Thursday, November 8, 2012

Fall Wacky Snack Cake-Apple, Maple, Walnut

Anyone remember the Wacky Snack Cake craze? It's a super simple 8x8 cake that can be whipped up from start to cake-cooling-and-dishes-washed in less than an hour. I likey! What makes it even greater is the never ending list of flavor variations (see below). Today's version should really be labeled "The Cubbard Was Bare Cake" because I only had a handful of walnuts and raisins, so I kept improvising and ended up with a moist, fluffy, tasty little cake:@)
They say you can mix this right in the baking dish, but I did use my mixer.

Apple, Maple, Walnut Snack Cake-adapted from Taste of Home
1 1/3 C A/P flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 C brown sugar
1/2 C water
1/2 C applesauce
1/3 C oil
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp cinnamon-add as much as you like
1/2 tsp pure maple extract-if you find it at Marshalls etc. grab it! You won't be sorry
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/3 C nuts-walnut or pecan
1/3 C raisins
  1. I just threw everything (except nuts/raisins) in the bowl of my mixer and put the spurs to it. Mix in the nuts/raisins last.
  2. Pour into an ungreased 8x8 baking dish.
  3. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Garnish with powdered sugar if desired.
I've attached a link to the Taste of Home Community where MissEllie listed this cake and variations. It was posted in 2004, I don't think she'd mind my sharing them here, kindly let me know if otherwise.
Have a happy day:@)

WACKY SNACK CAKE with variations:

CHOCOLATE
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat 350 degree oven. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa in bowl with a fork.
Stir in other ingredients. Pour in ungreased 8x8x2 pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes,
until wooden pick comes out clean. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Note: can be mixed in pan.

APPLESAUCE
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir 1 1/2 teaspoon allspice into flour mixture.
Reduce water to 1/2 cup and stir in 1/2 cup applesauce.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY
Omit water. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped nuts (almonds) into flour mixture.
Drain 1 jar (4 oz.) cherries reserving syrup. Chop cherries. Add water to syrup to make 1 cup. Stir water-syrup mixture and cherries with remaining ingredients

CHOCOLATE CHIP
Omit vanilla and cocoa. Stir in 1/3 cup nuts into flour mixture.
Sprinkle with 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips over batter in pan.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE
Same as chocolate snack cake except sprinkle with 1/2 cup chocolate chips
over batter before baking.

MAPLE NUT
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans into flour
mixture and add 1/2 teaspoon maple extract.

OATMEAL MOLASSES
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 3/4 cup quick oatmeal, 1 teaspoon
allspice and 2 tablespoons molasses.

OLD FASHIONED SPICE WALNUT
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 1/3 cups chopped nuts and 1 1/2
teaspoons allspice.

BROWN SUGAR NUT
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 1/3 cup walnuts.

PUMPKIN
Omit cocoa and vanilla. Stir in 1 teaspoon allspice into flour mixture.
Reduce water to 1/2 cup and stir in 1/2 cup pumpkin.

CHOCOLATE MINT
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract with the water.

CHOCOLATE SPICE
Stir 1/2 teaspoon allspice into flour mixture. 


I'm joining:

33 comments:

  1. The cake looks good. And so does the tar heel pie, which is quite a favorite here in the tar heels state. Only a little piece though, it is so rich ...but sooo good!

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  2. Yum, yum and more yum. This is my kind of cake. I always have real maple syrup from the maple farm in NH I go to in the spring. It makes all the difference in recipes. I also love all the variations you included.

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  3. What a fantastic little cake! Thanks for sharing all the variations.

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  4. OMGosh, this is too good to be true....a cake for all meals, and since it's early AM, I'm gonna make it for breakfast. I doubt it will last til supper!. Thanks for all the variations, surely one will fit my cupboard, and my flour requirements. Since I'm a Gluten Free Baker, I'll use GF Apurpose Flour and a tsp of Xantham Gum or an egg. I'm off to bake for breakfast!

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  5. Wow - it's like a church lady's cookbook dream come true!

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  6. This sounds like something I need to whip up..............is it on my diet?????????

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  7. Sounds good. Love all the variations.

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  8. I like the variations list. Just means I should make this many, many times.

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  9. I'll be making the one with applesauce today...going into freezer for next week's Bunco party....:))
    Thanks, Lynn

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  10. Wow what a list of variations! We can have cake forever!

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  11. Just Wonderful!
    A GREAT cake and super easy-to-make
    I so love the variations
    Thanks for sharing this

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  12. I see one of these cakes in my future, The chocolate or oatmeal variatiosn sound especially good to me. xo

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  13. Oh, you just reminded me of my mom...I remember when she would whip these little treats up often. I'd forgotten all about them!

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  14. Another winner! Amazing how much richer the taste with real maple syrup, isn't it?
    I love cakes like this...more raisins and nuts for me.

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  15. For some reason, I must have missed the wacky snack cake craze!! This sounds delicious with all of the delicious flavors that I love.

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  16. What a great cake and with all those variations. There's just no excuse not to whip one up if you're feeling a little wacky or not. I love that it's done in an 8 x 8" pan, too.

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  17. I love all the variations. The Wacky Cake of my youth was made in the pan, making it even easier!!

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  18. Hi Lynn,
    Why don't you come over and whip one of these delicious cakes up for me!!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  19. Oh Yum, Wish I had a piece right now to go with this coffee! All are delish..........
    Happy Weekend,

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  20. The gooey top is making my mouth water....mmmmmm.
    Have a great weekend!!
    xo

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  21. The Chocolate Cherry version is calling to me - and I can't make it stop!

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  22. Yes, I remember! I haven't seen all of those wonderful variations though! Cold and rainy here today and that always makes me want to bake a cake or bread. Sounds great to me!

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  23. This definitely brings back memories, how fun and how fall-ish!

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  24. Wow,what a great recipe. I love all the variations! Makes me want to back. Glad that is cooler here in the low desert of AZ. So anxious to get baking again. Thanks so much for this great post.

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  25. Delicious! It looks so moist, Lynn. Today I made a recipe that I shared for one of your Celebrity Cook Alongs (peanut butter pie with an oreo crust). It's good! (I'm a sweets fanatic, unfortunately!) Have a nice wknd. Hope you aren't getting the snow.

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  26. This looks yummy! We have the same butt problem, Lynn, lol....Christine

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  27. HI Lynn,
    This is a awesome recipe, so many cakes, so little time, I had better get started! Have a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  28. So many delicious versions!!! I think I'd pick apple first...YUM!

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  29. Hi Lynn, Your quick bake cake looks like I want a piece for my breakfast with my coffee. It sure does have a huge variety of ways to change the recipe. I just printed it. Yum.
    Have a happy weekend.
    Hugs, Jeanne

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  30. Wow, how versatile can a recipe get? I love your version, Lynn. Maple is one of my favorite flavorings.

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  31. Your cake looks so moist and I love all the variations! I'm wishing I had a little square for my coffee this morning!

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