needless to say, the sample we received from her was not enough and I told her I had to make it and share it with you guys! Now what is so special about this recipe is that it has quite a bit of sweetness in it. In fact, when I told my mom how much I loved it, she commented something along the lines of, “Well you ought to because it has lots and lots of sugar in it!” She knows me so well 🙂
And she’s right, it does have sugar and syrup and a little sprinkle of powdered sugar. But please don’t let that deter you from making it. Make some, and give the other half of it away. People will love you! I pinky swear!
So back to the sugary sweet part…it is made with a really special syrup native to Louisiana called Steen’s Pure Cane Syrup. Cane syrup has a different flavor than maple syrup. It reminds me of going to my PawPaw’s house and eating his pancakes. He always had this syrup. To me, it is a much stronger and richer flavor than maple syrup. It’s like molasses but a little sweeter. It’s flavor is definitely distinct and a big part of the flavor in this cake.
Now there are other cane syrup brands, but I have not tried them and cannot speak to their flavor. This cake just needs a thick and rich syrup. And don’t be scared when it doesn’t want to rise up very well in the center. It won’t. It’s not going to win any awards for the most beautiful cake, I know. Just sprinkle some powdered sugar on it and call it a day. Just like people, it’s what is on the inside that counts 🙂 I also put a dollop of whipped cream, but that is completely optional.
Old-Fashioned Syrup Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1 /4 cups Steen's Pure Cane Syrup
- 1 1/4 cups oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Optional: whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix sugar, syrup, oil, eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg with a hand-mixer until combined.
- Add baking soda to boiling water and stir.
- Add boiling water mixture to batter. and stir well.
- Gradually add in flour and beat with hand-mixer until combined.
- Bake in 9 x 13 pan for 45 to 50 minutes.
Notes
*Center of this cake will not rise as much as edges. Remove from oven when cake is set.
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Old hand written recipes are the best aren’t they? I have a couple that I just cherish!
This cake looks just amazing!
Thanks so much Annie!
Dear Jaren, this cake sounds wonderful! What a delicious and tasty dessert. I must make this for my family…I know they would absolutely enjoy it. xoxo, Catherine
HI there, In Canada I am not sure I can find pure cane syrup – but if I can’t – would pure maple syrup work (I get it from a farm here)? Thank you.
Hi Melissa! Yes, I would say that would work. It’s a slightly different flavor, but I’m sure it would be delicious too!
hello, I need to make 50 cupcakes, from this syrup cake recipe, can you tell me , how many batches of this receipe do I need?
Hi Charlotte! I haven’t made cupcakes with this recipe, but I would make 2 batches. Thanks for visiting!
I just found your blog and love it!!
I am from Shreveport, I see you live in New Orleans! Thank you!
Hi Lisa! I’m so glad you stopped by and let me know! We live in Lake Charles 🙂
Would this work with pancake syrup?
Hi Lani! I have not tried it with regular syrup. You need a really good quality, strong syrup. I think a good quality maple syrup might do.
I have to make this cake!! I have never heard of this cake before, what cookbook did it come from? Thanks!
It’s an old recipe from my mom. Steen’s Syrup is key! Everyone loves this dessert!
You might like the Cajun Cake I just posted too:
https://www.diaryofarecipecollector.com/old-fashioned-cajun-cake.html
Hi Jaren,
I just made my first cane syrup cake. The recipe is my husband’s grandmother’s recipe. Yours and her recipes are somewhat similar but not exact by any means. The taste is definitely unique. I think it would be great with coffee. I had holes in the center of both cakes. The recipe I used called for 2 loaf pans. I was trying to figure out what I did wrong when I found your website. You posted a note that this cake would not rise in the middle as much as the edges. Thank you! You have a great website.
So glad you found my site!!! Love that syrup cake so much!
This is one of my family’s favorite cakes. My grandma made this and my mom, all of my aunts and cousins also. The only difference is that we don’t add any spices. Just the great flavor of the cane syrup. And no confectioners’ sugar or anything to accompany. It’s a very straight forward cake, super moist and delicious. I’ve converted the recipe for Gluten Free and it always comes out perfect.
Hi Michal! I love this cake too!! It’s a dessert I learned from my mom too!