Aunt Sue’s Orange Juice Cake ~ From Danielle Dykman

I’m so very honored to have a chance to know each one of you. We’re a rag tag family made up of good hearted, hard working, life triumphing, loving people and when we come together on Southern Plate the atmosphere is truly amazing to experience.Today’s recipe and story are yet another perfect example of that. I’ll send out another call for submissions in a few months or so to email subscribers but we’ve still got many wonderful recipes from your heritage waiting to be shared.

I know you’ll enjoy hearing from Danielle today and join with me in sending love to her, her Aunt Sue, and her beloved Granpa for sharing this wonderful recipe and a bit of their lives with us.
Gratefully,
Christy

This recipe for an Orange Juice Cake was passed down to me by my Aunt Sue, about a year ago. My Aunt Sue and I have always been very close, when I was a little girl she loved to take the curling iron to my hair and add a dab of makeup to my face then take me through every room in her house (except the bathroom of course) and take tons of pictures of me. She always wanted a daughter, but had 2 sons instead. So as her only nieces, my sister and I were obligated to get dolled up by her, at least once a week. I have always been told I look like Aunt Sue’s daughter instead of my momma’s, but I love my momma! 🙂

The recipe itself it special to me because it is my grandpa’s favorite cake ever! I have been my grandpa’s girl since I can remember. My dad passed away when I was 7 years old, and I do believe my Pa made a special effort to not let me feel left out at any time. During the long summers as a child my cousins ( all boys) and I would love to go play and wade around in the creek. He was usually busy during the day and would persistently tell them boys “No!” But all I had to do is walk up to him, put my little hand in his and give him that sweet “Papa, can we go to the creek?” and it worked every time.

About 4 years ago while I was home for the summer  from college, I was helping Ma and Aunt Sue cut and freeze corn out of the garden. Pa walked in the kitchen holding his chest. He thought he had heartburn and being stubborn went on to bed. He woke up the next morning, drove himself to the hospital and found out he had a heart attack. He was sent on to a larger hospital and ended up having a triple bypass. This was probably the scariest time I had experienced since my own dad died. But Pa made it through and the only thing he wanted to eat was this darn orange juice cake (despite being told to watch his diet). He said if he was gonna die, he was gonna die happy and full. (Thats my pa! hehe).

So since I love my Pa so very much I make him this cake every chance I get. He always makes sure to tell me how good it is too.

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Hope you enjoy!

Danielle Dykman

Danielle and her Aunt Sue

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

~Margaret Atwood

I really need more quotes so if you have a moment, please hop on over to our “Give A Penny” page and leave your favorite inspirational, motivational, or otherwise uplifting quote. Thank you so much! Gratefully, Christy

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99 Comments

  1. THIS SOUNDS GGOD. I MADE A FRESH APPLE CAKE LAST WEEK AND I MADE THE CARAMEL ICING AND AS THE CAKE CAME OUT OF THE OVEN I POURED THE CARAMEL GLAZE ON IT AND THEN LET THE CAKE COOL. SO YUMMY. CAN’T WAIT TO TRY THIS ORANGE JUICE CAKE.

  2. I’m headed to my family home in West Virginia this weekend and I wanted to bake and take my Mom a cake. I do believe this one will do nicely. Thank you so much Danielle for sharing your Aunt Sue’s recipe and your story. I’m sure glad your Pa is doing okay and still asking for cake!

    1. Everyone loved this cake and some even came back for seconds, including me! Got many comments on how moist it was! I did put some of the glazey stuff over the top too as there seemed to be a lot of it. I do think next time I may use a box of orange cake mix and maybe half the butter and sugar in the glaze mixture. It won’t be the last time I make this cake, it’s a keeper! Thank you for sharing a great recipe!

  3. Daniell, this is the same recipe that my Grandma used to make for us when we sould come to visit…. that was 50 years ago.. She always had this under a clear plastic dome lid on a plate in the center of her kitchen table. The first thing you saw when you came in. I have been looking for this recipe for some time. As usual, Grandma had this recipe ‘in her head’.
    Thank you ! And thank you so much for sharing your touching story.
    I had an ‘special’ Aunt Sue too !

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