Old South Prune Cake

My mom came yesterday from work with a huge case of dried prunes that’s she’d seen at the supermarket. She’s an impulsive buyer, so this came as no surprise. She then hinted “well, you know, you could bake something with it, if you have time.” I knew what that meant, so this morning I set out to find a recipe. I found one at CooksRecipes.com. Apparently it is very old, tried and true.

Boil a cup of prunes until they are mashable, then mash them.

Mix all the other ingredients, adding and stirring.

I didn’t have buttermilk, I never do, so I made my own. It’s really simple: 1 tbsp. lemon juice or white vinegar and one cup of milk.  MIx it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Ta dah!

Ok, you’ve got all your ingredients, make sure your pan is prepared and stick it in the oven. While it bakes, make the sauce.

This sauce is seriously addicting, so be careful when you try it. I had to stop myself after the first spoonful.

Here it is, in all its glory.

Old South Prune Cake

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup cooked mashed prunes

1 cup chopped nuts

 

The Sauce:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon light corn syrup or honey

1/2 cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan. Set aside.
2. Mix all ingredients and blend well. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until cake springs back when pressed in the center.
3. Remove from oven. Pour sauce over top of hot cake immediately.
4. For The Sauce: Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook until butter is melted. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Pour over cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.

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