Monday, December 7, 2009

Pork and Beans Spice Cake

We've had our first official snowfall this season, two inches of snow that is here to stay . It fell softly, pristinely, flurrying, in dizzy spins , obscuring the view of the hills that make our valley, cloaking everything in white silence. It was a day to cuddle up, watch some old movies, and eat cake and drink hot coffee.

My thoughts turned to spice cake. Specifically, pork and beans spice cake. Yes, you read it right. Pork and beans. In a spice cake. Now, don't get all oogly on me here. While this sounds like an unlikely combination, this is a delicious, heavy, but moist cake, with a subtle flavor of cinnamon. If I didn't tell you about the pork and beans, you'd never guess, and you'd like it, too. I think it's an overstatement to call this a spice cake, but what's in a name, right? And besides, what else are you going to do with a cup and half of leftover baked beans.

Before I share the recipe that I found on Recipezaar, I'd like to say that I deviated from the directions a bit. The directions say to mush up the baked beans and a can of crushed pineapple, leaving a somewhat chunky appearance. I cannot do that. I put mine into a blender and puree the two ingredients together until smooth. It's a textural thing. It's a visual thing. It's because of a book I read while I was in grade school.

When we were in grade school, we had to read a biography called Mrs. Mike written by Benedict and Nancy Freeman. The story is set in the early 1900's and is a love story that takes place in the Canadian wilderness, and details the hardships of a young Canadian Mounty and his young bride. One episode describes the young couple at a long table shared by other diners. The details escape me, but I think snow must have been boiled for water, and a tin cup of it was being passed around for everyone to take a swallow. When it was passed to Mrs. Mike, she looked into it and saw a single baked bean floating in it. She passed the mug to the next diner. After 45 years, I still cannot get that revolting imagine of the one baked bean floating in a shared tin cup of water. And I cannot have bits of baked beans bobbing about in my spice cake.

Pork and Beans Spice Cake



16 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) pork and beans
8 ounces crushed pineapple, undrained
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup oil
4 eggs

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick butter) at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1-pound box confectioners' sugar
1 16-ounce bag pecans, finely diced, reserving one half cup for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously grease and flour two cake pans. The original directions do not include the size; I used two 8 inch x 2 inch pans, but found the cooking time listed to be too short. A 9-inch cake pan would probably be better.

In a blender of food processor combine the baked beans and the undrained can of crushed pineapple. Process until it's a smooth puree. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add the eggs, sugar, and oil. Beat at medium speed for two minutes.

Add the bean-pineapple mixture and beat until combined.

Pour into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Because my pans were smaller than what was probably intended, I baked mine for an additional 15 minutes or so and had to cover the cakes with tinfoil to prevent overbrowning.)

Remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.

To make the frosting: For the smoothest frosting, make sure that your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature so that when you beat them there won't be any hard chunks. Put the cream cheese and butter in a medium sized bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add the vanilla, beat to combine. Add the confectioners' sugar, stirring with a spoon to combine in the beginning to prevent the sugar from flying all over your workspace, and then using your mixer to thoroughly blend together. Add the chopped pecans (remembering to hold back one half cup).

When the cakes are cooled, level the tops of the cakes if you need to, and place the topside of the cake facing the bottom of the plate (bottomside is facing up towards you). Frost. Do the same with the second cake. Frost the top and the sides. With the one half cup of reserved pecans, liberally sprinkle the top.

Once again I deviated. I did not use an entire 16 ounce bag of pecans; I used walnuts because that's what I had. Also, because nuts are expensive and I'm the only one who enjoys them in baked goods, I eyeballed a generous amount and sprinkled them just between the layers and on the top.

44 comments:

  1. These recipes with surprise items are my favorite!! I can't wait to try this one out Katy :) It looks great. I think I'm going to take it to my family Christmas and wait until they love it to tell them what it is. I'm tricky like that :)

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  2. I have made cake with beans in it and brownies. but never pork. Very interesting and I know I would probably like it.

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  3. Pork and beans?? Actually, I'm down with the beans. The pork is a surprise. But hey, that cake looks super moist and delicious, so doesn't matter what's in it!

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  4. This is quite an interesting recipe. I have a question though, do you take the little piece of fat out of the can of beans or leave it in?

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  5. Wow! I think it is cool that you were brave enough to try this recipe when you first read it. It sure looks beautiful!!

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  6. in all my years, i would have never imagined this combination... sounds like something to put out for guests without telling them...

    are you sure???

    I want to believe... but really???

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  7. Ok Katy. If you say so. I trust you on this. Pork and Beans. OK. I will try this. Really? You aren't kidding are you? OK. Done deal. I trust you.

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  8. You all are making me LOL. Yep, really. Now, I do take the pork out, but for me, it's aesthetics only. I've read similar recipes where people said they've left it in, but I can't bring myself to do it.

    I hope to make a suet pudding before Christmas. And it's just like it sounds, made with a LOT of suet. And you'd never know it. Very rich. I think in some culinary traditions, it's called plum or raisin pudding. Sounds so much more elegant than suet pudding, eh. The arteries will clot just reading the recipe, which is why it only gets made once a year!

    So, I suppose a little square of pork fat in a spice cake recipe isn't anything to get flustered over if you happen to decide to use it or if it falls in and becomes pureed with the beans.

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  9. Pork and beans? Sound interesting and the cake looks so soft. I also love the cheese frosting.

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  10. Katy, What an interesting recipe! I have never heard of this but I am all over the texture thing. I would have to puree like you did! I was in stitches over your story! Funny how things tend to stick with us for a lifetime!
    The cake looks so moist and delish!

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  11. OMG..i am surprised to c the ingredients u used here...looks fabulous...

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  12. I LOL when I read your reason for pureeing the beans. I, too, would have had that image emblazoned on my minde if I'd read that story. The cake looks super moist. I've seen recipes for black bean brownies, so why not pork and bean cake.

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  13. Regardless of the ingredients, that is a seriously beautiful cake. I love a good spice cake and remember when I first happened upon your blog close to a year ago and a posting for Spanish Cake. Yum for sure.

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  14. I don't care what's in it because it looks absolutely delicious! I love a dense cake and this looks fluffy and tender. The beans give it some nutritious value, right? I love it. P.S. Your so brave! And that story of the floating bean is so funny. I think it will stick in my mind now too!

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  15. this is a new one for me -- i've never heard of this before!

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  16. Oh, boy that wasn't a good visual! EW! Please blend/puree away!

    LOL! As soon as I read the title I raced to read your ingredient list and yup, there it was, pork and beans. I think I might just have to take your word on this one Katy.

    Btw, wanted you to know that I made a batch of REAL (full of yeast) cinnamon rolls. You wanna hear something crazy? I think I like them better sans the yeast. I admit to needing more practic handling the dough and need a taste of someone else's homemade ones to confirm if I do or don't. :) As always you rock and thanks for the shove, er yeast push! :)
    ~ingrid

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  17. So different and innovative idea dear..Looks fabulous.

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  18. Very interesting; I've actually heard of this cake before, Katy, but not ever seen one. I would blend the beans up too, I think. And covered in cream cheese frosting is a real plus!

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  19. I can't wait to try this and feed it to my family WITHOUT telling them it is made of pork and beans. It should be worth a good laugh when I tell them. Thanks.

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  20. Katy, that is one great looking cake! I would love to be nestled in your home with you sharing this! I too would have to take the pork out. That just give me shivers thinking of leaving it in because I can't even eat it in the beans!

    We must have gotten the same snowfall...our first of the season also! Pretty different compared to getting blasted with it last year at the end of October!

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  21. This cake intrigues me SO much. Wow. So original. And it looks delicious. DO you promise you can't taste the pork and beans? Because if you do, I might just have to make it.

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  22. Joanne... I promise. The only difference that is noticeable is the texture because it's a little heavy due to the pureed beans. Other than that, it's just cake.

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  23. Katy,

    Only you could make snow falling sound wonderful! We had a dusting yesterday and both my husband and myself said "blah." I love the uniqueness of the cake. This is a must try for me.

    Happy Tuesday,
    Gin

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  24. I love trying recipes like this with unexpected ingredients. I would definitely puree the beans as well, since I'm pretty sure my kids would run the other way if they found whole beans in their cake!

    PS We just read Mrs. Mike for our book group. What a great book, although I don't remember the "bean scene" that you referred to.

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  25. Very unlikely combination, but I've run across a couple of unlikely pairing that are truly amazing. I am so interested in trying this, but i think i woul dhave to keep the pork and beans under wraps until the cake was gone - ~evil grin~.

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  26. Whoa....if that doesn't sound different than I don't know what does! I trust you Katy and if you say it's good, then I believe you!!! It looks terrific!

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  27. i have to try this, what a fun and unique idea, i bet it's delicious!

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  28. How cool is that recipe!! At first I thought I was reading it wrong..lol but nope I wasnt. It's amazing what you can add into something and not know it's in there. I HATE cabbage and for years I was eating a bbq beef sandwich that had very little beef and tons of cabbage in there. I never ever tasted the cabbage..lol shows what bbq sauce can do for a recipe..lol

    Im going to add this to my list!

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  29. I would imagine that the pork and beans make for a very moist cake. It looks delicious!

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  30. How interesting! Pork and beans in a cake?! wow...would really love to try a slice of it!

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  31. Oh Katy you made me laugh..that lone bean floating in the cup of water..
    I did a double take when I read the name of the cake but I have a son who puts 'anything together' so the surprise didn't last long!
    Your cake look wonderful..mmm-mm good! I too would be mashing the beans..smile!

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  32. Okay - you just did me in - a lone bean in water. Yes, a wee bit non-appetizing. But this cake - sounds fascinating. So very different - will have to give it a go.

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  33. I've heard of making cakes with beans before. This looks really good.

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  34. Wow, what an interesting cake with pork and beans! Is it still pretty sweet?

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  35. I would have to puree the beans too! I have an oatmeal cake that must taste similar that I really love!

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  36. Katy, you just reminded me of one of my very favorite books--Mrs. Mike is a book I have not thought of in years! Your posts are such a delight. The cake looks delish!

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  37. Yes, this sounds weird but it doesn't matter. I can't have pork. How would it work with just a can of beans and some sausage? That sounds weird too.

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  38. Just ignore Sweet and Savory. She has no idea what she is talking about.

    Her alter ego speaking.

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  39. Well now, very interesting! You made me laugh and laugh throughout the post....grin. Love it though...I like surprise recipes. Say, is it still snowy your way? Merry Christmas and all...that is especially fun to say when the snow is glistening..grin!

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  40. 5-Star Foodie, I think this cake is as sweet as any other I have eaten, though the frosting, I think, adds a lot to it.

    Comfy Cook and Sweet and Savory, I would use vegetarian baked beans. I happen to use the original B&M baked beans, which includes hunk o'pork, but really, I think the recipe is just looking for the addition of beans for the extra moisture and the spices used to cook the beans in (molasses and brown sugar). Don't know about the beans that have ketchup in them, but I'm not a baked bean with ketchup person. Just ask Coleen at Coleen's Recipes, LOL!!! She and I have a running joke about my aversion to such goings ons. Grins.

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  41. Trish, it has finally stopped snowing here, though we now have SNOWBANKS, overnight, just like that, and of course dirty snow, yuck. Temps are in the low double digits, with overnight temps being in the single digits. The cats get their noses as far as sticking them out the door and they reel back. Even our tough guy Hobias cat is content to snooze on the fleece bed blankets.

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  42. This one is really unique and different. Bet it's good.

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  43. I made pork & beans cake about 20 years ago at a summer camp and the kids loved it! Did not puree the beans and they were not too noticible. Tastes so much like carrot cake and it's a real crowd-pleaser.

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  44. I made pork & beans cake about 20 years ago at a summer camp and the kids loved it! Did not puree the beans and they were not too noticible. Tastes so much like carrot cake and it's a real crowd-pleaser.

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