Every once in a while, you meet someone and you immediately know that person is special. I first met Jocelyn Delk Adams on an airplane last May. We were both flying to Miami for BlogHer Food and were on the same flight from Chicago to Miami.
Jocelyn and I started talking on the plane, shared a taxi from the airport to the hotel and have been friends ever since. And it’s on that day in the cab that I learned about this gem, that she was working on her first cookbook, Grandbaby Cakes.
This book is special, you guys.
Now, I’ve read and flipped through a lot of cookbooks . . and there’s nothing like Grandbaby Cakes. Yes, it’s a baking cookbook but it’s so much more than that. It’s a piece of Jocelyn’s heritage, family, soul and heart. We learn about her upbringing, her fabulous big mama (her grandmother), her mother and her aunt, and how they taught Jocelyn by example in the kitchen when it came to baking and that it was like a “rite of passage.”
“Big Mama never required a timer; just a whiff of a baked good’s fragrance in the air was enough for her to know it was ready . . Big Mama would take pity on her impatient grandbaby and hand me a fork. She didn’t mind if I snuck a bite or two, because she’d made the cake for me anyway.” It was this special relationship between Jocelyn and her Big Mama that influenced who Jocelyn is today, her love for baking and the heart and soul behind this cookbook.
I had the pleasure of baking Jocelyn’s Mama’s 7Up Pound Cake while my parents were in town and my mother helped me slice and serve this one morning while they were here. I didn’t make the glaze because that would have been too sweet for my parents but you can bet I am making the glaze next time! We had this cake with coffee and loved it! This is the most delicious pound cake we have ever tasted! This is a recipe that has been in her family for decades and this was, in fact, the very first cake that Jocelyn learned to bake!
“Mama’s 7Up Pound Cake is a classic and decadent treat complemented by the subtle flavor of citrus soda. The juxtaposition of the crunchy crust to the moist inner texture makes the cake simply irresistible!”
This cookbook is filled with all different kinds of cakes: layered cakes, cupcakes, bundt cakes, sheet cakes, celebration cakes and cakes for the holidays. I love that this book is so rich with Jocelyn’s Southern upbringing and her family. For me, growing up, we never baked much at all. Just cooked a lot of Korean food. I remember my nanny baking a cake for us when we were little but it was Duncan Hines and from a box. If we ever had dessert, it was dessert purchased from a grocery store, so for me to see and read about someone’s family and their rich and full love for baking and each other, is truly heartwarming.
Each cake has a story and a piece of Jocelyn. I absolutely love all the family photos and memories that are sprinkled throughout this cookbook. I hate it when you pick up a cookbook and there is hardly anything about the author, other than the introduction. I’ve never felt so connected to a family and their love for each other, baking and tradition.
I have also baked the Real-Deal Caramel Cake, the Roasted Raspberry Cupcakes, the Marble Texas Sheet Cake and the Blueberry Pan-cakelettes with Maple Cinnamon Glaze. All of these recipes are spot on and rich with flavor. Some require a ton of butter and sugar but hey, this is dessert and I think what I love most is that you can bake and share these with your family and loved ones and for me, it’s more about the act of baking for those you love and serving and sharing with them.
I can’t wait to bake some more recipes with my daughters! What I’m baking next: (hint, all of these links lead to the recipes that have already been published for Jocelyn’s cookbook tour!) Cinnamon Roll Pound Cake, Buttered Rum and Candied Sweet Potato Crumb Cake and the Dreamsicle Punch Bowl Cake. There are a ton more! You can find the entire cookbook blogger tour here!
So, check all of them out, buy this cookbook if you don’t have it already and bake this 7Up cake!
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), room temperature
- 2½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 large eggs, room temperature
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- ½ cup 7UP soda, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 3 tablespoons 7UP soda
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract
- Heat oven to 315 degrees F. Spray a 10-cup bundt pan with nonstick baking spray. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter for 2 minutes on high speed. Slowly add the sugar and salt. Cream together for an additional 7 minutes until very pale yellow and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, combining well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Turn your mixer down to the lowest speed setting and slowly add the flour in two batches. Do not overbeat. Pour in the 7UP and lemon extract. Scrape down the sides and bottom of your mixing bowl and mix the batter until just combined. Again, be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 75 to 85 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until the mixture is pourable. When the cake is completely cool, spoon the glaze over the cake and allow it to harden. Serve at room temperature and enjoy!
Adapted from Grandbaby Cakes (the cookbook); I only changed the amount of sugar used. Recipe published with permission from the Author.
The Giveaway!!!
To celebrate the release of her cookbook, Jocelyn is hosting a HUGE giveaway that you do not want to miss!! Use the widget below to enter and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: The giveaway will run from September 15th- October 5th. Winners will be randomly selected on October 6th and notified. The contest is only open to United States residents. All items will be shipped separately by each brand.
I’ve heard of these 7up cakes but have never tried one before! This pound cake looks just perfect, Alice! I love how thick and fluffy this turned out. I think I would devour the entire pan!
Dang it I don’t have a favorite handed down recipe! My mom & assuming her mom weren’t big on that stuff & I’m not a bad cook (I’d rather collect the cake stands than produce the product they were meant to show off) I can whip out an outstanding meal when necessary. How’s that for a run-on sentence? Cook on!
The cake looks delicious and the cookbook sounds like it should be in everyone’s kitchen. Wishing Jocelyn much success.
I love our families pumpkin roll recipe. It is a Christmas tradition at my house.
My granny always baked a chocolate oatmeal cake. I have her recipe for that. Love it.
Wow this is such a beautiful beautiful post. Seriously I don’t think my heart can quite take any more of this. And seeing your mother’s hand in that pound cake shot girl? Poetry. I am so so glad we met on that flight suspended in mid-air. You are my soul sista blogger boo and I love you.
I love you too, J!!! So proud of you! This book is magical and so very special!
Alice the cake is beyond gorgeous! I love that you shared it with your mom and dad. That picture with your mom’s hand is so beautiful. And you quoted my favorite line from the book, “She didn’t mind if I snuck a bite or two, because she’d made the cake for me anyway.” That just melted my heart when I read it!
It’s a shame that I was raised in the south and have never had a 7up cake. That needs to change very soon. This cake looks like the perfect pound cake!
What a lovely idea for a book….and the recipes look fantastic!
My mom made the best chocolate cake with white icing when I was growing up. I always requested it on my birthday.
My favorite family recipe is my mom’s, originally my grandmom’s, pound cake.
When I think of a pound cake I think of Sunday brunch and coffee! I should make this one for Mothers Day next year and invite my mom over.
7-UP CAKE IS AFAMILY FAVORITE- HAPPY TO SEE THE RECIPE
Such a beautiful book! There are still so many recipes I want to try! This cake looks phenomenal Alice — so perfect to serve to your own parents!
My mother’s squash casserole I make for every Thanksgiving.
I’ve been loving my copy of Jocelyn’s book! And I can’t wait to try this cake. The texture looks perfect. She does the best pound cakes!
I know, right?!!! You’ve got to try it, Mir!!!
Prettiest pound cake ever!
Thank you Amy!!
I have never had pound cake before, but then I am not much of a baker. I think when I get back from this trip I am going to start baking more 🙂
I Love hearing how you met Jocelyn for the first time, clearly that was a destined friendship. This pound cake is GORGEOUS, Alice! LOVE LOVE LOVE your Mom’s hand in that picture, so precious! I can only imagine how good 7 Up in Pound Cake tastes! Definitely going to have to give this a go! Pinned! Cheers! 🙂
oh wow the cake looks stunning! I love the picture with your mom’s hand on the cake, so precious 🙂 and I LOVE Jocelyn’s blog and recipes!!
Alice – this is such a heartfelt review – and such a decadent pound cake! Love the texture of it – and I bet it was wonderful with coffee!
My favorite family recipe is quite a simple one – it’s my mom’s dal curry.
This is a very beautiful book, indeed and the cake looks divine!
My daughter is always experimenting with baking and recipes, and my favorite by far is her chocolate chip shortbread cookie… definitely worth the effort! I tend to focus on the savory, and my favorite recipe for this time of year is roasted sweet potato soup with croutons.
Aaw I love how you both met – and the picture of your mom’s hand is so beautiful and sweet! This cake and Jocelyn’s book is stunning, Alice! You did an amazing job recreating it with the modifications for your parents to enjoy:)
I was born and raised in Texas. My father’s favorite cake of all time is the 7 up cake. In my southern accent, ” You made us proud”!! Beautiful post Alice! Thanks for sharing!!!
That book really is special — I love every single page! I can’t wait to try this 7UP pound cake…yours looks so perfect, Alice!
I’ve never made a 7 up cake, but my aunt makes one, which I like. You did a great job Alice, love the cake and pictures! Will definitely try Jocelyn’s recipe. I got the book, but still haven’t baked anything 🙂
This cake looks delicious! I have several recipes from my grandma as well and I sure miss her being the cook. 🙂
Beautiful book. My favorite family recipe is a chocolate chip cheesecake.
Oh I love this cake and Jocelyn’s book! The fact that you shared it with your parents is perfect and just what the book is about.
This cake sounds and looks divine! Love the idea of adding 7-up to the batter! Yum! 😀
I have not had a pound cake in quite some time so now all I can think about is sinking my teeth into this!
I love a triple chocolate praline tart
How gorgeous is this pound cake, that crumb is perfection!
I have seriously seen so many amazing recipes from this book, and this is just the same – totally need a copy! Pinned!
Heritage recipes are the best! I can’t wait to try this one Alice, and probably buy the book too!
Your video rocks my friend, so awesome!! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
pho!
My family is Colombian and o think they make lots of yummy food, my favorite is empanadas, though they make some mean tamales and sopa de carne res. ☺️
My grandmas apple pie!
I love reading cookbooks and learning about the heritage some families share in the kitchen. The texture of that cake looks magnificent ! Gonna have to make a 7-Up run soon. 🙂
My favorite family recipe is my mom’s coconut cake! It is so moist and delicious! She makes it every Christmas.
How can I purchase Grandbaby cake book?
Hi Jeannie,
You can purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Grandbaby-Cakes-Recipes-Vintage-Memories/dp/1572841737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471228139&sr=8-1&keywords=grandbaby+cakes+cookbook