Plain Cake (#1):

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter with sugar until consistency of whipped cream. Add egg yolks, beat again. Add liquid and sifted dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour into greased cake pan. Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until cake tests done.

Chocolate Cake (#2):

Add two (1 ounce each) squares of chocolate, shaved and melted. Reduce the amount of flour to 1 1/4 cups.

Gold or Yellow Cake (#3):

Use four egg yolks instead of two whole eggs, or better, three egg yolks and one white.

Silver or White Cake (#4):

Use four egg whites in place of two whole eggs.

Spice Cake (#5):

Add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cloves and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to the dry ingredients. Use molasses instead of milk, but add 1/3 cup warm water. Decrease sugar to 1/4 cup. Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Reduce baking powder to 1 teaspoon. Either Plain or Gold Cake can be adjusted to make Spice Cake.

Nut Cake (#6):

Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts (any kind). Reduce butter to 3 tablespoons. Nuts may be added to either Plain, Chocolate, Yellow, White or Spice Cake mixture.

Fruit Cake (#7):

Add 1/2 cup chopped fruit (raisins, Craisins, currants, dates or figs -- these should be floured with part of the flour). Fruit may be added to either Plain or Spice Cake.

Marble Cake (#8):

Color 1/3 of Plain or Silver Cake mixture dark by adding cocoa or chocolate. Put white part in cake pan and on this drop by spoonfuls dark mixture. Draw a spatula through once to swirl colors.

Ribbon Cake (#9):

Divide Plain or White Cake batter and color each portion with food coloring or color gels. Arrange in alternate color layers.

Caramel Cake (#10):

Caramel four tablespoons of sugar by stirring it in a saucepan directly over heat (without adding any water) until it melts and browns. Add one teaspoon maple extract and enough water to make up liquid in Plain Cake recipe and use instead of milk called for. Milk instead of water may be used to make up the required amount of liquid if desired.

Submitted by: Mary Anne Riley