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I was today years old when I found out about the Lane Cake.

It’s National Dessert Day. Seriously, who doesn’t like dessert? But, who knew that states had official desserts. Alabama has the Lane Cake.

Ooooooo weeee baby! The Lane Cake looks so delicious. How could anyone forget about this treasure? Now, I’m intrigued by this mystery. So, off I go with a plate and fork to find out more.

The Alabama connection to the Lane Cake is by Emma Lane of Clayton, Alabama. As we would suspect, the Lane Cake is rooted in southern tradition.

“For well over a hundred years since it was first featured in a cookbook in 1898. Emma Lane won a first prize ribbon when she baked her family's favorite cake and entered it in a county fair in Columbus, Georgia,” said Delishably.

 

Across the south, it became known as the Lane Cake in honor of Emma Rylander Lane. Why was it so popular? One word, alcohol. The recipe calls for Alabama whiskey. Some recipes even have alcohol is even in the frosting with peach schnapps. Amazing!

The alcoholic thrill was even discussed in Alabama native Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. The encyclopedia of Alabama noted that the “character Maudie Atkinson bakes a Lane cake to welcome Aunt Alexandra when she comes to live with the Finch family. Scout remarks, "Miss Maudie baked a Lane cake so loaded with shinny it made me tight." Shinny is a slang term for liquor.”

I’ve already sent this recipe to the baker in my family. I’m crossing my fingers that this shows up for the holidays.

(Source) For more from Delishably, click here. For more from the Encyclopedia of Alabama, click here. 

 

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