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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes |
Ready In: 40 Minutes Servings: 10 |
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This is one of my absolute favorite cake recipes! The recipe is taken from Patricia Polacco's children's book of the same name, Thunder Cake . Thunder Cake is very much like a good, super moist chocolate cake, only there's a unique and tasty twist: Tomatoes! Read more ! It's best (according to the story's lore and my experience) to begin making this cake when a storm is approaching, about an hour out. It truly does seem to taste best when baked under those weather conditions. Also, reading the book while baking it greatly adds to the experience. Especially, if you have little ones helping make the cake. It'll be the best stormy afternoon you'll have together! I promise. :) N.B.: If you're thinking of skipping the tomatoes, DON'T!!! They're what give the cake its deliciously rich & complex flavor and its supreme moistness. Try the recipe as written it first. You will love it! I bake this cake for get-togethers and parties. (However, I'll only bake it during a thunderstorm. Call me superstitious!) Though, I never mention the tomatoes until after people start bragging on how moist and delicious it is, and begin asking what's my secret. Boy, are they intrigued when I do tell! I love this cake! Ingredients:
1 cup shortening (i wouldn't substitute any ingredients in this recipe. it's made to be decadent!) |
1 3/4 cup sugar (i prefer sugar in the raw, but granualized white is just fine) |
1 teaspoon vanilla extract |
3 eggs, separated |
1 cup cold water |
1/3 cup pureed tomatoes |
2 1/2 cups cake flour |
1/2 cup dry cocoa |
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda |
1 teaspoon salt |
strawberries (for garnish) |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Set apart wet and dry ingredients before beginning.
3. Separate eggs into two bowls. Set aside.
4. Set wet ingredients and dry ingredients
5. Cream together wet ingredients one at a time: shortening, sugar, vanilla, water, tomatoes & eggs (blend yolks in. Beat whites until they are stiff, then fold in.)
6. Sift together these ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt.
7. Mix the dry mixture into the creamy mixture.
8. Grease and flour two 81/2 inch pans.
9. Divide batter into the two pans equally.
10. Bake at 350℉ for 35-40 minutes.
11. Frost with *homemade* chocolate buttercream frosting (can't find my recipe for it at the moment, but will post it as soon as I do!)
12. Garnish the top of your Thunder Cake with lots of strawberries (whole, sliced, or a mix of both, placed in a circular design on your cake).
13. Enjoy!
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