Grandma’s Christmas Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 45 min. + cooling

Makes

16 servings (2-2/3 cups sauce)

Updated: Jan. 24, 2023
One bite of this old-fashioned spice cake will bring back memories. Loaded with raisins and nuts, it tastes extra special drizzled with the rich buttery sauce. —Linda Stemen, Monroeville, Indiana
Grandma's Christmas Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups raisins
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon each ground nutmeg and cloves
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • BRANDY BUTTER SAUCE:
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup brandy

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, raisins, water and butter. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add raisin mixture; beat until blended. Fold in pecans.
  3. Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° until cake springs back when lightly touched, 45-55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. For sauce, in a large saucepan, bring cream to a boil; stir in butter and sugar until smooth. Reduce heat; stir a small amount of hot liquid into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon (do not boil). Remove from the heat; stir in brandy. Serve warm with cake.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece with about 3 tablespoons sauce: 624 calories, 35g fat (19g saturated fat), 124mg cholesterol, 271mg sodium, 75g carbohydrate (49g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein.