In my culinary journey, I have come across a lot of cake recipes, but nothing quite like the Prune Punch Cake. It’s a unique blend of flavors, where the sweetness of prunes meets a punchy spice blend. This cake is not just a dessert; it’s a celebration of flavors that dance on your palate. The best part? It’s super easy to make. The recipe comes from my grandmother, who inherited it from her mother, making it a family heirloom. The cake holds a special place in our family gatherings and has been a constant companion during the holiday season. I love this recipe for its simplicity and the depth of flavors it offers. The prunes provide a delightful sweetness and moisture, while the spices add a comforting warmth. Baking this cake fills the kitchen with a delightful aroma that is sure to make everyone’s mouth water. I am excited to share this family gem with you!
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. Crisco
- 2 eggs
- 1 c. prune juice
- 1 tsp. soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 c. cooked prunes
- 2 c. flour
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Baking Instructions
- Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan.
- Mix all of the ingredients and pour into prepared pan.
- Bake at 350° until done. Remove cake from oven and top with 2 teaspoons sugar
- mixed with the juice of an orange to make 1/3 cup.
- Put on top of cake while warm.
- Mix sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on top, if desired. Cool and cut into squares.
- Serve with Cool Whip.
Calorie: 350
Total cooking time: 50 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
The Prune Punch Cake Chronicles
Ever have one of those days when you realize you’ve got a hankering for a sweet treat but all you’ve got in the cupboard are prunes? Yeah, me neither. But hey, let’s pretend for a moment, shall we? So there I was, faced with a can of **prune juice**, a bag of **flour**, and a healthy dose of optimism, preparing to bake what I’ve come to call the Prune Punch Cake.
The Unlikely Star: Prunes
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Prunes? Really?” I hear ya. But trust me, these wrinkly little guys are about to surprise you. I grabbed a cup of cooked **prunes**, just enough to add a pleasant hint of prune-iness to my cake, without turning it into a laxative.
Stir It Up: The Mix
Next up, I whipped out the ol’ **Crisco**. Half a cup to be precise. Into the bowl it went, followed by 2 **eggs** (yes, with shells removed, thank you very much), a cup of sugar (because what’s a cake without sugar?), 2 cups of flour (because what’s a cake without… you get the idea), 3/4 tsp. of salt (to balance out the sugary sweetness), 1 tsp. of both soda and cinnamon (both for that extra zing), and finally, 1 1/2 tsp. of nutmeg (because we’re fancy like that).
Now, I won’t lie to you. The mix looked… interesting. But hey, isn’t all great art a little unsettling at first?
The Pan and the Plan
So with my mix ready and raring to go, I turned my attention to the pan. A 9 x 13-inch pan to be precise. Now, I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty sure that’s a rectangle. So I greased and floured it up good and proper, making sure to get into all those tricky corners.
The Oven Dance
Once the pan was prepared, I poured in my prune-ful concoction and slid it into the oven, set at a toasty 350°. Now, I could tell you how long to bake it for, but then where would be the fun in that? Let’s just say “until done” and leave it at that.
The Final Flourish
While the cake was doing its thing in the oven, I got to work on the topping. I mixed 2 teaspoons of sugar with the juice of an orange to make 1/3 cup. I know, I know, I’m a culinary genius.
As soon as I deemed the cake ready, out it came. While still warm, I drizzled my orange-sugar concoction on top. I then mixed more sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on top, because at this point, why not?
The Grand Finale
After cooling and cutting the cake into squares, I served it up with a dollop of Cool Whip, because life is short and we all deserve a little indulgence.
And there you have it, folks. The Prune Punch Cake. It may not be the most traditional of cakes, but I’d bet my last prune it’s one of the tastiest. And if you don’t agree… well, more for me!
