Making Mealtime Meaningful: Discover how we're giving back with the 12T Cares program →

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

It’s an unusual cake with an exceptional flavor.

hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

Funny cake is an unusual dessert that hails from the regions of Pennsylvania where the Amish live. The Amish are also known as the Pennsylvania Dutch and they are famous for the delicious, mouthwatering dishes they sell at local markets in the area. This Pennsylvania Dutch funny cake is something almost like a pie and a yellow cake and a lava cake all mixed together. With all that going on, how could it not be a scrumptious dessert?

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

To simplify this recipe we started out with a ready-made frozen pie crust, but you can of course make your own if you’d rather. The first layer of the cake is the chocolate part, which is made from cocoa, sugar, and milk boiled together. This makes a thick syrup that remains a bit gooey when baked.

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

The next layer is the yellow cake part, which is gives the whole dessert a classic flavor. When baked together the chocolate not only forms a lava-like syrup, it also soaks into the yellow cake layer a bit, creating the most luscious texture. All this cakey goodness, but you also get the flaky pie crust (personally my favorite part of a pie) along with it.

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

The final result is a pie-cake that is a real hit with crowds and has a little something for everyone. This one is especially good served with a glass a cold glass of milk or a dollop of whipped cream. But, don’t just take my word for it- try this yummy recipe out for yourself.

Yield(s): Yields 1 9-inch pie

20m prep time

50m cook time

40m inactive

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5
Rated by 42 reviewers

Allergens: Gluten

hearts
When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe,
you're making mealtime meaningful.
100% of the Share to Care sponsor fees fund meals for families in need. Learn More
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 3/4 cups milk, divided
  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/8 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350˚. Heat 3/8 cup milk in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened (about 2 minutes), stirring constantly.
  2. Pour cocoa mixture into unbaked pastry shell and turn pie so that chocolate mix comes up the sides halfway. Set aside.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl mix together flour, baking powder, remaining sugar, and salt. Add egg, butter, remaining milk, and vanilla. Beat until batter is smooth.
  4. Spoon batter into pie shell so that the chocolate is completely covered.
  5. Bake for 40 minutes or until knife inserted in middle (not quite to the bottom) comes out clean. Can be served warm or cold and is best with a dollop of whipped cream.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.