Scandalous Grace Cake

Looking for more penny pinched recipes? Here you go!

 

Years ago, I heard Julie Ann Barnhill speak about her book Scandalous Grace at a MOPS conference.

 

She made the analogy that scandalous grace was like her grandmother's beloved cake recipe. Lavished with mounds of Philly cream cheese frosting, grace was simply abundant.

 

Since then, every single time I think of grace, a picture of a big ole' slice of chocolate cake comes to mind. 

 

So Saturday afternoon, as I baked my daughter's 13th birthday cake, of course I thought of grace.

 

{Am I the only girl who thinks about grace when she bakes a cake? Hmph.}

I was in a hurry for that cake to bake up, and pulled the most luscious, perfect chocolate cake out of the oven just a wee bit too early.

 

After a few moments I looked over to see those perfectly plump cake rounds fall just a bit in the center.

 

Then a little bit more.

 

And within just a few minutes, they were thoroughly depressed.

 

The perfect cake that I'd spent over an hour preparing wasn't quite perfect any more.

Out poured the grace.

 

I whipped up the frosting.

 

Not just a smidgen, but gobs of perfect chocolate buttercream and a little Oreo-filled-frosting too. 

 

Once the first layer plopped out on its plate I doled out the frosting.

 

A little cavern where it fell a pinch further?

 

Heap on a little more grace. 

 

 

{Topped with a few semi-sweet-morsels to hide extra flaws too.}

 

Adding on the second layer, I knew I'd find a few more holes to fill in. 

 

A dollop here, a smattering there, this cake's grace was abundant.

 

Scandalous, really. 

 

In fact, all those extra imperfections simply made way for a heaving pile of amazing grace.

 

 

You've never tasted a cake so perfectly delightful.

 

And just like that cake . . .

Our imperfections.

 

Our mess.

 

Our holes.

 

Our weakness.

 

His grace fills them all in.

 

It fills in the empty spots where I'll never be good enough.

 

it inflates the sullen areas too worn down to keep going.

 

It smooths over each hollow and blemish completely.

 

It plumps everything right up perfectly ~

 

deliciously,

 

~ and turns this mess of a momma into His masterpiece.

 

Thank.

 

heavens.

And it makes us want to do better.

 

To be fuller.

 

To live richer.

 

To lavish abundant grace on everyone around us, because we've so generously experienced it ourselves.

 

So go ahead.

 

Layer on the grace.

 

Whip it up fully and plop it down on everyone you meet. 

 

And share grace completely, because He first showered it on you.

‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' 2 Corinthians 12:9 

 

Scandalous Grace Cake, adapted from Taste's Better from Scratch Chocolate Cake with Oreo Frosting

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Ingredients:

CAKE

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray two 9-inch round cake pans well with non-stick cooking spray .
2. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add oil, eggs, vanilla, milk and sour cream and mix until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully pour in the boiling water. Beat on high speed for 1 minute until batter is nice and fluffy.
3. Pour the batter evenly between the cake pans and bake for 28-33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. Remove the cakes from oven and allow them to cool completely.
5. To make the Oreo filling, beat butter with electric mixer about 3 minutes.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla and milk and mix well.  Fold in crumbled Oreo cookie pieces.
6. Spread Oreo filling over the top of one of the cake rounds and sprinkle with half of the mini chocolate chips then top with the second cake round.
7. To make the chocolate frosting, add cocoa powder to a bowl with the melted butter and mix well to combine. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating until you reach your desired spreading consistency.  Stir in vanilla.
8. Cover the cakes with chocolate frosting and decorate with whole Oreos and mini chocolate chips.

 

Need a little extra grace today? Here you go . . . 

• Grace
• Where Do You Find Your Value
• The Ugly Green Eyed Monster And Why I'll Never Measure Up
• Charm Is Deceptive and Beauty Is Fleeting

Recipe adapted from Tastes Better from Scratch.  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE.