There are a lot of recipes for Funeral Cake out there, and the history is a little bit interesting. I think the traditional recipe is more like a shortbread, but this one is a simple chocolate snack cake. It’s good – the addition of warm spices is something I really like and it makes the cake unique. However, I can’t really get past the title of the cookbook, White Trash Gatherings. It just doesn’t sound very appetizing and does not evoke images of delicious, well-prepared food.

• Maw Maw’s West Virginia Funeral Cake (White Trash Gatherings)