Monthly Recipe: Do Nothing Cake (a.k.a. Texas Tornado Cake)

From Southern Living, “You may also know this moist and buttery cake by another name: Texas Tornado Cake.

Do Nothing Cake, as the name suggests, is quite easy—but that doesn’t mean it’s basic or boring. In fact, this cake is incredibly moist, similar to a gooey butter cake, with a topping that’s reminiscent of German chocolate cake’s iconic coconutty and pecan-rich frosting. Pineapple’s fruity-tangy flavors and loads of nutty goodness also set this cake apart from others you may have tried that seem similar. We promise, there’s nothing like this cake.

A recipe for Do Nothing Cake originated in the 1940s, before boxed cake mix existed. Back then, most cake recipes were complicated, contained lots of ingredients, and required a mixer. By contrast, this one uses fewer ingredients, does not require a mixer, and is very easy to whip up.

To give the topping a little more complexity (and to differentiate it from any other Do Nothing Cakes you may have had), I chose to brown the butter first. This takes the topping from just nutty and sweet to nutty, sweet, and caramel-rich.”

For more go to:  Do Nothing Cake (Texas Tornado Cake)