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Funny Cake

funny cake

What's so funny about Funny Cake? Well for starters, it's actually a pie! Go ahead and let out a chuckle or two. Curious? We were too the first time we heard about it. Read on!

funny cake cut in pie plate

Why We Love It

Pies are delicious, especially when they have chocolatey goodness in them. Cakes are also delicious when they have chocolatey goodness in them. So what happens when you try to put a good pie and a good cake together? Can you even do that???

Yes, you can! We have done it and we're here to tell you that it's NOT so funny (as the name suggests)-- it's more of a dream come true! If Funny Cake didn't have origins in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, we'd probably change the name to Sweet Dream Cake (or Sweet Dream Pie!). Nevertheless, we love it all the same, and this recipe is a twist on the original version.

funny cake on plate

Why You'll Love It

Let's face it: the name alone is an attention grabber, and the pie itself is unique and delicious. And as far as pies go, this one is pretty simple to make--especially when you use a store bought premade pie crust. With just a few simple ingredients and not a lot of effort, you'll have a very tasty treat that will be the talk of your next social!

funny cake ingredients

Funny Cake Ingredients

  • 1 premade 9 inch pie crust, unbaked

For the liquid base:

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's recommended)
  • 6 tablespoons hot water
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cake:

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
funny cake before serving

How to make Funny Cake

You'll want to gather the following equipment:

  • pie dish
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • mixing spoons
  • measuring cup
  • measuring spoons
  • pastry cutter

Kitchen Ready Betty tip: Before starting, allow the pie crust and butter to sit out on the counter for about 10 minutes. This allows for easier handling!

Getting Started

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Place the softened pie crust dough into your pie plate. Carefully mold the dough to your dish by gently pressing it down with your fingers. Make sure that the dough is smooth and that there are no air bubbles. Set the pie dish aside.

In your first bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar and the unsweetened cocoa powder. Then add the hot water and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. (I heat my water in the microwave for 30 seconds before adding). Stir gently. The mixture will be fairly runny and a little bubbly. Now set this bowl aside.

In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together for the cake topper (1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon baking powder). Then add the cubed butter.

Use a pastry cutter to blend the butter with the dry ingredients. The mixture will be a little lumpy, which is fine. Just make sure you use enough force with the pastry cutter so that you're left with small little butter pebbles in the bowl. Then mix all of this together with a spoon!

Kitchen Ready Betty tip: Pastry cutters are an awesome kitchen tool! With a little bit of force, they are a lifesaver when you need to blend butter and dry ingredients. I have used mine for so many things beyond baking though. I have sliced jellied cranberry sauce, hard boiled eggs, avocados and more!

Slightly beat 1 egg, then add it to the bowl along with the remaining 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix well.

Knock, knock. Who's there? It's Me, Funny Cake!

Now here comes the fun part: putting it all together!

Pour the chocolate liquid mixture into the crust. There should be enough liquid to cover the bottom.

Next, spoon the cake batter on top of the liquid. Carefully spread the batter so it extends to the edges of the crust, as shown. Do not mix it with the liquid!

Bake in your preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake topper comes out clean.

funny cake just out of the oven

Allow Funny Cake to cool for an hour before cutting and serving. You have to give time for the chocolate magic at the bottom to cool off!

Sometimes we like topping this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. So good!

Funny Cake Leftovers?

Store in an airtight container or simply cover the pie plate with aluminum foil. There's no need to refrigerate. Enjoy within five days.

funny cake after being cut

Funny Cake Family Times

My husband grew up eating this dessert. My mother-in-law, who has lived in Berks County, PA her whole life, made it often and was gracious enough to share this recipe with me. Berks County borders Lancaster County in Pennsylvania and both counties are heavily populated by Pennsylvania Dutch.

So if you're a chef or baker living in that part of the state, your kitchen can't help but be influenced by Pennsylvania Dutch recipes, traditions and phrases (such as "Outen (turn off) the lights" or "Doppich", referring to someone who is clumsy). Funny Cake, Shoofly Pie and Apple Butter are just a few of the many delicious treats that are rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.

I myself being a city girl had never heard of Funny Cake before, but I'm glad to know it now! It hits the spot every time with just the right amount of chocolate and sweetness! Yum! When I make this dessert, it never lasts for long!

Ratings 5 from 1 votes
Cooking Method
Courses
Difficulty Beginner
Time
Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Total Time: 55 mins
Cooking Temp 350  °F
Servings 8
Best Season Suitable throughout the year
Description

This homemade version of a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dessert is a unique and fun way to bring the worlds of cake and pie together. A sweet, chocolatey liquid base is topped by a delicious--yet simple---golden cake batter. Baked in a flaky pie crust, this Funny Cake is no laughing matter!

Funny Cake
    Pie and Chocolate Base
  • 1 (9 inch) refrigerated pie crust (unbaked)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's recommended)
  • 6 tbsp hot water
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • Cake Batter
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup butter (cut into cubes)
  • 1 egg (slightly beaten)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
    Prep time!
  1. Pie crust and butter.

    Before starting, allow the pie crust and butter to sit out on the counter for about 10 minutes. 

    This allows for easier handling! (Please note: The butter will be used later in the cake portion of the recipe.)
  2. Once softened, place the pie crust dough into your pie plate. Carefully mold the dough to your dish by gently pressing it down with your fingers. Make sure that the dough is smooth and that there are no air bubbles. Set the pie dish aside.

  3. Oven.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Chocolatey Liquid Base.
  5. In your first bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar and the unsweetened cocoa powder.

  6. Add the hot water and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir gently. The mixture will be fairly runny and a little bubbly. Now set this bowl aside.

    Heat water in the microwave for 30 seconds before adding.
  7. Cake batter.
  8. In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients togther for the cake topper (1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon baking powder).

  9. Next, add the cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter to mash the butter into small pebbles. Mix with the dry ingredients.

    Mixture will be slightly lumpy.
  10. Slightly beat 1 egg, then add to the bowl along with the remaining 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix well.

  11. Putting it all together!
  12. Pour the chocolate liquid mixture into the crust. There should be enough liquid to cover the bottom.

  13. Next, spoon the cake batter on top of the liquid. 

    Carefully spread the batter so it extends to the edges of the crust. Do not mix it with the liquid!
  14. Bake.
  15. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake topper comes out clean.

    Let rest an hour before serving, The chocolate layer is very hot when Funny Cake first comes out of the oven.
  16. Storage.
  17. Cover pie dish with foil. There is no need to refrigerate. Enjoy within 5 days.

Note

Some of our favorite Funny Cake toppers are a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream! It's so good!

I always use Hershey's unsweetened cocoa for this.

I often use skim milk in the cake portion and it comes out just fine, but feel free to use whichever milk percentage you choose!

Keywords: Funny cake, yellow cake, chocolate, pie, Pennsylvania Dutch, unique, dessert
Betty Weand
Food Blogger

Hi, I'm Betty! I live in Pennsylvania with my 2 human sons, 2 furry sons and my wonderful and supportive husband, who is my main cooking muse. When I'm not busy cooking or writing, I'm lifting a barbell, answering presidential trivia, thinking about the ocean, or going on long walks with my pups.

Thank you for checking out this recipe! Enjoy!

~Betty