Hurry Up Spice Cake {Vintage Recipe}

Name: Hurry Up Spice Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: ½ cup packed brown sugar; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 tablespoons salted butter (softened); ¾ cup chopped pecans; ½ cup shortening; 1 cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup packed brown sugar; 3 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup 2% milk; 3 cups all-purpose flour (lightly spooned and leveled); 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground allspice

This homemade cake goes into the oven already “frosted” with a cinnamon sugar nut streusel. Hurry Up Spice Cake is an easy dessert with a warm flavor.

Spice cake is one of those things I never crave, but when I smell it baking and take a first bite, I’m 100% won over. Warm cinnamon & nutmeg, nuts & brown sugar. What’s not to love?

Why you’ll love this cake:

If you love frosting, try our buttercream spice cupcakes or our molasses spice cake. But if you need something quick and easy, this Hurry Up Spice Cake is the recipe you want.

100% from scratch
Streusel baked inside and on top
Fluffy texture
Filled with warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice
Ideal for dessert or for breakfast

What spices are in spice cake?

Cinnamon and nutmeg are two common spices in spice cake. You’ll also often see a spice called “allspice”. So what is allspice? It is a dried berry from the plant Pimenta dioica (in the myrtle family). It has flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pepper. You can buy it in the spice aisle and it is handy because it has so many of the warm tones you know and love in spice cake.

What is a hurry up cake?

From what I’ve read, “Hurry Up” cake comes from The Joy of Cooking. It’s generally an easy homemade cake that bakes in a sheet cake pan. Many don’t need frosting, as the one that you see here. The streusel topping is all the frosting it needs, making it quick and easy. There are endless variations of cakes with this “Hurry Up” name.

How to Make Hurry Up Spice Cake

Start by mixing up the streusel ingredients. Set this aside. You’ll use it in the middle of the cake and on top!

Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the shortening and sugars.
Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Add in the milk and mix again.
Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix at medium speed for about 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.
Sprinkle half of the nut topping over the batter.
Then pour the remaining batter in the pan. Spread it lightly to cover the topping.

cake batter over streusel in a baking pan

Sprinkle the remaining topping evenly over the batter.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the top springs back when you touch it.

Hurry Up Spice Cake

5 from 2 votes

This homemade cake goes into the oven already "frosted" with a cinnamon sugar nut streusel. Hurry Up Spice Cake is an easy dessert with a warm flavor.

Servings 15

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

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Ingredients

For the Nut Topping:

½ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons salted butter softened
¾ cup chopped pecans

For the cake:

½ cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup 2% milk
3 cups all-purpose flour lightly spooned and leveled
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

Make the nut topping:

In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Add the butter and mix until crumbly. Then mix in the nuts.

Make the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the shortening and sugars.
Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Add in the milk and mix again.
Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix at medium speed for about 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.
Sprinkle half of the nut topping over the batter.
Then pour the remaining batter in the pan. Spread it lightly to cover the topping.
Sprinkle the remaining topping evenly over the batter.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the top springs back when you touch it.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 15 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Recipe Source: Pillsbury Bake Off Cookbook

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 352

Keyword cinnamon coffee cake, easy spice cake

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use self-rising flour?

Yes you can, but leave out the baking powder and salt.

Are there adjustments for high altitude?

According to the original recipe, for 5200 Feet and above, decrease baking powder to 2 ¾ teaspoons. Increase milk to 1 cup plus two tablespoons. Bake at 375º Fahrenheit for 40-45 minutes.

Can I use butter in the cake instead of shortening?

Yes, but it will change the texture slightly. If you choose to use butter, make sure it is at room temperature.