Celebrating Rosh Hashanah: Grandma Hilda’s Chocolate and White Cake

A blog post by Assistant Director Deborah Cardin.

It’s erev Rosh Hashanah and as I arrive at my parents’ house for our family meal (and by family I mean all 30+ of our nearest and dearest) to kick off the holiday celebration, I am overwhelmed by the delicious aroma of dinner – homemade gefilte fish, brisket, turkey, and all the trimmings.  It’s true that for many, it’s the traditional foods that hold center court – kreplach (check out Esther Weiner’s recent blog post for her wonderful recipe at http://?s=kreplach), matzah ball soup, gefilte fish. For me, however, it’s all about the dessert. And not just any dessert, but Grandma Hilda’s chocolate and white cake.

Grandma Hilda’s Chocolate and White Cake at the dessert table.

While I have fond memories of many of my grandmother’s meals (fried chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, and let’s not forget the iceberg salad wedge!), it is her famous cake that has lived on as a must-have at family celebrations including birthdays and holiday meals. I have shared the recipe with many friends who are always delighted by how easy it is to make and how wonderful it tastes.

Recipe for Hilda Edelman’s Chocolate and White Cake

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter*

3 eggs

3 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 cup milk*

1 ½ tsp. vanilla

¾ can chocolate syrup

¼ tsp. baking soda

Cream together sugar and butter, blend in eggs. In two separate bowls, mix together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt) and liquid ingredients (milk and vanilla). Alternate adding dry and liquid ingredients to sugar mixture. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Pour 2/3 of the batter into a well-greased and lightly floured tube pan. Add chocolate syrup and baking soda to remaining batter. Spoon chocolate batter over white batter in pan. Do not mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and ten minutes.

*To make a pareve version, substitute margarine and coffee rich for butter and milk.

See how pretty it looks inside!

Best wishes to everyone for a sweet and happy new year!

Categories
jewish museum of maryland

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.