Dr. Pepper Cake

The cake was a hit at Dave’s birthday gathering! I might have let it cook just a wee bit too long as the instructions said ’til it pulls away from the pan and top starts to crack. Well mine wasn’t cracking and I was afraid it would over cook so I took it out. Next time I won’t wait I’ll take it out at 35 minutes. It seemed to me the layers were on the thin side but once iced it looked normal. I made a chocolate peanut butter cake too just to make sure I had enough. (Hubby has a large family, he’s one of 9!) But only a couple pieces of it were eaten. Everyone went for the Dr. Pepper cake! The frosting was divine!

 

I don’t take gorgeous pics like some bloggers do sorry. I almost forgot to get a pic period!

 

The birthday boy

you can see the dried cherries and prunes in it!

 

Dr. Pepper Cake

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup prunes, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
• 1 cup Dr. Pepper
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon all spice
Frosting
• 4 cups Dr. Pepper
• 1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks) softened
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 1/2 cups powder sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 2  8-inch round cake pans.
2. Add prunes and dried cherries to medium saucepan. Pour in 1 cup of Dr. Pepper, then bring it to a slow boil over medium heat.
3. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool, about 20 minutes.
4. Boil 1/2 cup water. In a microwave safe dish, melt butter. Add cocoa to melted butter then add in boiling water. Whisk together until smooth, set aside.
5. In small bowl add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla and whisk until combined.
6. In mixer fitted with paddle attachment add flour, sugar, nutmeg, ginger, and all spice.
7. With mixer on low, add in cocoa mixture.
8. Pour in buttermilk mixture.
9. Slowly pour in Dr. Pepper mixture and blend until fully combined.
10. This batter was about 5 cups, so I evenly divided it into two 8-inch pans. (2 1/2 cups per pan)
11. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

 Frosting 

1. Boil 4 cups of Dr. Pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat until it has reduced to about 1/2 cup. 20 to 25 minutes. (I actually had my temp on medium high and reduced the soda for about 1 hour) Set aside to cool completely.
2. Add butter to mixer and then add in ginger, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
3. Mix on medium high speed for 3-5 minutes, scraping bowl as needed.
4. With mixer on low, add in Dr. Pepper reduction and blend completely. Spread over cooled cake.

this is a Pioneer Woman recipe I pinned on Pinterest

In other news look what I got at the library today! Her newest book! Lots of holds on it so I have to read fast.

I’m off to read and eat a piece a cake:)

Peggy Ann