Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

Name: Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12-16 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Desserts, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar, divided; 1/2 cup baking cocoa; 1-1/2 cups milk, divided; 2 unbaked pastry shells (9 inches); 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 egg; 2 tablespoons shortening; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Whipped cream, optional

I can still remember my grandma serving this delicious cake on the big wooden table in her farm kitchen. Every time I bake this unusual cake, it takes me back to those special days at Grandma's. —Diane Ganssle, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1-1/2 cups milk, divided
2 unbaked pastry shells (9 inches)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream, optional

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar and cocoa. Blend in 1/2 cup milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour into unbaked pastry shells, tipping to coat the pastry halfway up the sides; set aside. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and remaining sugar. Add egg, shortening, vanilla and remaining milk; beat until smooth. Starting at the edge, spoon batter into the pastry shells, completely covering the chocolate. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm or chilled with whipped cream if desired.

Reviews

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Average Rating:

colleen

Apr 27, 2020

This is very unique and yummy! Definitely a "funny" presentation of dessert!?? To Kathy I love your story and So glad that this recipe was here for you and your mother to enjoy together!
Kathy

Mar 17, 2020

My Mom and I used to make this when I was a kid before my brothers were born(they were a real handful). Before she died she asked me if I had her cookbook, she wanted to make a funny cake with me just like way back then. I didn’t have her book but I found this, we made it and enjoyed the making, baking and eating. I felt like a youngster again.
greenmachine49

Feb 20, 2020

This is not how the Funny Cakes here in Pa Dutch Country are made. As one reviewer pointed out - in a true Funny Cake recipe,, the chocolate is poured on the top of the yellow batter and ends up on the bottom.
D.

Oct 14, 2019

This is delicious but nowhere on the page (that I could find) tells that this recipe makes 2 pies. I figured it out, luckily, before I started the process, but someone should really correct the page so that at the top of the recipe it plainly states that this makes 2 pies, it doesn't use 2 pie shells for just one pie (no top crust). It was very tasty though and I will make it again now that I understand the recipe a bit better.
Richmeister67

Jun 24, 2018

It's real funny that this doesn't look like a cake but is actually a cake....LOL
Marsh55

Apr 18, 2018

Does anyone answer the questions?
Rose

Mar 4, 2018

I think there is a typo error in amount of shortening used in this recipe. The recipe I use is very similar, but for 1 cup of flour, I add 1/2 cup of butter or a mixture of butter and margarine.
BevEp

Mar 4, 2018

This appears to make 2 funny cakes in pie pans. Is that correct?
namyers

Mar 4, 2018

I would love to try this recipe. I have a question. Do you use both pie shells as the bottom crust or just one?
Georgene

Mar 2, 2018

This is almost a Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake. The chocolate sauce is poured over the batter. This will filter to the bottom. It will leave streaks of sauce throughout the batter. Looks pretty and tastes great. It’s funny because it’s a cake in a pie shell..