Grandpa's Birthday Cake

One year (and just one year) Mom made this birthday cake for Grandpa. It must have been in the 1980s because we still lived on Lincoln. Grandpa loved blueberries, so Mom made this very special blueberry layer cake. Layer cakes, especially with whipped cream topping, can be fragile. After dinner when it was time for dessert, John was carrying the cake to the table when suddenly the top layer slide off. I seem to recall that the cake was salvaged, and it was messy but delicious. This photo is not from this famous blueberry layer cake birthday, but it captures Grandpa.

Today is Grandpa's birthday. It has been not quite five years since Grandma and Grandpa passed away. I miss them, but I have wonderful memories of them, especially this delicious birthday cake. While Grandma was famous for her sweet tooth (which I have inherited) and would be happy with anything sweet, Grandpa loved cake. But not just any cake. Grandpa did not like and refused to eat chocolate cake; he always said devil's food cake was for the devil. So this cake is made with a classic yellow cake. I personally think it would also be tasty as a chocolate cake. But in honor of Grandpa, this cake is not chocolate.

After making and taste-testing this cake, I can report that this cake is as delicious as I remember. Even though the top layer did not slide off this time, the cake was still a bit messy. The cake itself is a standard yellow cake; you can follow the directions below or just use a box mix. The frosting is whipped cream and the blueberry filling is store-bought blueberry pie filling. You can make your own blueberry filling, but Mom used store-bought pie filling and so did I.

Grandpa's Birthday Cake


Yellow Cake

• 3 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add milk, butter, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until well combined. Add eggs and beat for 2 more minutes. Pour into 2 well greased and floured 8-inch round pans until pans are half-full. If you have leftover batter, make a few cupcakes or use another pan. Bake in an oven heated to 350 for 25 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to completely cool before removing from the pan.

Whipped Cream Frosting

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use

To assemble the cake, place the first layer on a plate and cover completely with whipped cream frosting. Before placing the second layer on top, cut out a circle from the top layer to create a ring of cake. Place the second layer on top of the first layer and cover completely with whipped cream. There will be a well in the center of the cake. Smooth the whipped cream frosting. Fill the well with the blueberry pie filling.