Mimi Hill's Maraschino Party Cake

Okay, me following Mimi’s recipe was not the easiest thing in the world. My Mom loves this cake I think because her mom had her crack the walnuts. I cheated and bought the already shelled ones. Here you take a look at the original recipe. I would have called my Mimi up if she was still alive. I think it came out pretty good, considering what I had to work with.


1¼ cup sugar
½ cup shortening
½ tsp salt
2 eggs
½ cup cherry juice
¼ cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
½ cup or more chopped cherries
½ cup chopped walnuts
2 cups flour
2½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp almond flavoring

Cream the sugar and shortening together. Add eggs to shortening mixture. Combine milk, cherry juice, lemon juice and almond flavoring in large measuring cup. Combine flour, baking powder and salt together in separate bowl. Alternate adding flour and milk mixture to creamed sugar until well combined. Fold in cherries and walnuts. Spread into greased and floured baking pan. Bake at 350º for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Use creamy white frosting and top with cherries and walnuts for garnish.


© Crackerberries 2009

Dirt Cake

It’s funny when I tell people I’m making a dirt cake. They look at me funny and say “you make a cake out of dirt”? Usually I laugh a little and say “no, it’s not really dirt” and then I explain the ingredients. But, after I thought about this, it really is dirt. Everything comes from dirt. Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground…” For without that, there would be nothing.



1 box chocolate cake (or make your own)
1 large container of cool whip
4 Skor© bars
2 boxes of instant chocolate pudding
Chocolate syrup
Gummy worms

Bake the cake according to instructions on box. Let cool completely and then crumble in large chunks.

Make pudding only using ½ of the milk that is called for. Combine with ½ of the container of Cool whip.

Break the candy bars into tiny pieces (a hammer on a cutting board works well).

In glass bowl or fancy dish layer bottom with ½ of crumbled cake, top with ½ of pudding/cool whip mixture. Sprinkle with a third of the crushed candy bars. Drizzle chocolate syrup across the top and down the sides. Repeat layers.

Spread cool whip over top and sprinkle with remaining candy bar. Strategically place gummy worms in “dirt”.

This is also good for other holidays. Faux leaves for a Thanksgiving dessert or imitation poinsettias for Christmas, a Cross for Easter, etc. Imagination is ¾ of the battle of creation.


© Crackerberries 2009