Thunder Cake Recipes

Book

Thunder Cake
by Patricia Polacco

Next time there’s a storm, bake a Thunder Cake with Babushka. When you see the lightning flash, start counting slowly. When you hear the thunder, stop counting. That number is how many miles away the storm is, and how much time you have to make your Thunder Cake.

Cook

Grandma's Thunder Cake

Complexity: Easy cake, involves stand mixer.
Time: 20 minutes plus 40 minutes baking.

Ingredients

Cake:

1 cup butter
1 ¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, separated
1 cup cold water
⅓ cup pureed tomatoes, or 1 small tomato, pureed
2 ½ cups cake flour or all-purpose flour
½ cup dry cocoa
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
strawberries

Frosting:

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 ⅔ cups powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
⅓+ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Cream together, one at a time, the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Beat the yolks into the creamed mixture. Beat the whites until they are stiff, then fold in as well. Beat in water and tomato. Meanwhile, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Then, mix the dry mixture into the creamy mixture.
Bake in two greased and floured 8 ½ - inch round pans at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
While the cake is cooking, in a small mixer bowl, cream 6 tablespoons butter.
Sift together powdered sugar and cocoa.
Add powdered sugar and cocoa mix alternately with milk. Beat to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed).
Blend in vanilla.
Frost with frosting. Top with strawberries.