Lane cake facts for kids
A thick slice of lane cake
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| Alternative names | Prize cake, Alabama lane cake |
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| Type | Cake |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | American South |
| Created by | Emma Rylander Lane |
| Main ingredients | Sponge cake, candied fruit, raisins, pecans, coconut, bourbon |
The Lane cake, also known as prize cake or Alabama Lane cake, is a classic baked cake from the American South. It's famous for its delicious layers and a special filling. The cake was invented by Emma Rylander Lane from Clayton, Alabama. She won first prize with her cake at a county fair in Columbus, Georgia.
Emma Lane first shared her recipe in her cookbook, A Few Good Things to Eat, published in 1898. She called it "Prize Cake." Her original recipe included ingredients like raisins, pecans, and coconut. She even suggested baking the layers in pie tins lined with brown paper instead of regular cake pans!
Many different versions of the Lane cake exist today. They usually have three or more layers of white sponge cake. The layers are separated by a rich filling. This filling often has pecans, raisins, and coconut, usually mixed with a traditional flavoring like a small amount of bourbon, wine, or brandy. The cake can be frosted on top, on the sides, or both.
Lane cake is a popular dessert in the South. You'll often find it at special events like receptions, holiday dinners, or wedding showers.
Contents
Making a Lane Cake
Making a Lane cake has a reputation for being tricky. However, it's much easier to make today than it was when the recipe first came out!
Old Ways vs. New Ways
When the Lane cake recipe was first created, cooks didn't have modern kitchen tools.
- There were no electric mixers, so beating egg whites to make them fluffy took a lot of hard work by hand.
- Ovens were often wood-fired and didn't have thermostats. This made it tough to bake a perfectly white cake.
- Ingredients like pecans, raisins, and coconut had to be chopped by hand or using a meat grinder. Today, an electric food processor can do this quickly.
- Modern refrigerators help the filling stay firm, making it easier to build a neat, multi-layered cake.
Even with today's tools, making a traditional Lane cake is still a special project. It's often made a few days before an important family event. This allows the flavors to blend together and become even better.
Special Stories and Recipes
During wartime, Lane cakes were a favorite treat for service members. Many were lucky enough to receive one for Christmas. By the time the cake arrived overseas, it was a truly special delight. Many Southern families have wonderful stories about "the best cake ever tasted."
Recipes for Lane cake can be different from family to family. Many Southern cooks guarded their recipes closely, passing them down through generations. Some cooks today try to recreate these family traditions using old instructions or various sources. For example, Atlanta baker Lise Ode shared her version of the recipe on her blog. Professional chef Tori Avey also has a recipe with step-by-step pictures on her website.
While Emma Rylander Lane's original cookbook is hard to find, her recipe appears in many older cookbooks. One example is The Purefoy Hotel Cook Book, published in Talladega, Alabama, in 1953. This book has been digitized and can be found online. The Lane cake recipe is on pages 123–124.
Some recipes for Lane cake use a small amount of bourbon in the cake itself, and more in the filling. Other recipes suggest using wine or brandy. Some cooks even used homemade liqueurs, like scuppernong wine, to make their cakes extra unique.
Many cooks would place the finished Lane cake in a covered tin. They would let it "set" for up to a week before serving. This allowed the spongy cake to soak up all the delicious flavor. Sometimes, the unfrosted cake was wrapped in a cloth soaked in the flavoring while it set in a cool place. It was then frosted with a white frosting, usually a day or more before serving.
Lane Cakes in American Stories
The Lane cake is so famous that it appears in popular American culture!
In To Kill a Mockingbird
In Harper Lee's famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a Lane cake is given as a welcome gift. Miss Maudie Atkinson bakes one for Aunt Alexandra. The young narrator, Scout, describes it as being very flavorful.
Later in the book, Miss Maudie bakes another Lane cake for Mr. Avery. He was hurt trying to help put out a fire at her home. Miss Maudie says, "Soon as I can get my hands clean and when Stephanie Crawford’s not looking, I’ll make him a Lane cake. That Stephanie’s been after my recipe for thirty years, and if she thinks I’ll give it to her just because I’m staying with her she’s got another think coming.” This shows how special and sought-after the Lane cake recipe was!
President Jimmy Carter's Memories
Former President Jimmy Carter wrote about Lane cakes in his memoir Christmas in Plains. He shared that his father often made them for Christmas. He mentioned that these cakes were a special treat for adult relatives and friends who visited their home.
Official State Cake
In May 2016, the Lane cake became the official state cake of Alabama. This shows how important and beloved this traditional dessert is in the state!
