Great Grandma FRances' Chocolate Cake!
By Lucas Zylstra
This recipe represents the sights and sounds of some of my most cherished memories. It is a mixing bowl of smiles and giggles, full throaty laughter, shared jokes, sideways glances, melting candles dripping onto thick, chocolate icing, and ice-cold glasses of milk, all accompanying the star attraction: the May Family Chocolate Cake.
If the card for this recipe is being pulled out, it means my family will soon be gathering together, which always fills me with anticipation and excitement. The May Family Chocolate Cake has gone on a remarkable journey through different nations and generations. It is a dish so special to my family that we only enjoy it together just a few truly special nights a year.
The journey of this cake is remarkable. The first time it was prepared on Canadian soil was by my Great Grandmother Frances May in Killaloe, Ontario. However, it was also enjoyed by many previous generations of my family on my mother's side back in County Cork, Ireland. The recipe was then passed down to my Grandpa Alph May, then on to my mother Lori-Ann, and I know that for me, it will mark an important transition when I prepare it myself for the first time. It has travelled over 5,700 km from Ireland to Canada, and then from the tiny Ottawa valley village of Killaloe to the city of Ottawa.
The geographical and generational journey of this cake makes it remarkable, and it is just a fabulous bonus that I also happen to also love the taste. Rich cocoa, old fashioned oats, and generous amounts of butter add up to the best-tasting cake I have ever had. The May Family Chocolate Cake is served exclusively on family birthdays every year.
In a society of instant gratification, we continue to wait for a few extraordinary nights every year filled with joy and laughter to enjoy this marvelous chocolate cake, so rich in taste and memories.
Cake ingredients: Chocolate icing ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of large flake rolled oats - three tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of butter - three tablespoons of cacao
- 2 cups of boiling water - two tablespoons of hot water
- 3 cups of packed brown sugar - 1/2 of vanilla
- 4 eggs - 1.5 cups of sifting icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons of powder
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Cake steps: Combine rolled oats and butter. Add boiling water. Let cool. Add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat mixture and add dry ingredients. Evenly divide cake batter between two 9-inch round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees in a greased and floured pan for 30 minutes.
Icing steps: Cream three heaping tablespoons of butter. Blend in three tablespoons of cocoa, two tablespoons of hot water and half a teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1.5 cups of sifted icing sugar, beat until creamy.
If the card for this recipe is being pulled out, it means my family will soon be gathering together, which always fills me with anticipation and excitement. The May Family Chocolate Cake has gone on a remarkable journey through different nations and generations. It is a dish so special to my family that we only enjoy it together just a few truly special nights a year.
The journey of this cake is remarkable. The first time it was prepared on Canadian soil was by my Great Grandmother Frances May in Killaloe, Ontario. However, it was also enjoyed by many previous generations of my family on my mother's side back in County Cork, Ireland. The recipe was then passed down to my Grandpa Alph May, then on to my mother Lori-Ann, and I know that for me, it will mark an important transition when I prepare it myself for the first time. It has travelled over 5,700 km from Ireland to Canada, and then from the tiny Ottawa valley village of Killaloe to the city of Ottawa.
The geographical and generational journey of this cake makes it remarkable, and it is just a fabulous bonus that I also happen to also love the taste. Rich cocoa, old fashioned oats, and generous amounts of butter add up to the best-tasting cake I have ever had. The May Family Chocolate Cake is served exclusively on family birthdays every year.
In a society of instant gratification, we continue to wait for a few extraordinary nights every year filled with joy and laughter to enjoy this marvelous chocolate cake, so rich in taste and memories.
Cake ingredients: Chocolate icing ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of large flake rolled oats - three tablespoons of butter
- 1 cup of butter - three tablespoons of cacao
- 2 cups of boiling water - two tablespoons of hot water
- 3 cups of packed brown sugar - 1/2 of vanilla
- 4 eggs - 1.5 cups of sifting icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons of powder
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Cake steps: Combine rolled oats and butter. Add boiling water. Let cool. Add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat mixture and add dry ingredients. Evenly divide cake batter between two 9-inch round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees in a greased and floured pan for 30 minutes.
Icing steps: Cream three heaping tablespoons of butter. Blend in three tablespoons of cocoa, two tablespoons of hot water and half a teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1.5 cups of sifted icing sugar, beat until creamy.
Although it looks four generations old, this is actually my Mom's well loved recipe card for the May family chocolate cake.