Recipe for Puddle Cake
by Laurel Storey
on October 19, 2013
Last night I was fretting because there wasn’t anything “snacky” in the house. “I want cake,” I grumbled to Peter, secretly (or maybe not so secretly) hoping he’d offer to run out to the store to pick up some treats. “Why don’t you make puddle cake?” he countered reasonably (and perhaps a touch hopefully).
Puddle cake – but of course!
I always seem to forget about this recipe, despite the fact that it is quite possibly one of the easiest cakes ever to make, calls for ingredients that are readily on hand in your basic pantry (no eggs or milk required), and doesn’t even dirty the mixer. It’s great on its own as a plain chocolate cake, but what I especially love about this recipe is customizing it with different ingredients and flavours that enhance the chocolate, depending on my mood or what I happen to have in the house. In addition to the vanilla I’ve tried it with almond extract, which is very yummy. I’ve added cinnamon, chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, nuts, and coconut (not all at the same time, of course!) – but I think my favourite would have to be the time I threw in a bag of Skor Toffee Bits. Wow.
Chocolate + Toffee = Total Decadence
I’ve had this recipe for a couple of decades, and have no idea as to its source. I received the original as a copy of a copy from a preschool teacher who used to make it with her class (see, I told you it was easy!), and have tweaked it slightly after many, many makings to suit my own tastes.
Last night I stuck with just plain chocolate, which satisfied my craving perfectly (and no one even had to leave the house!).
Peter was happy, because I was happy… and because he got CAKE.
Puddle Cake is a terrific, simple, yummy recipe – and I’m glad he reminded me of it. Now let’s see just how long this particular batch lasts!
Have you ever made Puddle Cake?
Any ideas for additional flavours or ingredients?
Please share!
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cooking and baking,
NaBloPoMo 2013,
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Laurel Storey, CZT –
Certified Zentangle Teacher. Writer, reader, tangler, iPhoneographer, cat herder, learner of French and Italian, crocheter, needle felter, on-and-off politics junkie, 80s music trivia freak, ongoing work in progress.
The universe is knocking on my cupboard doors to make this cake! I’ve now run across this recipe under a variety of names… I know it as the cake my mother made – she called it wacky cake. I was drawn to your post because of the unusual name…and there it is wacky cake! I’m going to make it this weekend – the taste is very recognizable isn’t it! Yum!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 19, 2013
I love it, Barbara – sounds like you definitely need to give it a try! I wonder how long this recipe has been around, and who was the creator. Too bad it was done pre-internet, or we might be able to find out!
Laurel Regan recently posted… A lesson about impatience
Twitter: RRudeParanormal
October 19, 2013
I learned this recipe in grade school, from a friend named Lorilee. She called it Crazy Cake. She taught me draw a happy face in the dry ingredients in the pan and fill the resulting holes with the oil, vinegar and vanilla.
I prefer to eat it with fresh whipped cream 🙂
Renae recently posted… Something went terribly wrong.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 19, 2013
Oh, I love the happy face idea! How fun. If I ever end up doing this with kids, I think that’s how I’ll approach it.
Laurel Regan recently posted… A lesson about impatience
How do you know how much of the flavorings to put in?? It sounds like a great recipe and one I would love to try sometime!!
Kathy recently posted… Liquid Chalkers!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 20, 2013
I must admit, Kathy, that I just sort of wing it when it comes to the extras – just whatever feels right! I’ve always been lucky so far. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… A lesson about impatience
Twitter: howelltracks
October 20, 2013
Oh, this could be evil! A great sounding cake made up of all the ingredients I have on hand!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 20, 2013
You’re welcome – hope you enjoy it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Twitter: carolejshaffer
October 20, 2013
i made a banana cake today but i’m definitely trying you recipe sometime next week sounds easy and delicious
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 20, 2013
It really is – hope you enjoy!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Hi from ICLW…that cake looks yummy!!!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
It was great! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Yum, absolute yum. thanks for sharing and I will have this in mind until I bake one myself. thanks!
grownandflown recently posted… Neither Bad People Nor Bad Parents
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Twitter: TheGenAboveMe
October 21, 2013
I have never baked with toffee. Why not? I love it when others do. I need to bake outside of the box! Thanks for the recipe.
Karen D. Austin recently posted… Recipe Legacy: Cranberry Salsa
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
You’re welcome! I love toffee. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Twitter: DarleneMAM
October 21, 2013
What a versatile recipe. And one I’ve never heard of before. I have to try it!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
Hope you enjoy!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Twitter: Joy\'s Book Blog
October 21, 2013
That looks delicious. Cool that it’s easy enough to make on a whim.
Joy Weese Moll ( recently posted… Dreaming of France with the Perfume Collector
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
Yes – the best kind of recipe!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
This sounds sooo goood! I just might have to try it out soon 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… Trickery
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
Hope you enjoy it if you do!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Today’s Gratitude List – Linkup No. 3
Sounds wonderful. I’ll have to import some little ones and have a bake day. Not that I really need to import kids to bake a cake, LOL.
Connie McLeod recently posted… My Sweet Ghostly Connection
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
Cake is ALWAYS a good idea! 😉
Twitter: geekgirlusa
October 21, 2013
OK You had me at chocolate! Oh yeah… 🙂
Cheryl recently posted… How Many Eyes Are In Your Family?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
*grin*
What a fun recipe! I love the fact that you had all the ingredients in the house (I would have had those, too).
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 21, 2013
I think that’s the best part of the recipe – you are more than likely to have all of the ingredients on hand!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Meatless Monday No. 4 – Sabra to the rescue
Definitely will pin it so I can find again. Sounds great.
Renee recently posted… Sweet Pumpkin with a Spicy Ragout
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 22, 2013
Thanks, Renee! Enjoy!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Meatless Monday No. 4 – Sabra to the rescue
Well that cake certainly looks moist and delicious and easy to make! I’m a big brownies fan normally (though they haven’t appealed to me much being pregnant right now) and hubby is a huge chocolate cake fan, so maybe we’ll have to make this soon! The vinegar in it sounds intriguing and I’m wondering if you could use flavored vinegars (like cherry or blueberry balsamic or something)…hmmm…
ICLW here and thank you for your comment as well!
Ericka recently posted… October ICLW
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 23, 2013
Oh, what a great idea – I never thought of the idea of flavoured vinegars, but I’ll bet it would work. I will have to try that next time! Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Christmas – just around the corner!
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[…] it’s not your normal cake recipe. Crazy Cake, Puddle Cake from Laurel Regan’s Blog (AlphabetSalad), or Depression Cake…It was even on Food52′s blog called Margaret Fox’s Amazon […]