Funeral Cake Recipe – Easy & Tasty

Ingredients List

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to baking success. Accuracy is key, especially for beginners! Make sure to measure everything carefully.

For the Cake:

For the Frosting:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed steps carefully, and you’ll have a perfect Funeral Cake in no time! Remember, baking is a science, so precision helps, but don’t be afraid to enjoy the process.

Part 1: Preparing the Cake

1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. For extra easy release, you can line the bottom with parchment paper after greasing, then grease and flour the parchment too. This is a great tip for beginners to prevent sticking!
2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure there are no lumps of cocoa powder. Whisking ensures everything is evenly distributed.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients (Except Hot Water): In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined. Beginner Tip: For best results, ensure your eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with other ingredients, leading to a smoother batter and a more tender cake. If you don’t have buttermilk, simply add 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1/2 cup of regular milk and let it sit for 5 minutes until it curdles slightly – voilà, homemade buttermilk!
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredient mixture. Stir with a spatula or a wooden spoon until just combined. Do not overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in a tough, dense cake. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
5. Add Hot Water: Carefully pour the hot water (or hot coffee) into the batter. Stir gently until just incorporated. The batter will be quite thin – don’t worry, this is exactly how it should be! The hot liquid helps to bloom the cocoa powder, enhancing its flavor, and contributes to the cake’s moist texture.
6. Bake: Pour the thin batter evenly into your prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached (no wet batter). Beginner Tip: Ovens can vary, so start checking at 30 minutes. If your cake feels springy to the touch and the toothpick comes out clean, it’s ready!
7. Cool Slightly: Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool slightly for about 10-15 minutes. You want the cake to still be warm when you pour the frosting over it – this helps the frosting melt slightly and seep into the cake, making it incredibly moist.

Part 2: Making the Frosting & Finishing the Cake

8. Melt Butter & Cocoa: While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to deepen the cocoa flavor.
9. Add Milk & Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
10. Whisk in Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, whisking vigorously after each addition until smooth. Start with 3 cups and add more if needed to reach your desired consistency. The frosting should be pourable but not too thin. Beginner Tip: If your frosting is too thick, add a tiny splash more milk (1 teaspoon at a time). If it’s too thin, whisk in a bit more powdered sugar.
11. Frost the Warm Cake: Immediately pour the warm frosting evenly over the slightly warm cake in the pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread it if needed, ensuring it covers the entire surface. The warmth of the cake will allow the frosting to set into a beautiful, slightly glossy, fudgy layer.
12. Cool Completely: Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This allows the frosting to set properly and the flavors to meld beautifully. Enjoy your delicious, comforting Funeral Cake!

Tips & Tricks for a Perfect Funeral Cake

• Accurate Measuring is Key: Especially for flour. Don’t scoop directly from the bag; instead, spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. This prevents over-packing and ensures a tender cake.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Eggs, buttermilk, and butter for the frosting should ideally be at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better, creating a smoother batter and a more consistent frosting.
• Don’t Overmix: Once wet and dry ingredients are combined, mix only until just incorporated. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough, dry cake.
• Coffee for Deeper Flavor: Using hot brewed coffee instead of hot water in the cake batter significantly enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee. It’s a secret weapon for chocolate cakes!
• Don’t Overbake: Keep a close eye on your cake. An overbaked cake will be dry and crumbly. Test with a toothpick – if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, it’s done.
• Warm Cake, Warm Frosting: Pouring warm frosting over a slightly warm cake is crucial for this recipe. It helps the frosting melt slightly and soak into the cake, creating that signature moist, fudgy texture.
• Patience is a Virtue: Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing. This gives the frosting time to set and prevents the cake from falling apart when cut.
• Elevate with Toppings: Feel free to add sprinkles, chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts), or shredded coconut to the top of the frosting while it’s still wet for extra flavor and texture.

Essential Baking Tools

Having the right tools makes baking much easier and more enjoyable. Here are a few essentials for this recipe:

• Mixing Bowl (You’ll need at least two: one large for dry, one medium for wet ingredients)
• Whisk (For combining dry ingredients and making frosting)
• 9×13 Inch Baking Pan (The standard size for this sheet cake)
• Measuring Cups (For liquids and dry ingredients)
• Measuring Spoons (For smaller quantities like baking soda and vanilla)
• Rubber Spatula (For scraping bowls and folding ingredients)
• Wire Rack (For cooling the cake evenly)
• Small Saucepan (For making the frosting)
• Wooden Skewer or Toothpicks (For testing cake doneness)

Nutrition Information (Estimated Per Serving)

Please note: This is an estimated nutritional breakdown for one serving (assuming 12 servings per cake) and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes. It is provided for informational purposes only.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is it called “Funeral Cake”?

A: The name “Funeral Cake” (or sometimes “Potluck Cake” or “Depression Cake”) comes from its practicality and comforting nature. It’s typically a simple, large sheet cake that’s easy to make, transport, and serve to a crowd, making it a common choice for gatherings, including somber occasions where comfort food is appreciated. It’s often associated with community support and sharing.

Q: Can I make this cake ahead of time?

A: Absolutely! This cake is fantastic made a day in advance. In fact, many people find the flavors meld and the cake becomes even more moist and delicious the next day. Store it covered at room temperature.

Q: How should I store leftover Funeral Cake?

A: Store any leftover cake covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for up to a week. You can also freeze individual slices, well-wrapped, for up to 2-3 months.

Q: My cake turned out dry. What went wrong?

A: A dry cake is usually a sign of overbaking. Ovens vary, so it’s always best to start checking for doneness a few minutes before the minimum bake time. Another common culprit is over-measuring flour (packing it too tightly) or not having room temperature wet ingredients. Make sure to use the spoon-and-level method for flour!

Q: Can I substitute ingredients in this recipe?

A: While baking is a science, some minor substitutions are often fine. For instance, using hot coffee instead of hot water will enhance the chocolate flavor. If you don’t have buttermilk, the milk + lemon juice/vinegar trick works perfectly. For dietary restrictions, some substitutions might alter the texture or flavor significantly, so it’s best to stick to the recipe for your first try.

Q: My frosting is too thick/thin. How can I fix it?

A: If your frosting is too thick, add milk (or cream) one teaspoon at a time, whisking well after each addition, until you reach the desired pourable consistency. If it’s too thin, gradually whisk in more powdered sugar (one tablespoon at a time) until it thickens up. Remember, it should be pourable but not watery.

Conclusion

And there you have it – a truly comforting and incredibly delicious Funeral Cake Recipe! This cake is more than just a dessert; it’s a hug in food form, perfect for sharing with loved ones or simply treating yourself. We hope our detailed instructions and baking tips for beginners have given you the confidence to whip up this classic with ease.

Don’t be intimidated by baking; it’s a wonderful skill that brings joy and delicious results. Give this recipe a try, and you might just discover your new favorite go-to chocolate cake. Happy baking, and we can’t wait to hear how your Funeral Cake turns out!