On October 1st it was my mom‘s birthday and it’s the first one where I couldn’t call her on the phone and sing her happy birthday. The whole week leading up to the day, I felt sad and found myself in tears because it hurts not to have your mom around anymore. But as I wondered how I could celebrate the day, I thought about the chocolate chip cake she always used to make for birthdays. It was baked in a bundt pan and sprinkled with icing sugar and while to others it seems just like an “everyday” kind of cake, for our family, this cake was special.
Heady with vanilla and studded with dark chocolate chips, my favorite part of this cake is actually the golden crust which seems extra buttery and rich. I like that this cake isn’t fussy and it totally suits my mom’s personality. My mom was the epitome of sweetness and kindness and never was the sort to put on a fancy production. That said, whenever we had guests, my mom pulled out the fancy china and silverware and would warm the soup bowls in the oven before serving. She was a very proud woman and this cake and the sprinkling of powdered sugar has an elegance that reflects how she lived.
This cake is also the hands-down favorite of my brother. He always requests it for his birthday and my mom, and now his wife, makes it for him. There are lots of recipes and foods that remind me of my mom, but this cake is special. And now I’m going to adopt this cake as a way to celebrate every October 1st – a lovely reminder of my maman that will really mean something to me and to my family. It’s an ideal way to begin a new tradition.
Elsewhere: Over at Poppytalk I talk figs and even provide a fig recipe – and I’m a bonefide fig hater. Try a Spanish Pan de Higo flourless cake this season.
maman’s chocolate chip cake
1 c butter
1 c sugar
1 6-gram pack Oetker vanilla sugar(or 1 t of vanilla extract)
3 eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c corn starch
1 T baking powder
1/2 c milk
1/2 c chocolate chipsCream butter, gradually add sugar, the vanilla sugar and eggs. Add mixture of sieved flour, corn starch and baking powder alternately with the milk. Mixture should be firm, don’t add too much milk. Finally, add chocolate chips and fill greased and dusted bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. When cool, dust with icing sugar.
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How very touching. My very first blog I ever read of yours, was the one about your dear mum. Happy Birthday to this woman who meant so much to you.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Beautiful post Jeannette. What a wonderful way to remember your mother. Thinking of you and sending loving thoughts. – Gemma
What a sweet post to your lovely Maman. Sending you hugs and love. xox
If I had a working oven door I would be making this tonight. Thank you for sharing such a dear post 🙂
What a nice way to remember your mom 🙂
It is something that will always have special meaning to you, and inside you lives your mom’s spirit and sense of pride. What a heartfelt thing to do to honor the memory of your mom.
Sending (virtual) hugs your way, Jeannette. I’m so sorry for all the pain surrounding your maman’s birthday, but there’s no better way to celebrate her memory than with a cake that suits her. Cheers to that!
What a lovely tradition for you to begin in your Mom’s honor. I too lost my Mom in October…eight years now…and like for you, there are certain dishes that just remind me of her, and that I hope to pass down to my 5yo son. I look forward to making this cake, and will give a shout-out to your Mom when I do! 🙂
awww. how absolutely sweet of you to do this for her.
That’s so very sweet of you. I’m sending you some positive vibes and hugs. I lost an aunt a long time ago who was passionate about food .. I never thought to start a tradition in her honor before now .. You’ve inspired me. Thank you.
What a wonderful celebration and new tradition to have! This kind of cake is hands down my favorite too; simple, beautiful, and just plain good.
Such a great way to remember your Mom! She would be proud of you, I am sure!
I was 23 when my mother died and, so many years later, one of my favourite memories is her baking. Butter tarts and tea biscuits were made without recipes and were always delicious.
Take care,
Patricia
PM_Poet Writer
Just beautiful! In my Greek culture, there is a bread that families make to commemorate a loved one that has passed away. The bread is taken to the church to be blessed on a specific day on the calendar and then the bread is consumed by the family. This cake sounds delicious and what a great way to carry on the chocolate chip cake tradition in memory of your mom.
That is such a lovely thing to do, to remember your Mum like that.
I don’t know what I would do if my Mum wasn’t around anymore…
*hugs*
A simple and elegant way to remember your mother with a smile.
Gorgeous post. It is such a sweet thing to do and a great way to remember your mother.
How much vanilla sugar is in 1 pack, in the event I decide to make my own (I assume we’re talking vanilla infused sugar here?)
Such a great way to remember. Really lovely post.
This is lovely and touching. And what a special way to remember her.
Hug from North Carolina.
very sweet and touching, and reminded me of my mama!
This is so touching. I understand how a seemingly everyday recipe can be so special to a family. I will absolutely save this recipe and give it a try so it will live on with your mother’s memory. Thank you for sharing it with us!
This looks delicious and I will try it. I’ve never used the vanilla sugar before but know where I can get it. I know the emotions you are going through…it’s tough. My Mom has been gone six years now, yet every May/June I get the cloudiness surrounding me and remember why. I think it’s so we never forget. Your Maman sounds lovely, as mine was. Her special cake was a simple angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream, so that is what I make in February for her Birthday. Hang in there…love your blog!
Hugs to you Jeannette…what a lovely tribute.
I love the idea that a recipe, and a lovely simple one at that, can help bridge the past, present and future. Thanks so much for sharing it. I will make this cake and think of you and your sweet Mom every time I do.
Combining chocolate chip cookies and cake? Dream come true!! And such a sweet story, too 🙂 I love this.
I don’t know why I never thought to do this – my mum will be gone 24 years in December (hard to believe) and she was a great baker. So this year I’ll start a new tradition to remember her. It’s never too late, ay?
So thank you! And I will think of you and your mum when I’m baking in honor of my mum.
What a lovely post and a sweet way to remember..you are a truly strong person
xo e
Thank you everyone for your comments and for sharing your own stories. I love that!
As for the vanilla sugar questions, I’ve amended the recipe with a link to Amazon (where it can be purchased) or you can sub in one teaspoon of vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon of homemade vanilla sugar. I’m sure the results will be delicious – just not the same. There really is something about the Oetker’s vanilla sugar which used to be available in most Canadian supermarkets and seems a bit less popular now.
What a perfect way to honor your mother. I love how foods can be such a good remembrance of a loved one. Nicely done.
What a beautiful way to honor your mother and celebrate her love on a sad day. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us.
This story is so touching. Taste and smell are so important to our memories, and I love that a simple cake can conjure so much. Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely, lovely way to celebrate your maman – and such a wonderful tradition to start! I lost my mother when I was 18 – but like you, I think of her often when cooking or baking. Nourishment for the body and soul!
Great looking cake. These first milestones are hard, when you miss someone….but I love the idea of creating a cake for her.
I made this today using Meister’s Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Mix and Almond Milk and it came out great! Thank you for sharing!
Nov. 11th was the first birthday I could not call my father to wish him a good birthday. My father wasn’t much of a cook but he loved good, simple food so I with the help of my two little girls made one of his favorites, tortillas. I am pretty positive he would like this cake.
Gracias for sharing your memories and recipe.
Beautiful. I love this, Jeannette. What a perfect, touching way to remember your mom. Amazing how recipes can be so magical!
What a nice way to start a new tradition and remember your mom! I love how food and good memories are such a wonderful pairing!