A Southern Grace: sometimes you feel like a nut...

April 11, 2010

sometimes you feel like a nut...

Yum

...sometimes you don't.


Remember that jingle for Almond Joy and Mounds? Apparently it was most prevalent in the 70s, but since I remember it and I hadn't yet graced the earth with my presence (I kid, I kid--is there actually anyone that smug?), I guess it carried on over into the 80s.

Although I often feel like a nut (in more ways than one), I won't lie--I prefer Mounds. There's something annoying to me about a big ol' hard hunk of almond in the middle of an otherwise soft, sweet bar. That said, I won't turn down an Almond Joy; I just wish the almonds were sliced and scattered.

The cake I made for our Easter meal (which incidentally doubled as my birthday celebration) was no massive undertaking. I had limited resources with which to work, and this was the best I could do. Thankfully, even though I was forced to morph into Sandra Lee for a hot second, the cake was delicious.


Inspired by the undeniably tasty Almond Joy bar, I combined a devil's food cake mix with the usual suspects, as well as almond extract (hardly a suitable replacement for almonds, but what can ya do?), coconut cream pudding mix, and flaked coconut. If I had had some sliced almonds at my disposal, they would've gone in as well.

The result was a perfectly pretty and quite tasty dessert. It was a wee bit on the dry side around the edges, but that was effectively remedied with some vanilla ice cream or, even more deliciously, some leftover cream of coconut.  I briefly considered going all out with the semi-homemade notion and frosting with Cool wHip, but regained my senses just in time.

Almond-less Almond Joy Cake
(based on this recipe)

1 box devil's food cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) box coconut cream instant pudding and pie filling
4 large eggs
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup flaked coconut


Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water oil, and extract in large bowl. Beat until moistened. Stir in coconut and pour into pan.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

80 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A lovely and moist cake! I love almond extract.

Cheers,

Rosa

Ginny said...

Kudos on the ingenuity - it looks great!

And just so you feel better :), it was around in the 80's. I was born in 78 and I remember the jingle quite well...

shaz said...

Happy Belated Birthday Grace! Hats off to you for pulling this amazing looking cake off with limited resources. I'd definitely love a slice :)

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Beautiful cake! I agree, I wouldn't turn it down, but it is kind of odd to be stuck in there whole

CC11 said...

Glad your last minute Sara-Lee style mixing -the cake looks incredible - and a belated happy birthday :)

oneordinaryday said...

Hey, I love cool whip! : )
Your cake is lovely and I hope you had a great birthday, Grace.

Lucie said...

I've spent all weekend eating ice cream and bread yet when I saw your recipe all I could think was "where can I get my hands on some coconut pudding mix???". Looks delicious. Happy belated birthday, Grace!

Faith said...

Your cake is gorgeous, Grace! I agree with you -- I usually go for Mounds over Almond Joy. If you like Mounds, you'd probably LOVE Bounty. It's like Mounds but seems to be even more jam-packed with coconut. :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

I'll have to go to the local international candy shop and get Mounds and Almond Joy so I can weigh into the debate in an informed way!

But as Faith said, Bounty is brilliant.

Kathy Walker said...

WOW! This has me hook, line and sinker! I love chocolate and coconut and, the Almond Joy.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

The Canadian version of Mounds would be Bounty and it arguably my favourite chocolate bar. I just love cococnut.

vanillasugarblog said...

i remember the jingle too, and i LOVE almond joy, still do. i love them so much i make my own since mine have more coconut in them and no chemicals.
i vaguely remember bounty...what was that one?

tamilyn said...

Happy belated birthday Grace! I don't like either candy bar (not a fan of coconut) but the work crew enjoys it. Will be bringing this in soon!

Amy I. said...

I am a firm believer in using cake mixes in creative ways. It makes me happy every time I see a new one. And.. I always feel like a nut :)

Looks delish, Grace!

Barbara said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Grace! And I love how you took a cake mix and added all those goodies to it. (Sorry almonds were not available) I really think this cake looks divine!
For some really odd reason, because I DO love all things coconut, I never liked Almond Joy or even Mounds. My taste went always to Milky Ways. Frozen. And I think I recently saw and saved a recipe made with Milky Way bars someplace. This reminded me. I hope I find it. It's wandering around in this computer someplace. Am I the only one this happens to?

cjvierow said...

Looks wonderful!! I'd never really given it much thought, but perhaps that's why I always put the almonds between my cheek and gums and ate them last. Or, to be honest, put them on the wrapper for later-- ;-)
Hope you had a wonderful birthday! Wish we had smell-a-computer sometimes. CJ

pam said...

Hope you had a wonderful birthday! And that you enjoyed channeling your inner Sandra Lee.

Lisa said...

I still love almond joys--coconut and chocolate...just can't go wrong! The cake looks so moist, I love the coconut cream here. Hope you had a wonderful birthday! Cheers!

Shari said...

Beautiful, moist chocolate! WOW!!!
To die for. . .

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

Love that you added coconut pudding into this cake. "effectively remedied with some vanilla ice cream" isn't everything remedied with ice cream??? xo

Sarah said...

This looks so rich and moist. Nice cake.

~~louise~~ said...

My second weakness after Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I prefer Mounds too:) I like almonds mind you but, not in my Mounds:)

Definitely saving this recipe Grace, you did fabulous and that cake looks amazing!!!

P.S. Love the way you snuck that birthday sentence in; Happy Birthday!!!

Lazaro Cooks said...

Happy belated B-day. Thank you for stopping by and the kind words. This cake looks sinful. I've enjoyied your blog immensely. Have a wonderful evening. Cheers!

Hungry Dog said...

That's one moist, delicious, and fabulous looking cake! Nice work. I totally remember that jingle by the way...I was a kid of the 70s.

Chef Aimee said...

Oh wow what a delicious cake! I love Mounds AND Almond Joy! Coconut and chocolate were meant to be together!

Antonietta said...

I totally agree about the Almond Joy- I've often said they would be SO much better with chopped almonds sprinkled all over them!!
Anyway- the cake looks great

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I don't remember much tv from the 70's let alone the commercials. I do though remember my mom munching on Almond Joy bars. As a matter fact she'll ask for the ones the kids get after trick or treating.

Happy belated birthday!
~ingrid

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday! And I love the idea of an almond-less almond cake. I think it looks delish - semi-homemade or not.

Olga @ MangoTomato said...

I always feel like a nut :)

Gorgeous photos: the cake looks so moist.

Happy belated bday.

Cucinista said...

This looks wonderful! I definitely remember the jingle, but I definitely always felt like a nut (in all senses). I agree, though, that there was a more perfect integration of the almond, coconut and chocolate possible, and looks like you did it!

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

I've never tried an Almond joy so I feel like I should try and seek one out now -nor have I heard the jingle-double shame! :P However I did start drooling at that picture!

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

Oops sorry I pressed publish before I finished-HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE! :D

Lisa said...

Your cake looks beautiful. Happy Birthday, Grace!

Kate at Serendipity said...

LOL, Grace, you're definitely a NUT! I'm not sure what kind, though. Coco-NUT? Definitely NOT a pea-NUT, I'm thinkin'. In any case, NUT-in would be better than a hefty slice of this on my plate.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Sorry we missed each other last week...

Joanne said...

I have to say, I don't really like nuts in my baked goods either. On top - yes. Mixed in - no. when they're mixed in they just obstruct my way to the fluffy goodness that is cake.

This sounds delicious, semi-homemade and all. Love the coconut infusion.

cookies and cups said...

Great job on the fly! This cake looks great, with or without limited resources! I have a coconut cake in the wings to post sometime coming up!

MaryMoh said...

Happy belated birthday. Hope you had a most fun-filled time. Your cake looks very moist and delicious. I don't mind being a nut...many times I am...LOL

Amanda said...

Brilliant. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you have posted a recipe that starts with a box mix... you just jumped up to AWESOME status in my book! :)

Blessings-
Amanda

Lori said...

A really yummy sounding recipe. And now I will be humming this tune for the rest of the day...

The Teacher Cooks said...

I have made this cake and it is really good! Your photo is just yummy looking. Sandra Lee ha, ha!

Jennifer said...

I am LOVING the almond in this beautiful cake!!! It looks SOOOO moist and heavenly!!

Albany Jane said...

Cool wHip - you could put that on just about anything and I'll eat it. Love the stuff!

TKW said...

Just as long as you were Sandra Lee for ONE hot second and not a second more...:)

The cake does look yummy!

Anonymous said...

Yum! I love the coconut cream & flakes in this delicious cake! Happy belated birthday!

lisa is cooking said...

Happy belated Birthday! The coconut cream on top is inspired. Great idea. I need to search again for coconut extract. I haven't been able to find it.

sweetlife said...

Sandra Lee love it...what a cake..I love almond..how wonderfully sweet..happy bday...

sweetlife

Lindsey @ pickyeatings said...

Happy belated birthday! And there is nothing wrong with channeling a bit of Sandra Lee, girl knows how to make a good cocktail!

Maria said...

Now I have that jingle in my head, thanks:)

Pam said...

I am an Almond Joy girl. Mounds dark chocolate was too rich for me. This cake on the other hand makes me drool - especially with the leftover coconut cream on top...mmmmm good!

La Bella Cooks said...

Hope you had a wonderful birthday. This cake would make anyone want to celebrate.

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a good Easter-birthday! I use boxed cake mixes all the time--no judgement here.

Though I do my pies from scratch. :) Priorities, people.

Bob said...

Happy belated birthday! The cake looks awesome, I always did prefer Almond Joy myself. ;)

Juliana said...

Wow, the cake sure looks yummie Grace...love the idea of using premix cake and the pudding ...it sure makes life easier :-)

foodhoe said...

I love both mounds and almond joy equally... happy birthday and that cake looks like you celebrated well - it looks both gorgeous and delicious.

Deborah said...

Hey - nothing wrong with a little bit of Semi Homemade! It looks delicious.

Maris said...

This sounds so good! I agree with you, Mounds > Almond Joys!

tasteofbeirut said...

Almond flavor is always welcome in a cake!

Lisa-Marie said...

Grace, your cakes properly make me drool. I must have this very soon!

(I made the sour cream coconut coated cake for a barbeque yesterday. there is none of it left,. it disappeared, FAST)

Cocina Savant said...

Great improvisation. Sometimes a desperate cake lover has got to do what they've got to do. Almond extract is not so bad either. Cool idea, and glad you didn't become a full blown Sandra Lee.

Jacque said...

I don't like either one of those candy bars, but I sure think I could hunker down with a piece of this cake. Looks DElish!

Half Baked said...

Happy belated birthday! That cake looks moist and delicious! Hey it's your birthday so go semi-homemade if you want too!

Marjie said...

I just adore almond extract, and I like both of those candy bars, too. Your cake is inspired! Happy belated birthday, Grace.

Robin said...

Ooh what a super easy cake! Yeah the nuts need to be chopped up in the almond joy, I agree. Hope you had a great birthday!

Ms. Meanie said...

OMG, this cake sounds amazing! I LOVE Almond Joys/Mounds so I would totally devour this cake!

laura said...

Yes, happy birthday, grace! And do these leads just come to you? "Sometimes I feel like a nut..." -now I've got that dad-blamed jingle running through my head! Gee thanks! (;

Leslie said...

Happy belated birthday girly! What a delicious cake to celebrate your Easter B-day!

Anonymous said...

i love how we can use a cake mix..
add a couple of extra stuff
and it'll taste completely different and awesome.
looks really moist!
love the name, so cute!
hehe almond extract is awesome.
especially in fortune cookies~

KP said...

I want a big thick slice of this right now!! With ice cream....hold the Cool Whip! Good call on leaving it off:)

stephen said...

my grandmother would only bake cakes with boxed cake mix and add to it. I've always thought that was a great idea to save time. yum!

Lyndas recipe box said...

I love the mounds/almond joy twist to this cake! It looks so moist and gooey, which I love in a dessert.
Happy birthday to you, and many more!

Mrs. L said...

I too, love both Mounds and Almond Joy's. And I remember that song. Must have heard it in my mothers womb or something :)

Rebeca said...

I've only ever had an Almond Joy (must change that!)... but this sounds amazing!

Heather said...

Happy Belated Birthday!
This cake looks super yummy and moist and there is nothing wrong with using a little Semi-Homemade.

Emily said...

Sandra Lee would be proud! This cake look sooo good. I love Almond Joy.

Hey, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Sophie said...

I remember that jingle. :) I agree, sliced almonds would be better than the whole ones. This cake looks pretty flawless though, reminds me of german chocolate, but better and more fun!

Elle said...

Sorry I missed your birthday! So funny, though--my husband and I were just singing that jingle last week and annoying the kids. I can't even remember why we were!

The cake? Looks divine--and I'd happily dig in. I can't get enough coconut.

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

I loved that jingle as a kid but actually wasn't a huge fan of Almond Joy or Mounds. I was more a Snickers and Nutrageous fan.

kimberleyblue said...

I hope you had a great birthday! That cake looks like a nice way to celebrate, especially with a drizzle of that coconut cream. Perfect flavour combo!

Unknown said...

Happy Belated Birthday!!
I feel the same way about Mr. Goodbars. I like the minis cuz the peanuts are all over the place but not so in the big bars. (btw...that jingle goes through my head often cuz I'm kind of a nut most days)

Chef Fresco said...

So obviously we are a bit behind on commenting. Happy late (ok really late) birthday! That photo is making me hungry for cake. I like that it starts with cake mix. Anything that takes out a few steps is excellent in my book!