Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Southern Dump Cake for Diabetics

I love Dump Cake. It's so yummy. And it's a true Southern Tradition. I'm not sure when it originated or who thought of it first... but who ever it was was a genius.
However... being diabetic makes it kinda of an off-limits item. It's not really even very good for you if you aren't a diabetic.

However... thanks to more sugar-free items becoming available on southern grocery store shelves, one can enjoy a less unhealthy version. Which myself and my family actually liked better than the original. So... instead of posting a picture of myself today or anything like that, I thought I would share this recipe with you all:

Ingredients
1 box Pillsbury's Moist Supreme Classic Yellow Reduced Sugar cake mix
1 20 ounce can Comstock More Fruit Light Cherry Pie Filling
1 20 ounce can Dole Pineapple Tidbits in juice (no sugar added)
1 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, your choice of nuts. Or use large shred coconut (sometimes called coconut chips)
1 stick light butter, melted. Or use equivalent amount (half cup) of other nutritionally sound oil such as mild olive oil, walnut oil, or avocado oil. I used light butter this time, but I intend to play around with it and see which ones work best. My guess is that different oils will work better with different fruits... not so?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

This is the way you put it together:
Spread the cherry pie filling in the bottom of a 13x9 pan. I use a heavy glass baking pan for this. Pour pineapple tidbits (or crushed pineapple) on top of the cherries. Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix evenly over the top of the fruit. Sprinkle the chopped nuts, or coconut chips (if using) over the top of the dry cake mix. Now drizzle the melted butter (or alternate oil) slowly over the dry cake mix and nuts. Note that you must not stir this dessert at any time. Trust me. It will all work out. Layer your items and put on the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how high or low your oven burns.

This was a beautiful Dump Cake and more delicious than the original. The fruit tasted "fruitier" and "brighter", not as cloyingly sweet as the regular kind of Dump Cake. The cake mix didn't taste any different than any other full-sugar store bought cake mix I've ever had. I would encourage anyone and everyone to make this version of a Southern Classic. I would not recommend eating it every day... but if you know you are going to eat one anyway... why not have this less dietarily offensive version?

I will be experimenting with this recipe. The cherry and pineapple version is my very most favorite, but Thomas has just asked if I could make an apple version. I think that might be my next try. Apple Walnut Dump Cake anyone?

8 comments:

Chaki said...

Holly, I've made a dump cake with wilting fresh strawberries and old apples. Perfect way to serve fresh fruits no longer fresh. No added sweetened, just the cake mix. It was tangy, like rhubarb, which I like in pies. Think you would it!

Jeannie said...

Hey there!

I haven't had dump cake since I was a kid and I only had it once- while I was visiting my Dad in South Carolina. Everyone was shocked that I never heard of dump cake.

You're right- this does look off limits to me right now. I've only got a tiny bit of weight to lose until I reach my Pound For Pound Challenge. Maybe this will be how I celebrate!!! It sounds so good.....drool.....

Some Kinda Wonderful said...

HA! Figures if you only ever had it once it was in the South, Jeannie! That's funny. It would be a great celebration cake for you. I tend to like more fruity desserts than cake or custard or anything like that. We just went to our favorite Chinese buffet place for a celebration supper and I pigged out on the fresh melon and grapes they had on offer. I was so full of that I hardly ate any hot stuff. (mostly yard long beans and grilled chicken with hot peppers)

Hey Chaki! Dump cake is a marvelous invention isn't it? I rarely have any fresh fruit that overstays it's welcome. :-) Maybe some peaches when they are in season and I go crazy and buy a full bushel or something like that! (yes... I have done that on more than one occasion. good thing they freeze so well) Next time I do that I will have to make a peach dump cake. That would be good. Maybe a peach and blueberry one? I usually just make cobbler when I have to use up peaches in a short amount of time.

Judy said...

This sounds good to me. My Bob is a diabetic and he would love it. I will have to give it a try. Have a great Easter.

Jeannie said...

Just wanted to say hi, and I took the quiz you had for me on Facebook.

And I know you're moving and things are absolutely insane for you, but I'd love to see a pic of you here again. Maybe you at your new house? Just an idea for when you're up to blogging again.

Miss you tons and will write soon. Love ya!

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