Tomato Soup Cake Recipe {Old Fashioned Mystery Cake Recipe} (2024)

Julie Clark

Posted: Updated:

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Tomato soup…in cake? Yes! This old fashioned spice cake recipe has stood the test of time. This tomato soup cake is frosted with cream cheese frosting.

Spice cakes are one of my favorite kinds of cakes. Some have molasses, some are gingerbread flavored, but all are delicious.

When I came across this tomato soup cake recipe in an old cookbook from the 1950s, I just wasn’t sure. I read that it tasted like a spice cake. But tomatoes…in cake? If you like spice cake and don’t mind trying new things, give this unique mystery cake a try.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe {Old Fashioned Mystery Cake Recipe} (2)

What does tomato soup cake taste like?

Spice cake! It has a lightly sweet, deep flavor. The nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves all help that spice cake flavor to come out. Tomato soup is the secret ingredient that no one will believe.

Where did tomato soup originate?

Tomato soup is a recipe from the Depression era in the 1930’s. Tomato soup was an ingredient to replace milk and butter in the original recipe. Over time the recipe has changed and this one is closer to the Campbell’s tomato soup recipe.

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How do you make tomato soup cake?

  • This cake bakes in a 9×13 cake pan. Be sure to spray it with cooking spray so the cake does not stick.
  • Use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer so that the ingredients come together easily. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the beater blade, cream together the butter and the sugar.
  • The last addition of the cake is to add the soup, raisins and walnuts.
  • The cake will take about 28-30 minutes to bake. The center of the cake should spring back when you touch it.
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Frosting for Tomato Soup Cake

We used a cream cheese frosting for this cake because that is what we like on spice cakes. I’ve seen recipes for tomato soup cake with caramel frosting. Those sound amazing too! You could try this caramel frosting recipe.

Pro Tip

Cream cheese frosting is easy to make. The key is to have the butter and cream cheese at room temperature. This will help the frosting cream easily.

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Does cake with cream cheese frosting need refrigerated?

Yes. You should refrigerate cakes with cream cheese frosting. You can remove the cake from the fridge up to 2 hours before serving to bring it to room temperature.

How long does cake last?

If you seal this cake well, it should stay fresh in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Remember that cake is normally best when served within 24 hours of baking.

The cake also freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe {Old Fashioned Mystery Cake Recipe} (6)

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe {Old Fashioned Mystery Cake Recipe} (7)

Tomato Soup Cake

4.58 from 52 votes

Tomato soup…in cake? Yes! This old fashioned spice cake recipe has stood the test of time. This tomato soup cake is frosted with cream cheese frosting.

Servings 15

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

For the cake:

For the frosting:

Instructions

Make the cake:

  • Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit.

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the beater blade (or a large bowl with an electric mixer) cream together the butter and the sugar.

  • Add in the eggs and mix well.

  • Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Mix well.

  • Lastly, add in the soup, walnuts and raisins. Mix until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

  • Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for 28-30 minutes or until the center of the cake tests done.

  • Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack before frosting.

Make the frosting:

  • In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and vanilla (using a hand or stand mixer) until smooth.

  • Add in the powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

Assemble the cake:

  • Use a rubber spatula to spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cake.

  • Sprinkle with walnuts.

  • Store any leftover cake in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

Video

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 15 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 281mg | Potassium: 282mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 601IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 357

Keyword 9×13 cake, buttermilk spice cake, raisin cake

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Spice Cake Recipes

Try one of our many homemade spice cake recipes.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe {Old Fashioned Mystery Cake Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What is mystery cake made of? ›

What Is Mystery Cake? Whether you hear it called mystery cake or magic cake, they're both one thing: tomato soup cake. Yep, you read that right. Believe it or not, you can use the savory soup to bake a totally delicious, not-weird-at-all tomato soup cake.

What does adding applesauce to cake do? ›

Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce is a popular oil substitute in baking. It can add moisture to your cakes and cupcakes while reducing the fat content. Use a 1:1 ratio, replacing the oil with applesauce. Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is another great option for moisture and creaminess.

What makes a cake more moist oil or butter? ›

Vegetable oil contributes moistness far more reliably, a result of the fact that oil remains liquid at room temperature while butter solidifies. Liquid contributes to the sensation of moistness, and therefore cakes made with oil often present as moister than their butter-based counterparts.

What makes a cake dense and heavy? ›

Six common baking-fails, and how they can be prevented. Your cake is too dense A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).

What is Elvis Presley cake? ›

An Elvis Presley cake is a single-layer classic yellow cake that's topped with a pineapple glaze. Much like a poke cake, the syrup and juices of the pineapple will seep into the cake through fork holes, resulting in a decadent, ultra-moist cake.

Why is it called Devil's cake? ›

Devil's Food Cake

There are a few theories as to how it got its name. One, it's the decadent counterpart to angel food cake. Two, it's sinfully delicious. Finally, devil's food cake came about during a time when food that was spicy, rich, or dark was described as deviled, like deviled ham and deviled eggs.

What does adding an extra egg do to a cake mix? ›

Add an Extra Egg

Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven.

Can I use applesauce instead of oil in a box cake mix? ›

The AHA recommends replacing the oil in muffin, cookie, cake and snack bar recipes with pureed fruit, including applesauce. If the package mix directions don't specify a substitution amount, try using the same amount of puree as you would oil.

Can you use applesauce instead of eggs and oil in cake mix? ›

Simply swap out half of the oil in the recipe with applesauce. For example, if the recipe calls for a cup of oil, add 1/2 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of applesauce. Substituting applesauce for oil will change the texture of your baked goods, so first replace half of the oil, and see how it turns out.

Can you use half butter and half oil in cake? ›

If you were to use exclusively oil, the cake would turn out much denser than you may have intended. If you're unsure, it's safest to use a 50/50 combination of butter and oil instead of replacing the butter completely.

What is the best oil to use in a cake mix? ›

Whenever possible, use canola oil for baking.

Its neutral taste will not give your cake any undesirable flavor, and you can keep the focus on the flavors in your cake, especially if you are using premium ingredients in your cake such as vanilla beans and high quality chocolate.

What is the best oil for moist cake? ›

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

Is it better to bake a cake on top or bottom heat? ›

Use “bottom heat' for baking a cake. “Top heat” which is commonly called broiling is only good for when you want to brown the top of whatever you are cooking. If you broil a cake, the cake will end up burnt on top, undercooked on the sides and bottom and raw in the middle.

Why does my cake rise in the middle and crack? ›

Why do cakes crack when baking? A: Oven too hot or cake placed too high in oven; the crust is formed too soon, the cake continues to rise, therefore the crust cracks.

What is the secret to a dense cake? ›

If a recipe includes a lot of acid such as lemon juice and buttermilk and isn't lifted with enough baking powder, the cake will taste dense. In that case, you may need the addition of baking soda which will react with the acid and create a fluffier crumb.

Why is it called conspiracy cake? ›

“We actually didn't pick the name,” she explained. “It was set by the supplier and we loved it so we kept it. But I imagine it was named because a group of pastry chefs wanted to make a cake so delicious and rich in chocolate that people would stop buying all other cakes!”

Why is Devil's food cake different? ›

Devil's food cake is sometimes distinguished from other chocolate cakes by the use of additional baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which raises the pH level and makes the cake a deeper and darker mahogany color. Devil's food cake incorporates butter (or a substitute), flour, and less egg than other chocolate cakes.

Where is secret recipe cake from? ›

Secret Recipe Cakes and Café Sdn Bhd (doing business as Secret Recipe) is a Malaysian halal-certified café chain company established since 1997. It has international branches in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Maldives and Bangladesh.

What is the difference between devil's food cake and chocolate cake mix? ›

The Difference Between Devil's Food Cake And Chocolate Cake

In general, devil's food cakes will have a deeper chocolate flavor because they're made with cocoa powder, and will be fluffier than other chocolate cakes, due to the higher amount of baking soda.

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