Deanna, that was my recipe all right. Grandma made it when I was growing up and it was always one of my favorites. Soonergrandmom, I don't know about the nuts changing texture, I almost never add the nuts because I don't like nuts baked in things. Not in banana bread or in cookies or in that hot fudge pudding cake, not even in fudge. Odd, I suppose, since I like nuts by themselves. Hmmm..... OK, a cake recipe for that 8x8 pan. Oh yeah, gingerbread! I just love it, and I love maple too, so this was right up my alley.... OLD-FASHIONED GINGERBREAD WITH MAPLE WHIPPED CREAM Yields one 8x8 inch cake. If you like, dust the gingerbread with confectioners' sugar and present it on a platter. It's homey enough though to serve straight from the baking dish. 1-3/4 cups plus 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda 2-1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground cloves Pinch salt 5 Tbs. butter, softened at room temperature 1/3 cup sugar 1 large egg 3/4 cup dark molasses 3/4 cup cold water 1 cup heavy cream (not ultra pasteurized, if possible) 1/4 cup maple syrup Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8x8 inch cake pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt onto a sheet of waxed paper. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour in the molasses in a slow, steady stream, beating all the while. Add half of the sifted dry ingredients and mix just until well combined. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Slowly pour in the cold water and stir until well incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan about 1 hour before serving. Beat the cream until thickened. Slowly pour in the syrup and continue beating until the cream holds soft peaks. Cut the cake into squares; serve with the whipped cream. I also use a small pan like that 8x8 pan for fruit cobblers and crisps, since there are only Ashley and I here. Grandma's Blueberry Crisp would fit in nicely, can be adapted to use apples, peaches or cherries or whatever else you like and can get readily. I use frozen fruit all winter to make it too. Blueberry Crisp-Grandmas ================ 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen, unsweetened 2 tbls lemon juice 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup quick oats 1/3 cup butter, softened 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt . Heat oven to 375. Arrange berries in ungreased square baking dish (8 inch) and sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine remaining ingredients until crumbly. (I use a pastry blender, grandma used two knives). Crumble topping over berries and bake until topping is lightly browned and berries are hot, about 30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings. Annie

The areas are very, very close. The 9-inch round pan has an area of 63.6 square inches, and the 8-inch square pan's area is 64 square inches. Can't get a better match. The time should be about the same; the round pan could take a little longer, but start testing at the same time you would for the 8-ich square. I usually use round pans instead of square ones, because the corners so easily get overdone on square cakes. And I just like round ones better.

This is my go-to coffee cake recipe. It is really delicious. 1959 Los Angeles City School Sour Cream Coffeecake Topping: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup brown sugar; packed 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped walnuts 1/4 cup butter, cut in small pieces Cake: 1 1/2 cups cake flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup butter 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup sour cream Preheat oven to 350*F (175*C). Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan; set aside. All ingredients should be at room temperature. For topping, mix together 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, sugar, salt and nuts. Add butter. Rub in by hand until mixture is crumbly. Be careful not to over mix. In bowl mix together 1 1/2 cups cake flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, soda and baking powder. In another bowl cream together butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Add half of dry ingredients, mixing just until flour is blended. Blend in sour cream, then remaining dry ingredients. Spread half of batter lightly into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with half of topping and spread with remaining batter. Sprinkle with remaining Topping. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until tested done when wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 8 servings.

Steve, as a person who doesn't like to shop, I'm amazed that you think it's easier to go buy another pan. lol! FWIW, I have recipes that were written for a 9x9 pan (e.g., brownies and cornbread) that I prefer to bake in an 8x8 because they're too thin/dry otherwise. Some recipes, e.g., quiche-like dishes, might be too thick/wet and not set properly in an 8x8, so it helps to make the decision if you're familiar with the recipe and what it produces in a 9x9.