In Memory of Maida Heatter 1916-2019

According to the Los Angeles Times, Maida Heatter died today at the age of 102. I am saddened to hear the news but I know that her legacy will live on through her wonderful books and recipes. She has certainly taught me so much about baking and I know I am a better baker because of her. What a wonderful woman she was!

Blueberry Crumb Cake

Source: Happiness Is Baking: Cakes, Pies, Tarts, Muffins, Brownies, Cookies: Favorite Desserts from the Queen of Cake (Little, Brown & Company, 2019), pg. 43. 
Also: Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1999 ed.), pg. 96.

It has taken me a long time to try this wonderful recipe and it has to be one of Maida's best. Although it calls for fresh blueberries, I used frozen ones that I had in the freezer from last year. It was delicious. It is especially a wonderful treat with coffee in the morning. 

A very easy recipe to put together - 

Topping:

• 1/3 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 oz. (1/2 stick) cup butter

Cake:

• 2 cups fresh blueberries (about 1 pint) (frozen berries can be used)
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 oz. (1/2 stick) cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup walnuts, cut medium fine
• Confectioners sugar (0ptional)

Adjust baking rack to center of the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9" baking pan. Coat with fine bread crumbs. Set aside.

Make the topping by using a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour, sugar and cinnamon mixture. Set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons over the blueberries and toss gently. Set aside the remaining flour ingredients.

Beat the butter to soften.

Beat in the vanilla and sugar. Add egg and beat for one minute.

On lowest speed, add the sifted ingredients alternately with...

 the milk

Add the lemon zest

Add the batter to the berries (it will be stiff)

Fold gently

Spread the batter into the prepared pan

Sprinkle the nuts on top

Add the reserved topping. Baker in 375 degree oven for 40-50 minutes until the top is brown. Let it cool in the pan for 30 minutes before removing.

The recipe says this is good served either warm or cold. I tried it both ways (of course!) and it is good either way. You can sprinkle confectioners' sugar on it if desired.

Sour Cream Black Fudge Loaf Cake

Sour Cream Black Fudge Loaf Cake 

Source: Happiness Is Baking: Cakes, Pies, Tarts, Muffins, Brownies, Cookies: Favorite Desserts from the Queen of Cake (Little, Brown & Company, 2019), pg. 43.

I've been looking through Maida Heatter's new book Happiness Is Baking which is a collection of her best known recipes. I have made most of them although there are still quite a number I haven't gotten to yet. One of them was this one. It is a fairly simple loaf cake with an intense chocolate flavor. It definitely needs the icing or it would be a bit bland.

Of the recipes I've have not tried yet, I am looking forward to trying the "Abby Mandel's Boule de Neige (Snowball)" and the Cranberry Upside Down Cake. I still can't believe I have not made the "Queen Mother's Cake" yet!

I was also not familiar with the "September 7th Cake" and do not recall seeing this recipe in any of my books. I may have just overlooked it. This is one of her favorites and she plans to have it on her upcoming 103rd birthday! It has to be awesome.

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 tsp. dry instant coffee
1 cup boiling water
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 lb. sweet butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream

Icing

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 TBS butter (room temperature)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup strained powdered sugar
1 large egg

The full instructions for the recipe can be found at Genius Kitchen.

Maida's new book "Happiness Is Baking"

Maida Heatter's new book Happiness Is Baking: Cakes, Pies, Tarts, Muffins, Brownies, Cookies: Favorite Desserts from the Queen of Cake is being published on April 16th. You can pre-order the book from Amazon. You can also preview the book on Amazon. It appears that all the recipes have been published before and this is a collection of the best ones or her personal favorites.

Chocolate Cake Squares (Grandma Hermalin's)

Chocolate Cake Squares (Grandma Hermalin's)

Source: Maida Heatter's Book of Great Desserts (Andrews & McMeel Publishing, 1999 ed.), pg. 42.

I made these for Oscar night and they were a big hit. These is a plain Devil's Food-ish cake with a delicious ganache icing. Compare it to a general boxed cake mix and it is easy to see why baking from scratch is superior. These are excellent with ice cream or a glass of milk!

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 TBS. instant coffee
1/2 cup boiling water

The recipe is very easy to make - you basically mix all the ingredients together! It is baked in a 9 inch square pan at 350 degrees.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Beat the butter until softened. Add the vanilla and sugar and beat for one minute.

Beat in the egg.

On low speed, add the cocoa.

Gradually add half of the milk, one half of the dry ingredients, the remaining milk, the remaining dry ingredients, scraping the bowl as necessary until the mixture is smooth.

Dissolve the coffee into the boiling water. While it is still hot, add it to the chocolate mixture.

Turn batter into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 35 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly pressed.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.

The icing is made with 4 ounces of semisweet chocolate and 2 ounces of butter. Melt the chocolate and whisk in the butter a few pieces at a time.

The icing is poured over the cake and it will run over the sides. 

Divine! 

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