Funny Cake

Funny Cake is a PA Dutch treat that seems to be very regional. When I ask people from outside the area if they like it, they scrunch up their faces and ask, “What’s so funny about it.” Old joke yes, but you get the point.
My Mom made this vanilla and chocolate cake baked in a pie crust along with Shoo-fly Pie (molasses cake in a pie crust, hmmm I see a pattern here) a few times a year.

Funny cake is easy to make. You can use ready-to-bake crust if you like. I sometimes do.

Here’s the Funny Cake recipe that reminds us that no matter how upside-down our world gets, it can all come together and become something beautiful again.

Makes 2 pies.
(revised recipe courtesy of Lori R. my pie dough mentor! :))
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Use the center rack in the oven.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
2/3 cup Crisco
6 Tablespoons cold water

Bottom layer:

1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cake layer:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Crisco
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Crust

1. Make the pie crust by working the flour and shortening together. Lori told me a tip that worked for a beautiful flaky crust. Her secret is to keep working the dough at this stage until all the flour is moistened.

2. Add water and work in just until mixed.
3. Lightly flour your surface and pin. Dip the dough in flour and pat off excess flour. If your dough sticks to the board, try using a bench scraper also known as a dough cutter instead of adding more flour.

4. Roll dough large enough to fit the size of your dish without needing to stretch it up the sides . Transfer dough to your dish by loosely rolling it back over the pin, kind of draping it and place it in your dish. Lightly press into place.

Cake

1. Mix sugar and shortening together until creamy.
2. Add egg, vanilla and milk.
3. Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl then add to the mixture. Mix until smooth. Do not over mix.

Chocolate layer:

1. Mix all ingredients together until dissolved.

Assembly

1. Divide the batter between the 2 pie shells by making 3 mounds in each shell. Do not spread the batter out. This gives the chocolate even flow.
2. Divide the chocolate mixture in half and pour over the batter.

3.Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for approximately 30 minutes more or until cake tests done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.
4.Cool you pie on a wire rack. Don’t worry if some cracking occurs, that’s just part of the fun!
Servings: 12

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 424 calories, 171 calories from fat, 19.1g total fat, 26.7mg cholesterol, 17.7mg sodium, 163.9mg potassium, 58.7g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 22.1g sugar, 6.8g protein, 62IU vitamin a, <1mg vitamin c.

Funny Cake

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour

Author: Cindy Kerschner

Serves: 12

Ingredients

Pie Crust
2 cups flour
⅔ cup Crisco
6 Tablespoons cold water
Bottom layer:
1¼ cups sugar
¾ cup cocoa
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake layer:
1 cup sugar
½ cup Crisco
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2¼ cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Crust
Make the pie crust by working the flour and shortening together. Lori told me a tip that worked for a beautiful flaky crust. Her secret is to keep working the dough at this stage until all the flour is moistened.
Add water and work in just until mixed.
Lightly flour your surface and pin. Dip the dough in flour and pat off excess flour. If your dough sticks to the board, try using a bench scraper also known as a dough cutter instead of adding more flour.
Roll dough large enough to fit the size of your dish without needing to stretch it up the sides . Transfer dough to your dish by loosely rolling it back over the pin, kind of draping it and place it in your dish. Lightly press into place.
Cake
Mix sugar and shortening together until creamy.
Add egg, vanilla and milk.
Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl then add to the mixture. Mix until smooth. Do not over mix.
Chocolate layer:
Mix all ingredients together until dissolved.
Assembly
Divide the batter between the 2 pie shells by making 3 mounds in each shell. Do not spread the batter out. This gives the chocolate even flow.
Divide the chocolate mixture in half and pour over the batter.3.Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for approximately 30 minutes more or until cake tests done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool you pie on a wire rack. Don't worry if some cracking occurs, that's just part of the fun!
Servings: 12
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 424 calories, 171 calories from fat, 19.1g total fat, 26.7mg cholesterol, 17.7mg sodium, 163.9mg potassium, 58.7g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 22.1g sugar, 6.8g protein, 62IU vitamin a, <1mg vitamin c.