Mary Ann cakes are made from scratch with either a white cake (or sponge cake). The center and edges is spread with either a fruit puree or jams, lemon curd, or pastry cream then garnished with buttercream icing and coconut.
This cake is one that I grew up with in Central Utica, New York that was made in several local bakeries.
I can still remember back in the 1960s when dad would bring these home in a box tied with string and I knew immediately what these special cakes were inside.
The white cake was delicious with just a little coating of frosting that held the coconut onto the cake then the middle had a variety of filling mostly strawberry or red raspberry.
When he would take me into the bakery I use to marvel at the larger cakes they made behind the glass where the pastries were kept chilled.
Our entire recipe for these shortcakes is made from scratch or you can take a shortcut using a cake mix, with pie filling in the center, storebought icing, and coconut.
The large Mary Ann cakes (also referred to as depressed jam cakes because of the center well) were usually for birthdays and special occasions he would always buy just a few smaller ones for a dinner treat.
I love how food can bring back the best childhood memories and these Mary Ann cakes are one of them.
Just scroll through our step-by-step photos to see how easy these are to make and after one bite, you'll love these delicious filled shortcakes.
This cake is one that I grew up with in Central Utica, New York that was made in several local bakeries.
I can still remember back in the 1960s when dad would bring these home in a box tied with string and I knew immediately what these special cakes were inside.
The white cake was delicious with just a little coating of frosting that held the coconut onto the cake then the middle had a variety of filling mostly strawberry or red raspberry.
When he would take me into the bakery I use to marvel at the larger cakes they made behind the glass where the pastries were kept chilled.
Our entire recipe for these shortcakes is made from scratch or you can take a shortcut using a cake mix, with pie filling in the center, storebought icing, and coconut.
The large Mary Ann cakes (also referred to as depressed jam cakes because of the center well) were usually for birthdays and special occasions he would always buy just a few smaller ones for a dinner treat.
I love how food can bring back the best childhood memories and these Mary Ann cakes are one of them.
Just scroll through our step-by-step photos to see how easy these are to make and after one bite, you'll love these delicious filled shortcakes.
