Sanders' Chocolate Bumpy Cake

1Steve's Note:

This is a very sweet rich and decadent dessert. It looks very fancy when done but is pretty easy for a novice cook to put together. The recipe says it serves 24 but I think that would be stretching it a bit as the slices would be rather thin to get that many. Especially if you have a sweet tooth ;-)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 1.0 9x13 in ...

For Cake

• 1/2 cup hot black coffee or 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour

For BUTTERCREAM ICING

• 2 cups butter
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

For POURABLE FUDGE FROSTING

• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 dash salt
• 1/2 lb butter, divided
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. For Cake: In large bowl, combine coffee and cocoa; beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.
2. Add oil; beat for 30 seconds; add buttermilk; beat for 30 seconds; add baking soda; beat for 30 seconds; add salt; beat for 30 seconds; add vanilla; beat for 30 seconds; add eggs; beat for 30 seconds; add sugar; beat for 30 seconds.
3. Add flour; beat for 5 minutes.
4. Batter will be very bubbly.
5. Pour batter into greased (9x13 inch) pan and bake at 375ºF for 35-40 minutes.
6. For SANDERS' BUTTERCREAM ICING: Place butter in mixing bowl, add 2 cups powdered sugar; mix at low speed to obtain smooth paste.
7. Whip at medium speed, adding milk slowly and gradually, until light and fluffy.
8. Using a very clean bowl and beater, whip egg whites until stiff while adding the 1/2 cup powdered sugar slowly.
9. Mix this meringue slowly into the above mixture.
10. Add vanilla and remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
11. This last amount of sugar can be doubled if stiffer icing is desired.
12. For POURABLE FUDGE FROSTING: Over medium-high heat, combine buttermilk, sugar, corn syrup, salt and half the butter.
13. Bring mixture to a boil.
14. When mixture reaches the soft-ball stage, remove from heat.
15. Add remaining butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.
16. This will have a"pouring consistency".
17. TO ASSEMBLE CAKE: prepare cake as directed.
18. When cake is cooled, place cake in freezer for at least 30 minutes.
19. Prepare buttercream icing, then shape into (1 inch) rolls, placing on frozen cake, 1 inch apart across the top of the cake.
20. Return to the freezer for at least an additional 15 minutes.
21. Apply cooled fudge frosting to top of cake, covering buttercream rolls completely.
22. Return to freezer for several minutes or more to set frosting.

Reviews

[moms alternate endings]

I worked in a Sander's Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Mi growing up. The trick to this frosting is to beat it for at least 10 min and to add the extra xxx sugar to make it stiffer for the logs and get it cold. Put it in your pastry bag first and set in the fridge till it gets stiff. Yes piping them on is the best way. Leave out the vanilla if its too sweet for you. This is not the frosting that was put on the regular cakes, it was the butter, crisco, milk, vanilla one. Some people add a beaten egg white. Also, warm the milk and the sugar in the micro about 30 sec. Just lukewarm; enough to melt the sugar and beat it in to the butter/crisco mixture. Don't overheat the milk or it won't come together and it will not work in a HOT kitchen or hot day. Cocoa goes in to the warm mixture. Do not boil the buttermilk with the sugar mixture;add it with the rest.

[Chef #956616]

I made this cake and I really took my time with it. I made the cake one day and put it in the freezer then finished it the following day. I really didn't have that many problems with it, but I would like to say that I followed carefully the tips left by moms alternate endings! Thank you! It would have been helpful to have a picture to see what this was supposed to look like, so I will post my pic here for others. Another thing I discovered is that you will want to leave the cake IN the pan to put your fudge frosting on! I Took mine out of the pan and had fudge running everywhere! :)

[Chef #462184]

Taste was good, but appearance left something to be desired. Didn't have much luck with the fudge frosting. Like other reviewers mine firmed too soon, and also melted the buttercream, even though I had left it to firm in the freezer for almost an hour. The Sanders' is my Mom's favorite, I wish I would have been able to more accurately reproduce it for her birthday! Probably mostly due to my lack of candy making skills though.