Choose a Jelly Flavor

You can use any flavor of jelly you prefer.  There are classic jelly cake combinations that are worth a try, though.  They’ve stood the test of time to become traditional favorites:

• Pound cake with apple jelly
• Yellow cake with apricot jelly
• Chocolate cake with raspberry jam
• White cake with strawberry jelly or jam

Other jellies or jams to think about are blackberry, grape, orange, blueberry, and cherry.

Gather the Ingredients

Every cake recipe needs certain basic ingredients that are pantry staples in most kitchens.  Depending on the actual recipe you’re using, you may also need additional items.  Before you get started with the jelly cake, make sure you have these ingredients on hand:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3-1/3 cups sifted flour, preferably cake flour
• Dash of baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) plus 1 teaspoon butter, softened
• 2-2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1-1/2 cups (one 12-ounce jar) strawberry jelly, or blackberry or raspberry jam

Prepare the Pans

To make a jelly cake, you need to have at least two 9” round cake pans.  If you plan to bake a lot of layers, it’s better to have more pans to cut down on having to wash and reuse pans multiple times.

Cake pans should always be generously greased and floured before the batter is added.

Mix and Bake the Cake Layers

Heat the oven to 325° F, and grease and flour three 8-inch or two 9-inch round cake pans.

Combine the salt with about 2-2/3 cups of the flour in a medium bowl, and stir with a fork to mix well. Combine the baking soda, baking powder, and the remaining 2/3 cup of flour in a small bowl, and stir well.

Cream the butter, sugar, and oil with a mixer at medium speed until creamy, with no gritty signs of sugar. Add the eggs, beating for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the flour-salt mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk.

Gently fold in the flour-baking soda-baking powder mixture, and stir just until the flour disappears.

Pour into the prepared pans. Bake at 325 degrees F for 35 to 30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and springs back when touched lightly in the center.

Cool in the pans on a wire rack or a folded kitchen towel for 10 minutes. Then turn the cakes out onto wire racks or plates, and place them top side up to cool completely.

Cake layers should be allowed to cool completely before adding the jelly filling.

Put It All Together

Once the layers have cooled completely, it’s time to assemble the jelly cake.  For the jelly filling, jelly can be used straight out of the jar or mixed with confectioners’ sugar for added depth of flavor.

1. Lay the cake layers out separately on wax paper.
2. Using a knife, spread the jelly filling thickly over each layer.
3. Once each layer is jellied, stack the cake layers on top of each other to form a whole cake.
4. Spread additional jelly on top of the cake and allow it to run down the sides.  Do not try to actually “frost” the sides of the cake.