Heavenly Lady Baltimore Cake: A Classic Sweet Delight For All

Lady Baltimore Cake is an elegant Southern dessert with a rich history in American baking.

This delicate and sophisticated treat has showcased refined baking skills for countless generations.

Layers of soft white cake paired with a luscious blend of fruits, nuts, and creamy frosting create a stunning visual and flavorful delight.

Dating back to the early 20th century, it quickly captured the hearts of dessert lovers across the United States.

The cake perfectly balances delicate textures with bold flavors, honoring traditional American baking methods.

Many bakers have cherished and reimagined this iconic dessert, ensuring its place as a timeless favorite in both home kitchens and top-tier bakeries.

Things You’ll Need For Lady Baltimore Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and foundation for the cake, choose unbleached flour for best texture.
• Butter: Creates rich, tender crumb with deep flavor, use unsalted for precise sweetness control.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps with cake's soft texture, granulated white works best.
• Buttermilk: Adds moisture and tenderness, helps activate baking powder.
• Water: Helps blend ingredients smoothly and adjust cake's consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile, pure extract recommended.
• Almond Extract: Adds subtle nutty background flavor, use sparingly.
• Baking Powder: Provides lift and helps cake rise evenly.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances other flavors.

• Egg Whites: Creates lightness and airiness in cake, must be beaten to stiff peaks.

• Raisins, Dates: Adds natural sweetness and chewy texture to filling.
• Honey: Provides additional sweetness and helps bind fruit mixture.
• Rum Extract: Gives depth of flavor to fruit filling.
• Chopped Nuts: Adds crunch and nutty dimension, optional garnish.
• Cream of Tartar: Stabilizes egg whites during frosting preparation.

Easy Steps For Lady Baltimore Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Workspace

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt

Set mixture aside.

Step 3: Create Butter Base

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gently blend in vanilla and almond extracts.

Step 4: Combine Liquid Ingredients

• Buttermilk
• Water

Step 5: Develop Cake Batter

Gradually combine dry ingredients and liquid mixture into butter base. Mix until just blended, avoiding overmixing.

Step 6: Incorporate Egg Whites

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold into batter, maintaining airiness.

Step 7: Bake Cake Layers

Distribute batter evenly between prepared pans. Smooth tops with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes until a knife comes out clean.

Step 8: Cool Cake Layers

Allow cakes to cool in pans for 15 minutes. Remove and cool completely on wire racks.

Step 9: Prepare Fruit Filling

• Raisins
• Dates
• Water
• Honey

Simmer until liquid absorbs.

Step 10: Finish Fruit Mixture

• Rum extract
• Chopped nuts

Set aside.

Step 11: Create Fluffy Frosting

• Sugar
• Salt
• Cream of tartar
• Egg whites
• Water

Step 12: Whip Frosting

Heat mixture while beating with electric mixer for 5-7 minutes until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves.

Step 13: Finalize Frosting

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.

Step 14: Assemble Cake

Level cake layers if needed. Mix some frosting with fruit filling.

Step 15: Layer and Fill

Place first cake layer on serving plate. Spread fruit mixture. Add second layer.

Step 16: Frost Cake

Cover entire cake with frosting, creating decorative peaks with spoon.

Step 17: Garnish

Sprinkle with additional chopped nuts if desired.

Step 18: Serve and Store

Slice cake and serve. Refrigerate any remaining cake.

Smart Tips For Lady Baltimore Cake

• Precision Matters: Use room temperature ingredients for smoother batter and more even cake texture.
• Master Egg White Technique: Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, carefully folding to maintain airiness without deflating the batter.
• Control Moisture Balance: Don't overmix the batter to prevent dense, tough cake layers; mix just until ingredients are combined.
• Strategic Filling Approach: Create extra layers by horizontally slicing each cake for more fruit filling and richer flavor profile.
• Decorative Frosting Hack: Use the back of a spoon to create elegant peaks and swirls in the white frosting for a professional bakery look.

How To Store And Reheat Lady Baltimore Cake

• Refrigerate: Store cake in an airtight container for up to 4 days, keeping it covered to prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cake slices or whole cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in freezer for 2-3 months.
• Thaw: Remove cake from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours before serving, allowing gradual defrosting.
• Reheat: Warm individual slices briefly in microwave for 15-20 seconds or in oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes to restore moisture and softness.

Nice Pairings For Lady Baltimore Cake

• Pair Decadent Wine: Select a sweet moscato or late-harvest riesling to complement the cake's rich fruit and nutty profile. These wines mirror the dessert's sweetness while enhancing its complex flavor layers.
• Create Coffee Companion: Brew a medium-roast Colombian coffee with subtle caramel undertones. Its smooth, warm characteristics beautifully balance the cake's intense fruit and frosting textures.
• Match Smooth Digestif: Choose a light amber rum or brandy to echo the rum extract in the cake. These spirits provide a warming finish that harmonizes with the cake's sweet, nutty elements.
• Elevate with Tea Pairing: Select an earl grey tea with bergamot notes. Its delicate citrus undertones cut through the cake's richness while offering a refreshing counterpoint to the dense, fruity dessert.

Ways To Vary Lady Baltimore Cake

• Gluten-Free Variation: Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, ensuring the cake remains moist and tender while accommodating celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Vegan Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use aquafaba instead of egg whites, replace buttermilk with almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar, and swap honey with maple syrup for a plant-based version.
• Reduced Sugar Option: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener in place of sugar, and select dried fruits with lower natural sugar content like cherries or cranberries to create a diabetic-friendly alternative.
• Nut-Free Alternative: Eliminate nuts from the recipe and replace them with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds, maintaining the texture while making the cake safe for those with nut allergies.

Lady Baltimore Cake Questions Answered

• What are the key flavor components of Lady Baltimore Cake?

The cake features a delicate white cake base with vanilla and almond extracts, complemented by a rich filling of raisins, dates, and nuts, and topped with a fluffy meringue-style frosting that adds sweetness and elegance.

• Is this cake difficult to make for a beginner baker?

While the recipe has multiple steps, it’s manageable with careful attention. The key is to follow instructions precisely, especially when whipping egg whites and creating the frosting, which require gentle technique and patience.

• Where did Lady Baltimore Cake originate?

The cake is named after Baltimore, Maryland, and became popular in the early 20th century. It was likely created as a fancy dessert for special occasions, showcasing the refined baking skills of Southern bakers during that era.

• Can I substitute ingredients in this recipe?

For best results, stick to the original recipe. However, you can swap rum extract with other flavors like orange or use different nuts like pecans instead of walnuts. Always maintain the same proportions to ensure the cake’s texture and taste remain consistent.

What’s So Good About Lady Baltimore Cake

• Celebrate Special Occasions: Perfect for weddings, birthdays, and family gatherings with its elegant and impressive layers, creating memorable moments that bring everyone together.
• Craft Baking Confidence: Intermediate-level recipe that allows home bakers to develop skills, with clear steps and techniques that transform novice cooks into confident pastry artists.
• Texture Paradise: Combines multiple delightful textures – soft cake layers, creamy frosting, and chewy fruit filling – delivering a complex and satisfying taste experience in every single bite.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Freezer-friendly cake that can be prepared in advance, reducing day-of stress and letting hosts enjoy gatherings without last-minute kitchen chaos.

Exquisite Lady Baltimore Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Sweet Southern charm blossoms in Lady Baltimore Cake, a nostalgic dessert rich with dried fruit, nuts, and fluffy white frosting. Delicate layers whisper stories of elegant tea parties, inviting you to savor each heavenly crumb of this classic American confection.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Ingredients:

• 3 cups cake flour, sifted
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick or 113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk
• ½ cup water
• 3 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling Ingredients:

• ½ cup raisins, chopped
• ½ cup pitted dates, diced
• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon rum extract

Frosting Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 egg whites
• ¼ cup water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Prepare oven by heating to 375°F (190°C) and prepare two 9-inch cake pans with grease and parchment paper.
2. Sift together dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then incorporate vanilla and almond extracts thoroughly.
4. Combine buttermilk and water in a separate container.
5. Gradually integrate dry ingredient mixture and liquid mixture into the butter base, alternating additions and mixing until just combined.
6. Whip egg whites separately until forming stiff, glossy peaks, then delicately fold into cake batter without deflating the mixture.
7. Distribute batter evenly between prepared cake pans, smoothing surfaces with a spatula.
8. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, verifying doneness with a clean knife test. Allow cakes to rest in pans for 15 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
9. Create fruit filling by simmering raisins, dates, water, and honey in a saucepan until liquid fully absorbs.
10. Remove fruit mixture from heat, then fold in rum extract and chopped nuts. Let cool completely.
11. Prepare frosting by combining sugar, salt, cream of tartar, egg whites, and water in a saucepan.
12. Heat mixture while continuously beating with electric mixer until achieving stiff, glossy peaks and sugar dissolves completely.
13. Remove frosting from heat and incorporate vanilla extract.
14. Optional: Level cake layers by trimming uneven tops for more uniform presentation.
15. Blend 1/2 cup frosting into fruit filling to create a creamy, textured mixture.
16. Assemble cake by placing first layer on serving plate, spreading fruit filling, then carefully positioning second layer. For more intricate presentation, slice layers horizontally to create multiple tiers.
17. Frost entire cake generously, creating decorative peaks and swirls using back of spoon.
18. Embellish with additional chopped nuts across top and sides for visual appeal.
19. Slice cake carefully and serve immediately. Store any remaining cake in refrigerator to maintain freshness.

Notes

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even mixing and optimal cake texture.
• Sift dry ingredients to prevent lumps and create a lighter, more uniform cake crumb.
• Gently fold egg whites to maintain their airy structure, which helps the cake rise and stay tender.
• Toast nuts before adding to the filling for enhanced flavor and a deeper, nuttier profile.
• Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and maintain structural

• Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 40 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg