Grandma Kennedy’s Stack Cake Recipe

Dan & Sara Kennedy
A.K.A Grandpa & Grandma

When we were first married, my DH would speak of his grandma’s stack cake recipe with great fondness. Grandmas are famous for being awesome cooks. What I failed to realize when I was younger is to reach this sort of stature requires years to do. This is why grandmas are terrific in the kitchen and not newly married brides.

I met my DH’s grandma while she was in her mid-80s. Despite her ability to get around for her age and continued tinkering in the kitchen, her best years for producing mouth-watering kitchen favorites were in the past. My mother-in-law picked up making Grandma’s stack cake recipe for the holidays, though. It was a real treat. When the holidays were long gone and we wanted more of this yummy treat we found the closest thing to Grandma’s was Apple Barn & Cider Mill’s fresh-baked stack cake in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

I always wanted to make Grandma’s recipe, but the idea to attempt it intiminated me. The mere thought of making a delicate, multi-layer cake caused a huge exclamation mark to pop in my mind with a “No-way, am I going to try it!” attitude.

In 2007 for the holiday season, I decided to dismiss my fears once and for all and finally took a stab at grandma’s recipe. For goodness sake, I was only working in the kitchen. It wasn’t like I was performing brain surgery or anything. There was no reason for dread. It’s only a recipe. The worse thing that could happen is I flub the job.

In the end, I discovered I actually enjoyed making Grandma’s stack cake. It wasn’t a daunting process, as I had feared. In fact, the layers reminded me of making a large gingerbread cookie and they weren’t difficult at all. The thrilling part of it all was the pleasant surprise when my DH announced, “Mmm, this is almost as good as I remember Grandma’s!” What a huge compliment! Ever since then, I try to make Grandma’s stack cake recipe as a part of our holiday tradition.

With that being said, I’ve been busy cooking and baking. This is a seasons of “thanks” and “giving”, I would like to say, Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. In honor of a woman who was special to not only us, but many locals who also called her grandma, I would like to give to you…

Next week, will be Thanksgiving and I won’t be participating in anything computer related. Let me extend to each of you a blessed celebration with those you love. Remember, to reflect on the bounty God has given you – big or small, as you come together. We are so privileged compared to many elsewhere in the world. May the Lord watch over you this holiday season!

One more thing, I bought two American Kitchen stainless steel pans from Amazon recently. They are nice, USA made pans! The fruit I use always is generous amounts of apple butter between the layers. It’s delicious, too. Enjoy!!!

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11 comments

Cathy, this sounds like a wonderful old-fashioned cake!

I’m glad you have these flavors to remind you of your loved ones!

I hope your Thanksgiving weekend is lovely…

Thank you for linking.

A+

Oh YUM! I was about dying reading this post and hoping upon hope that there would be a recipe! And there is!
This sounds so delicious! Isn’t it wonderful the legacy that ancestors can leave?! Your husband’s grandma truly does live on!

This is not like anything I’ve ever heard of but I think it would be quite a treat – I’ll try it one weekend and let you know how it goes.

I’d never heard of Stack Cake before and it sounds wonderful. What a sweet post. I love hearing about family history and you write it so well with fun and sweetness. Thank you for sharing a special family recipe too. That’s gold.