What do you remember about jam cake?

I'm going to make jam cake for this weekend's dessert special. I have fond memories of eating my grandmother's and then my mom's. I got out mom's old recipe box and the recipe wasn't in there! So I started looking up recipes on the internet, and - lo and behold, they all seem to call for raisins. I remember the walnuts, but not the raisins!

Also - what kind of frosting do you remember from the last time you had jam cake? Caramel, or cream cheese?

Yes, there is an historic ongoing battle about whether it's "Kentucky Jam Cake" or "Tennessee Jam Cake" or "Georgia Jam Cake", but it's southern all right. Buttermilk, seedless blackberry jam, lots of eggs and butter, black walnuts, and a gooey frosting. A little slice of heaven! I still don't remember the raisins. Maybe my family was just leaving them out.

Marsha,
Mother always used a boiled caramel icing. I don't remember the raisins but I'll see if I can find her recipe. I think she used Cissy Cregg's (old Louisville food writer) recipe.

Ooh, Carol - that would be great. Yeah, I don't remember raisins, either. I think boiled caramel is what grandma put on, too!

Definitely caramel frosting. Maybe raisins.

My cousin just called her mom and got my grandma's recipe! (no raisins). I'm going to create my own frosting - caramel/cream cheese with a cup of jam mixed in, and crushed walnuts on the sides.

40 years ago when my grandmother would make it , it would always turn out a deep green.