While this book revolves around a murder mystery, the characters discuss the Southern Jam Cake with such details that I just had to make it. The recipe lives up to the hype! Join the main character, Robbie, as she cycles around her small town in Indiana, makes delicious food, and solves a mystery.

This is book #6 in A Country Store Mystery series. Robbie Jordan runs Pans and Pancakes, a breakfast and lunch diner and B&B. As a transplant from California, Robbie is enjoying the small town life, even though some of the colloquial sayings make her laugh.

Strangled Eggs and Ham by Maddie Day

Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes by Maddie Day

Book Review

Murder Mystery Books

Book Review: Outline and Tone

In this installment of the series, there is a controversial development that is scheduled to be built in the hills outside of Robbie’s small town in Indiana. One of the things about this plot that I enjoyed is the perspective is not one sided. Robbie leans one way on the issue and her aunt leans the other way. Even though they have divided perspectives, they continue to support each other and are willing to see the different sides. I believe this is a lesson for us readers!

Robbie and her friend Lou take advantage of some great weather for activities just like swimming and riding bikes. The scenes described made me want to get outside too! Unfortunately, it is while Robbie is enjoying the great outdoors that she finds another outdoorsman has been murdered. For most of the novel, there aren’t any clear suspects. In fact, for most of the novel, the mystery revolves around will they or won’t they approve the new development. After the planning board makes the decision, the plot shifts gears back to the murder.

The Best Quote:

“I started with headings of CLUE and ANSWER and started to jot down what I knew. I could do the grid later. In the CLUE column, I listed VICTIM, MOTIVE, OPPORTUNITY, and SUSPECTS”

The author:

Maddie Day is one of my favorite authors to follow on social media. She posts regularly on Twitter @edithmaxwell. She also has a large following on Instagram and Facebook. Like so many authors, Maddie Day is a pseudonym for Edith Maxwell. She has at least six book series that can all be found on her website which is elaborate and has inside information and reviews for all of her books.

What is not to like?:

I was a bit dissatisfied with the resolution to the murder but not to the resolution of the other crimes and mysteries that unfolded.

The verdict:

Please take my advice and make the Southern Jam Cake. It is fabulous. The caramel frosting is the best I’ve ever had.

Book Club Books Recommendation:

Read It! 4/5 Books 📚📚📚📚

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).

Southern Jam Cake with Blackberry Jam

Assemble the Ingredients

Easy dessert to make: 4/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9″ x 13″ pan or two 9″ cake pans. I would recommend using Pan Coat instead of butter and flour or nonstick spray.

Pan Coat is a recipe from Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series. It is a shelf stable nonstick coating that works wonderfully! Simply brush it on.

Cream butter and sugar, and then beat in eggs, one at a time.

For this recipe you can either use a stand mixer or a hand mixer. If you use a hand mixer, be sure to use bowls that have a nonslip bottom.

Molly's Favorite Mixing Bowls

OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk

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Mix cocoa, spices, and baking soda into the flour.

Alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the dry ingredients in three portions, mixing well after each addition.

Whenever I bake, I always use the OXO beaker measuring cups for liquids. They come in so many sizes, it make a perfect addition to your baking tools.

Molly's Favorite Way to Measure Liquids

OXO Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set

7 piece liquid measuring cups with pour spout.

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Fold in the preserves.

Molly's Recommendation for Measuring Sticky Things

OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Adjustable Measuring Cup, Clear/Black

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Bake at 350 degrees for half an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Cool and frost with Caramel Frosting. Makes two layers, or one sheet cake.

Caramel Frosting Recipe Assemble the Ingredients

Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in brown sugar. Add the milk and continue stirring until it comes to a boil.

Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. I poured the caramel into the medium mixing bowl to allow it to cool faster.

Add the powdered sugar and vanilla while beating with a mixer on low speed. Beat on high speed until right spreading consistency. If it gets too hard, add a few drops of hot water. If not hard enough, add more powdered sugar.

I found the frosting to be too runny.

So I added more powdered sugar until it was a stiffer frosting. I added about one more cup.

If making a layer cake, frost the bottom half and then the entire cake. I then added some drops of the preserves and swirled it into the top.

So delicious

Southern Jam Cake with Blackberry Jam and Cozy Mystery Novel by Maddie Day.

Southern Blackberry Jam Cake

Note from author Maddie Day Granny Rose's Southern Jam Cake

I have adapted this recipe from one that mystery fan and blogger/reviewer Kathy Boone Reel kindly provided, courtesy of her mother. Adele makes the cake, and then Robbie makes a sheet version for a lunch special.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp cocoa powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1½ cups flour
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup seedless blackberry jam

Caramel Frosting

½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
¼ cup milk
2 cups sifted confectioner's (powdered) sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter and flour a 9" x 13" pan or two 9" cake pans.
Cream butter and sugar, and then beat in eggs.
Mix cocoa, spices, and baking soda into the flour.
Alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the dry ingredients in three portions, mixing well after each addition.
Fold in the preserves.
Bake at 350 degrees for half an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool and frost with Caramel Frosting.

Caramel Frosting

Melt butter in a saucepan.
Stir in brown sugar.
Add the milk and continue stirring until it comes to a boil.
Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla while beating with a mixer on low speed.
Beat on high speed until right spreading consistency.
If it gets too hard, add a few drops of hot water. If not hard enough, add more powdered sugar.
If making a layer cake, frost the bottom half and then the entire cake.

Keyword baked, buttercream, cake, dessert, frosting, jam, preserves

What would I do differently next time?

While I like blackberries, I love blueberries. Next time I will try the cake with blueberry preserves. I bet strawberry preserves would be delicious too!