God Bless America Cake – Experience a taste of nostalgia with our irresistible God Bless America Cake. This delightful dessert passed down through generations of American kitchens combines the tanginess of pineapple, the indulgent richness of pecans, and the creamy goodness of coconut, for a heavenly treat that truly lives up to its patriotic name. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to create this cake perfect for any occasion that calls for a touch of good old-fashioned American flavor.
I can still vividly recall the first time I baked this cake. It was during a family gathering on Independence Day. I wanted to whip up something special to commemorate our nation’s birthday. Little did I know that this cake would soon become a tradition in our household. As I watched my husband and child savor each mouthwatering bite it became clear to me that I had stumbled upon an unforgettable dessert.
What makes this God Bless America Cake truly decadent?
What truly sets the God Bless America Cake apart is its harmony of flavors and textures. The moist cake infused with pineapple essence pairs, with the decadent buttery icing while the combination of toasted pecans and shredded coconut adds a crunch. With every slice, you’ll be transported back in time as warm memories flood your senses—an embodiment of pure Americana.
What You Need To Make This God Bless America Cake Recipe?
Crushed Pineapple: This ingredient adds sweetness, keeps the cake moist, and gives it a touch. Using pineapple along with its juices ensures that the cake remains deliciously moist.
Brown Sugar: Including sugar brings a decadent and caramel-like sweetness compared to white sugar. It contributes to the cake’s flavor profile.
Shredded Coconut: Opting for sweetened coconut introduces sweetness and adds a chewy texture to the icing. The sweetened variety complements the sweetness of the cake.
Toasted and Chopped Pecans: These nuts provide a crunch. Impart a buttery nutty flavor to the icing. Toasting them enhances their aroma and taste making them an ideal match for the creamy icing.
Evaporated Milk: This thick and creamy milk plays a role in creating an icing with a texture and rich flavor. It differs from milk. Adds unique creaminess, to the mixture.
Vanilla Extract: One teaspoon of vanilla extract brings warmth and aromatic notes to both the cake and icing enhancing their flavors while adding depth.
All-Purpose Flour: The cake’s foundation is made with all-purpose flour, which gives it structure and a soft texture when combined with the ingredients. It’s a choice, for this recipe.
Baking Soda: To achieve the cake’s rise and fluffiness baking soda acts as the leavening agent. It reacts with the acids in the pineapple to create the perfect texture.
Salt: A small amount of salt is added to balance out the sweetness in both the cake and icing ensuring a flavor profile.
Vegetable Oil: The moisture, tenderness, and texture of the cake are enhanced by vegetable oil. It helps create a crumb.
Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar is essential for adding sweetness to both the cake and icing. It plays a role, in achieving the desired level of sweetness and texture in both components.
Steps To Make God Bless America Cake:
Step 1: Alright, let’s get started! First, preheat your oven to 350º F. You want your kitchen to be filled with excitement like when you’re waiting for friends to come over for a barbecue.
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Step 2: Grab a bowl – the bigger, the better! It’s where the magic begins. Crack those eggs into it. Let the vibrant yellow brighten your mood. Now add both granulated and brown sugars. These are the ingredients that will make your cake sing.
Step 3: Get ready to bring in some vibes! Include a can of crushed pineapple keeping all its goodness. Don’t drain it; we want every bit of that nectar to mingle with our cake. Don’t forget about the vegetable oil. It’s like an admirer of the cake making everything smoother and better.
Step 4: Sprinkle in some all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. They are, like the dry team joining in on the fun. Now take your spatula. Gently mix everything together with love. We’re creating a cake here!
Step 5: Now it’s time to let the oven work its magic. Place your soon-to-be masterpiece into the embrace of the oven. Set a timer for 25 to 30 minutes. Make sure to trust your instincts! When that delightful scent starts wafting through your kitchen it’s an indication that you’re getting closer to cake paradise.
Step 6: While the cake works its magic let’s whip up that heavenly frosting. In a saucepan, the unsalted butter, sugar, and evaporated milk are about to become the best of friends. Turn up the heat. Let them mingle. When they begin their dance lower the heat. Let them simmer together for 10 minutes. It’s like witnessing a scene from a movie – they are truly meant for each other!
Step 7: Now it’s time for our texture team! Take the pot off the heat. Carefully stir in the coconut-toasted pecans, a touch of vanilla extract, and just a pinch of salt. They will breathe life into the icing with their crunch. The alluring aroma will surely leave you craving more.
Step 8: As your cake emerges from its sanctuary it’s time for the grand finale. Pour that warm icing over its surface and gently spread it like a cozy blanket, over a peacefully sleeping baby. Allow the icing to settle in for a while as you daydream about the delight that awaits you soon.
Step 9: Go ahead. Cut yourself a slice of this American treat and really enjoy it. It’s not a cake; it’s like receiving an embrace, from the heart of the United States, a taste that reminds you of home and a memory that you’ll hold dear. Take pleasure in every mouthful!
Tip:
To add a burst of flavor and a touch of excitement you might want to think about including some cherries, in the cake batter. The sweet taste and colorful appearance of the cherries will perfectly complement the pineapple elevating your God Bless America Cake to heights. Remember to dry them off and finely chop them before mixing them into the batter. It’s a twist that will make your taste buds sing “God Bless America!”
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned?
While using canned pineapple is recommended for this recipe because it consistently maintains its moisture content you can opt for fresh pineapple if you ensure that it is well drained and compensate for the moisture by adding a small amount of pineapple juice.
Can I make this cake in advance?
Absolutely! In fact, this cake tends to improve in flavor as it sits so feel free to make it a day ahead and store it in an airtight container.
Can I substitute pecans with another nut?
Certainly! If you have other nuts available or prefer a flavor profile don’t hesitate to experiment. Walnuts or almonds can be alternatives.
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<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
God Bless America Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, with juices
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 c. vegetable oil
- 1 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Icing:
- 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 c. 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 2 c. shredded coconut
- 1 c. pecans roughly chopped, toasted
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly greasing a baking dish measuring 9x13 inches, with butter or nonstick spray.
- In a bowl whisk together two eggs, one cup of sugar, half a cup of brown sugar, a quarter cup of vegetable oil and a can of crushed pineapple (20 oz.) along with its juices.
- Stir in two cups of all-purpose flour, two teaspoons of baking soda and half a teaspoon of salt until the batter is thoroughly mixed.
- Transfer the cake batter into the baking dish. Place it in the oven. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. To check if it's done insert a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
- Prepare the Icing: While the cake bakes, let's make the icing. Take a saucepan. Combine one can (12 oz.) of milk, one cup of butter and one and a half cups of sugar, over high heat. Bring this mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat to simmer for ten minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in two cups of coconut, one cup of toasted pecans roughly chopped into pieces, one teaspoon of vanilla extract and a quarter teaspoon of salt.
- Once the cake has finished baking evenly pour the icing, over the top. Allow it some time to set before slicing and serving.
- Hope you enjoy your cake with a touch of patriotism. God Bless America!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
2 Responses
Any subsitute for the coconut?
Hi Rebecca,
Great question! You can try substituting shredded coconut with desiccated coconut, coconut flakes, or for a different flavor, consider using finely chopped nuts like almonds or pecans. Toasted oats or a bit of coconut extract can also be alternatives depending on whether you want to maintain the coconut flavor or texture. Just ensure to adjust the sweetness as needed. Happy baking and let me know how it turns out!
Warm wishes,
Natasha