• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cottage at the Crossroads

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Canning
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Desserts
  • DIY
  • Crafts
  • Holidays
  • Christmas
  • Recipe Collections
  • Fall Decor
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Canning
    • Gardening
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Desserts
    • DIY
    • Crafts
    • Holidays
    • Christmas
    • Recipe Collections
    • Fall Decor
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Holidays » Christmas

    Taste the Nostalgia: Bake a Delicious Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    By: Chantal Kirkland · Updated: 26 Jul, '23 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    Closeup of sliced old fashioned ribbon cake
    Slices of bundt cake on a table with text which reads old fashioned ribbon cake
    Closeup of sliced 3-layer bundt cake with text which reads old fashioned ribbon cake
    Powdered sugar being added to old fashioned ribbon cake
    Photo collage of ingredients and finished cake with text which reads old fashioned ribbon cake

    Do you remember your grandma's old fashioned ribbon cake? This delicious dessert was a staple at every family gathering. Now, you can taste that same nostalgia with this easy to follow recipe.

    This old fashioned ribbon cake is perfect for any occasion, and it will leave your guests asking for more!

    Photo collage of ingredients and finished cake with text which reads old fashioned ribbon cake

    Taste the Nostalgia: Bake a Delicious Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    There's something about old fashioned desserts that just takes us back in time. Maybe it's the memories of our childhood, or maybe it's the simple flavors that can't be found in modern desserts.

    Whatever the reason, there's just nothing like a delicious old fashioned ribbon cake!

    This recipe is easy to follow and will produce a moist and delicious cake that your friends and family will love. So gather your ingredients and get baking!

    Closeup of sliced old fashioned ribbon cake

    What You Need To Make Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    • 1 pack yellow cake mix
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ cup milk
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 1 tablespoon green food coloring
    • 1 tablespoon pink food coloring
    Ingredients necessary to make old fashioned ribbon cake

    How to Make Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake Recipe

    Pour the cake mix in a large bowl and add the eggs and the milk and the butter.

    Mix all the ingredients for a few minutes until you get a smooth, even batter mixture. Make sure all the ingredients are incorporated before you stop mixing.

    Divide the mixture into 3 parts leaving 1 of the parts as it is.

    Add green food coloring to the other and pink to the third.

    Batter being colored to make old fashioned ribbon cake

    Mix the colors until you get the whole mixture colored.

    Prepare the bundt pam and start pouring the mixtures in, layering the colors together as you like.

    Batter being combined in bundt cake pan to make a old fashioned ribbon cake

    When the cake pan is full, place it in a preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C) or follow the instructions on your cake mix package.

    Closeup of batter layered in a bundt cake pan to make old fashioned ribbon cake

    Remove from the oven and allow the cake to rest a few minutes to cool before you flip the cake pan to remove the cake from the pan and cut it.

    Before serving, sprinkle some powdered sugar on the top of the cake.

    Powdered sugar being added to old fashioned ribbon cake

    Tips to Make an Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    • Grease the pan thoroughly, using butter or non-stick spray.
    • If you have an older cake mix, make sure to sift all of your dry ingredients together to ensure there are no lumps in your cake batter.
    • Use a rubber spatula to fold in any additional add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts.
    • Carefully pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan, making sure it is evenly distributed and that you don’t overfill the pan.
    • Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean - I know that some will say that means that the cake is overcooked, but that's not my experience. My experience is that if it comes out with goo on the toothpick, the cake is not cooked through.
    • Let cool completely before inverting onto a cooling rack. I like to do this by putting a plate or the cooling rack on top of the bundt pan, then flipping and gently tapping the bottom of the pan.
    • Dust your cake with powdered sugar before serving (don't skip this - it makes for an amazing topping).
    Slices of bundt cake on a table with text which reads old fashioned ribbon cake

    FAQs About Making Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    How do I store old fashioned ribbon cake?

    Once the cake has cooled, wrap it in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to one week. If you’d like to freeze it, you can wrap the cake in plastic wrap, then place it into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to three months.

    Can I use a different type of pan than a Bundt pan?

    Yes, you can use other types of pans such as loaf pans, round cake pans, or even muffin tins. Be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly if you decide to use a different pan.

    How do I keep the cake from sticking to the pan?

    Grease the pan thoroughly before adding the batter. This will help ensure that your cake doesn’t stick when you go to turn it out after baking. Additionally, try running a butter knife around the edge of the cake once it is finished baking to help loosen any stuck-on pieces.

    Sliced old fashioned ribbon cake on a plate

    Is this a vegan ribbon cake?

    No, this recipe, as written is not vegan. But, you could easily make this a vegan cake by substituting the butter and eggs with vegan-friendly substitutes.

    Is this a gluten-free ribbon cake?

    No, this recipe is not gluten-free. However, you could easily make this a gluten-free cake by substituting the all-purpose flour with an all-purpose gluten-free cake mix. I have had particularly good luck using the store-bought gluten-free brands of cake mixes, so you should be able to try it and find success too!

    Sliced old fashioned ribbon cake on a cake pan

    📋 Recipe

    Old fashioned ribbon cake being sliced and served

    Old Fashioned Ribbon Cake

    Such an easy and fun recipe for an old fashioned ribbon cake just like your grandma used to make - if you were lucky enough to have a grandma like mine!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 33 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 slices
    Calories 282 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Hand Mixer
    • 1 Bowl
    • 1 Bundt Pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pack yellow cake mix
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ cup milk
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 1 tablespoon green food coloring
    • 1 tablespoon pink food coloring

    Instructions
     

    • Pour the cake mix in a large bowl and add the eggs and the milk and the butter.
      1 pack yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, ½ cup milk, ¾ cup butter
    • Mix all the ingredients for a few minutes until you get a smooth, even batter mixture. Make sure all the ingredients are incorporated before you stop mixing.
    • Divide the mixture into 3 parts leaving 1 of the parts as it is.
    • Add green food coloring to the other and pink to the third.
      1 tablespoon green food coloring, 1 tablespoon pink food coloring
    • Mix the colors until you get the whole mixture colored.
    • Prepare the bundt pam and start pouring the mixtures in, layering the colors together as you like.
    • When the cake pan is full, place it in a preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C) or follow the instructions on your cake mix package.
    • Remove from the oven and allow the cake to rest a few minutes to cool before you flip the cake pan to remove the cake from the pan and cut it.
    • Before serving, sprinkle some powdered sugar on the top of the cake.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sliceCalories: 282kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 424mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 430IUCalcium: 113mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cake recipe, cookie recipe, easy bundt cake, finnish ribbon cookies, old fashioned ribbon cake, ribbon cake, ribbon cake recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Christmas

    • Closeup of finnish ribbon cookies on a plate
      Finnish Ribbon Cookies Recipe
    • Closeup of snowball cookies
      Snowball Cookies: Bake These Delicious 4-Ingredient Treats Today
    • Easy italian ribbon cake on a plate
      The Easiest (and Most Delicious) Italian Ribbon Cake You Will Ever Taste
    • Homemade thin mint cookies on a plate
      Homemade Thin Mint Cookies Recipe

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads

    We're Jane and Leo!

    Thanks for stopping by! We're renovating and preserving our family's 100 year old home place where we garden, complete a few DIY projects, and do some cooking. Please leave us a comment so that we'll know that you were here.

    about →

    Reader Favorites

    • A garden journal with dividers and tabs
      How to Set Up a Garden Journal
    • Wooden garden obelisks
      DIY Wooden Garden Obelisk
    • Sweet cucumber relish - featured
      Sweet Cucumber Relish
    • Growing cucumbers in raised beds
      Growing Cucumbers in Raised Beds

    Gardening How-tos

    • Best way to remove weeds from large area
      Best Ways To Remove Weeds From a Large Area
    • Potting mix vs. Potting soil
      Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil
    • How to dry and store fresh garden herbs
      How To Dry Herbs
    • 1
      Instant Pot Canning Basics
    • Cookbook Reviews (2)
    • DIY (161)
      • Crafts (75)
      • Home Decor (18)
      • Outdoor Projects (34)
      • Painted Furniture (29)
      • Tablescapes (23)
    • End of Year Review (8)
    • Favorites (7)
    • Gardening (108)
      • Container Gardening (22)
      • Flowers (20)
      • Gardening How To (30)
      • Herbs (4)
      • Structures (20)
      • Vegetables (13)
    • General (18)
    • Holidays (160)
      • Christmas (71)
      • Easter (27)
      • Halloween (3)
      • Independence Day (7)
      • Thanksgiving (10)
      • Valentine's Day (19)
    • Our Cottage (10)
    • Printables (10)
    • Recipe Collections (47)
    • Recipes (222)
      • Air Fryer (46)
      • Appetizers (29)
      • Beverages (8)
      • Canning (33)
      • Desserts (42)
      • Main Dishes (25)
      • Salads (18)
      • Sides (41)
      • Soups (17)
    • Renovations (7)
    • RVing (1)
    • Seasonal (90)
      • Fall Decor (42)
      • Spring Decor (32)
      • Summer Decor (16)

    Growing Vegetables

    • Fall vegetable garden | cottage at the crossroads
      Our Fall Vegetable Garden
    • Garden and yard may 2013 132
      Evolution of a Garden
    • Our best tomato plants are celebrities
      How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes
    • Growing lettuce in containers
      Growing Lettuce in Containers

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2021 Cottage at the Crossroads · All Rights Reserved

    Contact Us · Privacy

    0 shares