These 4 old-fashioned New Year’s cake recipes are so simple and delicious: Cocoa marble, orange & more (1950)

New Year's cake: Mocha-frosted devil's food cake - Vintage recipe

Note: This article may feature affiliate links, and purchases made may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Email
LinkedIn
Pocket
Reddit

New Year’s cake recipes were a regular feature in mid-century magazines, right alongside tips for table settings and resolutions. These four options from 1950 offered home bakers a range of solid choices to serve on the holiday or anytime during the upcoming year.

The cakes cover familiar ground — cocoa marble, orange, devil’s food with mocha frosting, and a traditional Lord Baltimore. Nothing too elaborate, but all made from scratch and designed to be shared. These recipes were printed for people who baked at home with what they had on hand, and they still hold up.

A New Year wish you can make come true!

Perfect cakes the year ’round with perfect blend…

4 old-fashioned New Year's cakes Cocoa marble, Orange & more (1950)

To bake the most luscious cakes you ever tasted, follow the easy recipes below…

Old-fashioned mocha frosted devil’s food cake recipe

1/2 cup dexo shortening
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp each salt and soda
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, unbeaten
3 sqs chocolate, melted

Measure dexo into bowl. Add sifted dry ingredients. Add 2/3 milk. Blend; beat 1 min* Add 1/3 milk, eggs, vanilla. Beat 1 min. Add chocolate; beat 1 min. Bake in 2 greased and floured deep 8-inch pans in 350 F oven, about 35 min.

Frosting: 1/2 cup dexo, 2 cups conf. sugar, mix 3 tbsps coffee, 1 tbsp cocoa, dash salt and 1 tsp vanilla.

ALSO SEE: Happy New Year! A look back at 40 elegant vintage postcards


Easy classic Lord Baltimore cake recipe

2/3 cup shortening
2-1/2 cups sifted cake flour
3-1/2 tsps double-acting baking powder
1 tsp each, salt and vanilla
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup milk
3 egg whites, unbeaten

Measure dexo into bowl. Add sifted dry ingredients. Add 2/3 milk. Blend; beat 1 min*. Add remaining milk, egg whites and vanilla. Beat 2 min. Pour into 2 greased and floured deep 8-inch pans. Bake in 375 F oven, about 30 min.

Frosting: Add 1/4 cup chopped nuts, 12 candied cherries, chopped, and 2 figs, cut in strips, to Seven Minute Frosting.


Vintage ’50s orange cake recipe

1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 tsps double-acting baking powder
2-1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water
Grated rind of 1 orange
2 eggs, unbeaten

Measure dexo into bowl. Add sifted dry ingredients, orange juice and water. Blend; beat 1 min*. Add eggs and grated orange rind. Beat 2 min.

Pour batter into 2 greased and floured deep 8-inch pans. Bake in moderate oven, 375 F, about 30 min. Frost with Seven Minute Frosting.


Old-fashioned cocoa marble cake recipe

1/2 cup shortening
2-1/4 cups sifted cake flour
3 tsps double-acting baking powder
1-1/2 tsps salt
1-1/3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 egg whites, unbeaten

Add sifted dry ingredients to dexo. Add 2/3 milk. Blend; beat 1 min* Add 1/3 milk, egg whites, vanilla. Beat 2 min. Put 1/2 batter in extra bowl. Mix together; stir in, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/4 tsp soda, 1 tbsp water; alternate spoonfuls of each batter into 2 greased and floured deep 8-inch pans. Bake in 375 F oven about 30 min.

Frosting: To 1/3 cup dexo add 1-1/2 cups conf. sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 cup cocoa. Add 2-1/2 tbsps hot water. Beat in 3 egg yolks.

*NOTE: When beating by hand, count 150 strokes per minute.

ALSO TRY: Chocolate Whirlaway cake: A classic marbled cake recipe from 1950

PS: If you liked this article, please share it! You can also get our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Pinterest. Thanks for visiting and for supporting a small business! 🤩 

Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Threads
Reddit
Email
Facebook

You might also like...

The fun never ends:

Comments on this story

Leave a comment here!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.