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One Bowl Surprise Cake

Name: One Bowl Surprise Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, (melted); 4 Tablespoons brown sugar; 2 cups flaked coconut; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 Tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves ((optional)); 1/2 cup shortening; 1 can condensed tomato soup; 2 eggs

Last updated: September 17, 2020 | Originally Published: April 12, 2017 by Linda Warren

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You’ll never guess what the surprise ingredient is that makes this One Bowl Surprise Cake so moist & delicious. And when you taste this spice cake topped with a crunchy toasted coconut topping, you just might want to skip dinner and go right to dessert. Just sayin’!

This recipe today has got to be at least 40 years old as I can remember writing it out when I was a young teen. In fact, it’s still on an old index card that I keep in my recipe box. I know, I know, yes I still have one of those!

I just can’t make myself get rid of them even though most of my recipes now reside on my computer. But I love looking back at all the old recipes especially the ones that my Mom had handwritten for me. It always makes me smile when I think of my beautiful, sweet Mom and how she loved to bake anything & everything.

One of these days I am going to have to work my way through all the recipe cards and share them here. There are some delicious recipes that you just don’t see any more. And I just love easy recipes that don’t dirty up half the kitchen bowls and utensils. This one uses just one bowl and the baking dish. Now how great is that?!

The first time I made this cake, I remember thinking, this is going to turn out awful! Especially with a can of the surprise ingredient in it. Did you peak at the next pictures? OK, then you know – that surprise ingredient is a can of tomato soup! Who knew that this pantry staple could make such a moist and delicious spice cake!

How to make

Start by placing melted butter into the baking dish. If you are using glass you can just place the baking dish in your microwave for 30 seconds. Sprinkle brown sugar on top in an even layer.
Then add coconut to cover sugar.
Next place dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add that surprise ingredient – one can of tomato soup. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
Add eggs, and continue beating for 2 more minutes.
Pour on top of coconut in an even layer.

Even the top out and bake.
Once baked, let cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

Invert partially cooled cake onto platter and leave pan on top of cake for several minutes then remove.

When the cake has cooled, sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and add flowers as a garnish. Serve warm or room temperature, if you can wait that long.

This easy one bowl Surprise Cake is super moist with a spice-cake like flavor. It doesn’t have to be dolled up with any frosting but if you prefer something a little sweeter a cream cheese frosting would go perfectly. It makes a quick go-to dessert or afternoon snack and you might even be tempted to have a slice for breakfast (now I can’t imagine why I thought of that!). Enjoy!

More quick & easy desserts

Fruit Cocktail Cake – A sweet cake with yep, you guessed it, fruit cocktail in it, with a crunchy topping of pecans and coconut that takes only 10 minutes to whip up.

Louisiana Stranger Cake – Weird name but easy, delicious cake. Just a boxed cake mix, frosting, 3 other ingredients & bake.

Milky Way Bundt Cake – is like a candy bar in cake form! A deliciously moist, buttery cake with swirls of caramel and milky way candy bars then covered with a chocolate glaze.

There’s more! Find the best easy cake recipes right here on 2CM!

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