Funeral Cakes Recipe

We'll say it: Food and death have a longstanding association in the South. What came to be called funeral cakes here began across the pond, possibly dating all the way back to the Vikings—but definitely back to the Victorians, who gave "funeral biscuits" to friends and family both as an invitation to the service and a memento of it. Southern Heritage Cakes explains our regional interpretation of this European tradition: "Every housekeeper had a certain recipe she could turn out at a moment's notice. And, although not every cook was frank enough to call that recipe a 'Funeral Cake,' some did. It was to be baked in the caring tradition we still observe, taking food to the home of a bereaved family." Our simple recipe is both kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing, the perfect pairing for hot tea or coffee.