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Hurry Scurry Cake


Today's recipe is a 'blast from the past', originating in an old cookbook of my mother's.  It was the cake of my childhood, and still my go-to white cake today. I was considering giving it a new name, but I decided to leave it with its amusing, archaic and somewhat catchy title. This very basic white cake is perfect for topping with ice-cream and fresh fruit in the summertime. Since the local strawberries are in their prime right now, I have been serving up strawberries on hurry scurry cake this past week. This basic cake batter is also great for making upside-down cake, and I will add that variation below.
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  1. Cream butter and sugar. 
  2. Add egg and beat.
  3. Combine dry ingredients; add alternately with milk and vanilla. Blend well.
  4. Turn into a greased 8 inch square pan and bake at 350° F for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  5. Cool. 
  6. Serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and fresh fruit topping.
Fresh Strawberry Topping:
Wash and slice strawberries. Place about 1/4 of the strawberries into the blender, adding sugar to taste. Combine the sliced strawberries and the pureed strawberry mixture and spoon over the cake.

Yield: 9 servings


Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2-1/4 cups diced rhubarb
  • 1 recipe 'hurry scurry cake' batter

  1. Combine brown sugar and butter. Spread in a greased 9-in. round baking pan. Add the chopped rhubarb. Set aside.
  2. Prepare cake batter. Gently spoon over rhubarb. 
  3. Bake at 350° for about 50 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. 
  4. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. 
  5. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice-cream if desired.  
  6. Yield: 10-12 servings.

12 comments:

  1. I love "old favourite" recipes like this one! It's very similar to my mom's "Hurry Up Cake" that she often made with a broiled coconut icing. Your upside down variation looks delicious! I can't wait for the local strawberry season to start over here so I can make this cake.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rosella! I haven't had "Hurry Up Cake' in years. Do you have a recipe to share? I like the broiled icing as it tastes so good with the coconuts. Judy from Alberta

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    2. Judy from Alberta - I don't know if you will see this but I posted that recipe quite some time ago. Here is the link:
      http://rhubarbandroses-rosella.blogspot.ca/2012/11/hurry-up-monday.html

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    3. Thanks, Rosella, for sharing the link. :)

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    4. THANKS Rosella! I could not click on the link but went to your blog. This cake will be made soon. Judy from Alberta

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  2. Those two look delicious! Local strawberries will be late this year but I have frozen rhubarb to try the upside down cake. Thanks for sharing your recipes! Judy from Alberta

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  3. I printed this and look forward to making it. Thank you for giving options, too!

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  4. I like the name Hurry Scurry Cake. It is much more interesting than our plain sounding "White Cake".

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    Replies
    1. Ditto! It's an imaginative name. Hurry Scurry Cake sounds like something from Raggedy Ann's Magical Wishes. It would go with the candy-covered cookie bushes! I grew up on those stories.

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  5. ty for this basic white batter, good to have 8x8 size, i'm off to the pantry...

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  6. Rosella sent me...somehow I had missed this. I, too, like recipes for smaller amounts; otherwise, you know what happens!

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  7. Judy just made this cake and its in the oven right now---smells really good in my kitchen right now-:)

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