What is it about Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake that makes it funny? Rumor has it that there are two reasons behind the name. The first reason is that the classic, traditional dessert from this Mennonite cookbook is actually a pie, with cake on top. Silly, right? Reason number two comes from what happens when the cakes bakes and settles into the pie. The heavy cake layer sinks down into the softer pie filling, creating a delicious swirl of the two. So is it cake, or is it pie? While we don’t have the answer, we do know it’s delicious, and FUNNY!
So how can you bring the flavors of Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake to your kitchen, minus the loads of sugar? With our healthy recipe! Grab your ingredients and get started so you can enjoy this healthy version of the Dutch Funny Cake.
Ingredients:
You’ll need to keep ingredients in three separate groups: the crust, the cake, and the pie filling/chocolate coating.
Pie crust
Note: Pie crust ingredients should be as cold as possible, but not frozen. We suggest keeping them in the fridge until ready to use.
- 1 ½ cup almond flour (or your favorite healthy flour option)
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- ½ cup of butter
- ¼ cup of ice water
Pie filling/Chocolate coating
- 1 bag of chocolate chips
- ½ cup of hot water
- 1 spoon of vanilla essence
Vanilla cake
- 1 cup of flour of your choice
- ¼ tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¾ organic coconut sugar
- ½ cup of milk of your choice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
Preparation:
You’ll be preparing each of the layers individually. For a true Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake, the chocolate filling has to be on the bottom to allow the heavier cake layer to sink down.
- Remember to keep pie crust ingredients in the fridge until you’re ready to use! For the pie crust, mix the flour, salt and butter in a cup with your fingers until it is completely integrated. Cover the mixture with plastic and leave it in the fridge for at least an hour, and then put it in a pie pan.
- For the chocolate filling, mix the chips with the hot water and vanilla. Once it’s completely mixed, gently pour over the pie crust and let it settle while you prepare the cake.
- Meanwhile, for the cake, add the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda) in a bowl and mix. In another bowl incorporate the eggs, butter, coconut sugar, milk and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients to this mixture until blended. Pour this over the pie filling.
- Bake at 350°F for 45-55 minutes or until the center of the cake doesn’t move. Remove from the oven and enjoy all the same flavors, without the sugar!
And there you have it! Just a few swaps and you can still have all the flavors of this traditional dessert while staying true to your healthy ways!
