It looks rather modern with the gummy worms and cookie crumb dirt. However, this is a modern birthday cake made with a Devil's Food Cake from 1924, called Cake Secrets. The booklet was produced by the Carnol Tonic and Restorative company. Alternating pages have either recipes for cakes, frostings or fillings and the opposite pages have testimonials for the tonics. I noticed that some of the recipes seem to be from other cookery books. As well, some recipes have suggested fillings or frostings, but the recipes aren't in the book!
This recipe was chosen to fulfill a challenge using ingredients which you wouldn't normally use together. In this recipe, it's the use of chocolate and potatoes, which I'd never, ever imagined would be ingredients that I'd put together. Because I had no leftover mashed potatoes, I had to actually boil, mash and cool the potatoes before I made the cake. I frosted the cake with a whipped ganache. Usually this is a simple and nearly fool proof frosting. Unfortunately the kitchen was cool and the chocolate seemed to start setting up before it was completely incorporated into the whipping cream. It tasted superb though and wasn't noticeable when eating it. Only that it was a little bit rough in looks.
I didn't add the nuts to the cake, though it would have made a nice addition. I used one of the layers that this cake made to take to a pot luck luncheon and left the nuts out due to possible allergies.
It says to bake in 3 layers, which I took to mean to bake in 3 separate pans. I only had 2 the same size though and ended up overfilling the pans, which might have contributed to the denseness of the cakes. I would definitely do 3 thinner layers next time. Also, not having Swans Down Cake Flour, or any cake flour on hand, I just used scant cups of all purpose flour. This may have made a difference as well
In all, it was a very rich and moist cake. After 4 days, the cake was still moist and not showing any signs of stale crumbs at all. In fact, when I tossed the remaining bits, they were as moist as when it was first baked. This is definitely a good recipe to play with, plus it was very tasty. Everyone who tried it liked the flavour and texture.
Nowadays it seems rather ironic that a health tonic company would publish a booklet with cake recipes! The mashed potato is a very interesting addition and I wonder if it's the secret to the cake staying moist.
ReplyDeleteI found a copy of Cake Secrets at the Internet Archive and downloaded it. I'll have to give this recipe a try.