If you’ve ever been to Denmark or have a soft spot for international desserts, you’ve probably heard of the Danish Cake. This traditional Danish delicacy is a sweet, tangy, and slightly crunchy treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Baking a Danish Cake in your own kitchen is a delightful experience, filled with the enchanting aroma of fresh ingredients blending together. The combination of flour, eggs, sugar, and buttermilk creates a soft and moist base, while the addition of orange juice, nuts, dates, and orange rind adds a unique flavor profile. The hint of vanilla ties everything together, creating a dessert that’s both comforting and exciting. What I love most about this recipe is its simplicity and the joy it brings with every bite. Baking this cake is like taking a mini trip to Denmark – no passport required!
Ingredients
- 1 c. shortening
- 1 3/4 c. sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 c. flour, sifted
- 1 1/2 tsp. soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 c. buttermilk
- 1 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 c. nuts
- 2 c. chopped dates
- 1 grated orange rind
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Baking Instructions
- Mix
- shortening, sugar, eggs, flour, soda, salt, buttermilk, orange juice, nuts, dates, orange rind and vanilla.
- Bake in a tube pan at 350° for 1 1/4 hours.
- When done, while still hot, pour sauce over cake.
Calorie: 350
Total cooking time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Difficulty level: Medium
The Great Danish Cake Debacle
I may not be a world-class chef, but I sure can throw down in the kitchen. My most recent culinary conquest involved a recipe for a traditional Danish Cake, and let’s just say it was… memorable.
Marching to the Beat of My Own Mixer
Freshly armed with my ingredients, I was raring to go. I had my 1 c. of shortening, my 1 3/4 c. of sugar, and 3 eggs lined up like little soldiers ready to charge into the battlefield (also known as my mixing bowl). I also had my 3 c. of sifted flour, 1 1/2 tsp. of soda, and 1 tsp. of salt. I even had my secret weapons – 1 c. of buttermilk, 1 Tbsp. of orange juice, 1 c. of nuts, and 2 c. of chopped dates.
And let’s not forget the grated orange rind and 1 tsp. of vanilla. I mean, I’ve heard of jazzing up a recipe, but this one was starting to feel more like a fruit salad with a side of cake.
The Cake That Kneads You
Mixing the ingredients was an exercise in patience, determination, and upper arm strength. If anyone ever tells you that baking isn’t a workout, kindly direct them to my home on a Sunday afternoon. I was stirring and whisking like a woman possessed, praying to the baking gods that my creation would resemble something edible.
Baking: A Test of Time and Temperature
The recipe called for baking the cake in a tube pan at 350° for 1 1/4 hours. Now, I’ve done a lot of crazy things in my life, but leaving a cake to its own devices for that long felt akin to leaving a child home alone for the first time. I spent the entire 75 minutes pacing, peering into the oven, and pondering whether I should have just ordered a cake from the bakery.
The Final Countdown
When the timer finally chimed, I was hit with a wave of relief and apprehension. I cautiously pulled the cake from the oven, and to my surprise, it was a golden-brown beauty. But the recipe had one final twist in store. While the cake was still hot, I was to pour sauce over it. Yes, you heard that right, sauce on a cake.
The Moment of Truth
I took a deep breath, poured the sauce, and waited for the magic to happen. And then I waited. And waited some more. I can tell you, the suspense was more intense than the season finale of my favorite cooking show.
Finally, I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, and I took a bite. And you know what? It was absolutely, unbelievably, shockingly delicious! The orange zest, the crunch of the nuts, the sweetness of the dates, it all just worked.
The Moral of the Story
So, what’s the moral of this story, you ask? Well, first, never judge a cake by its recipe. And second, if you ever find yourself in possession of a Danish Cake recipe that sounds more like a fruit salad, don’t hesitate. Dive right in. You might just end up with a masterpiece. Or at the very least, a really good story to tell.
