October 26, 2010
Even though I’m not into baking, I recently made the most sublime orange-flavored sheet cake. It took me just a few minutes and only a few dollars.
And the secret ingredient in this rich, moist wonder? Miracle Whip salad dressing. Yeah, really.
The orange zest (which is grated fresh orange peel) really does add zest
The cake was for a surprise 50th birthday luncheon. Sort of risky to try out this recipe — for the first time — on such an important event. But we’re talking here about our Art Students League painting teacher Karen O’Neil, who loves taking chances. Plus, my classmates are an experimental bunch.
At least there were real eggs in this fakery-filled cake
That’s the only reason I had the nerve to tackle this “Orange Dreamsicle Cake” which includes not just Miracle Whip but also Dream Whip topping in powder form. Who knew you could buy it as a powder?
The results were such a hit that everyone wanted the recipe, which is from “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn.
This author’s specialty is taking plain old cheapo supermarket box cake mixes and jazzing them with extras. I use her book whenever I’m asked to make a cake. She has never ever failed me.
The name of this particular creation is inspired, of course, by my favorite childhood Good Humor ice-cream-on-a-stick. I can’t resist Creamsicles. Which is why the next time I make this crazy treat, I think I’ll serve it with some fresh whipped cream.
P.S. – I only made one change to the original recipe. I added orange food coloring to the cake’s sugar glaze. You know I love the color orange. And if we’re doing junk food, might as well go all the way.
Cake Ingredients:
Glaze Ingredients:
Directions:
Note: If you’d like to see shots of the party and the cake during last Friday’s celebration, just click HERE to visit the photo album on my Facebook page. :-)
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Update on Nov. 3, 2010: I’ve gotten several emails from folks who are puzzling over the ingredient listed as “whipped topping mix.” This is what it looks like. When I opened it, there were two packets of powder mix inside. I used one and the other is right there in the photo, under the box. Enough to make one more of these crazy cakes.