Cliff Newland, Nevada City, California, sends in a list of ingredients that he says was a favorite chocolate sour cream cake that his grandmother used to bake. He thinks it was from CAPPER’s Farmer and printed before 1944. His grandmother made it in four layers, and shipped it to him while he was overseas in the U.S. Navy. It contained sour cream, whole milk and heavy cream, as well as flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, eggs and baking soda.
Note: Reader Alicia Marinez, Wolf Creek, Montana, suggests if you don’t have sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup canned milk and 1 tablespoon vinegar make a good substitute.
From our recipe archives comes this version, which is close to what Cliff remembers.
MAIN ARTICLE:
Celebrate the Holidays With Christmas Cake Recipes
Whipped Sour Cream Cake Recipe
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons melted shortening
2 teaspoons baking soda, dissolved in 4 tablespoons hot water
Heat oven to 350°F.
Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa and salt.
Whip sour cream; add eggs, shortening and dissolved baking soda. Stir in dry ingredients.
Bake in a loaf or in layers for 20 to 25 minutes.
