Sauerkraut "Surprise" Cake

By Hklbrries

Dear Heloise: I am looking for a cake recipe that I believe has sauerkraut in it. Can you help?

Helen D, NJ

Absolutely! Heloise’s Chocolate Sauerkraut “Surprise” Cake is moist and tasty. Just don’t tell anyone the “surprise” ingredient until he or she tries it. You can use a box cake mix in place of the dry ingredients for a quick recipe.


Hklbrries note: Don't spring this on anyone monitoring their vitamin K intake, such as those on blood thinners.


Gather the following ingredients...

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup shortening or butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup water or beer
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup sauerkraut, chopped, rinsed and drained

Details

Adapted from washingtonpost.com

Preparation

Step 1

Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs and mix well. Next, add vanilla, salt and cocoa. Mix together.

In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Alternating, add the dry ingredients and the water or beer, a little at a time, to the other batter.

Fold in the sauerkraut by hand. Bake in a greased and floured pan (13 by 9 inches) or cake pans (for a two-layer cake) for 35 to 45 minutes at 375 F. Frost with your favorite frosting (sour-cream or cream-cheese frosting is my favorite on this cake).