1940s Lazy Daisy Cake

During the 1940s supplies were often quite limited so if you had a super special occasion, a Lazy Daisy cake would be the fancy cake for the occasion. This was Mom's Lazy Daisy recipe. 

For the Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 9 tablespoons butter, melted
• For the Topping
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350. Grease two 9-inch circle cake pans.
2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Heat the butter and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Stir in the vanilla.
4. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and thick, about 6 minutes.
5. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture and milk mixture alternately until just incorporated.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
7. Let cool slightly in the pan, about 10 minutes.
8. Heat the broiler.

For the Topping

1. Combine the butter, brown sugar, evaporated milk, salt, and coconut in a medium bowl. 
2. Spread the topping evenly over each cake. 
3. Broil until topping bubbles and just begins to brown, 3-4 minutes. 
4. Serve warm.

Note: you can also do this as a single layer cake.