Layer Cake

Many of the cakes in Averil's book and in the mystery box are basic recipes that can be dressed up with various fillings, icings or toppings. Devil's Cake is a basic chocolate cake; these layer cakes are basic white cakes. Sponge and coffee cakes follow. Mix and match the cakes with different icings and fillings and decide what you like best.

Layer Cake from Averil's book

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• butter size of egg [2 or 3 tablespoons]
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

It's common in Averil's book that ingredients don't come with directions. Preheat the oven to 350° or 375°F. Butter two layer pans and sprinkle them with flour. The usual order (according to great-Grammy): Cream butter and sugar together, add beaten eggs, then the dry ingredients (sifted together to mix) alternating with wet ingredients.

Louise Boulton's Layer Cake

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon butter, melted in the milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Louise finished this cake with mocha filling.