This classic Friendship Cake is a beloved community dessert that relies on a unique, fermented fruit starter passed from friend to friend. The batter combines golden cake mix and instant vanilla pudding with a moist, tangy fruit mixture containing peaches, pineapple, and maraschino cherries. The result is an incredibly moist, dense cake with a beautiful pink hue and a complex sweet-tart flavor profile. Loaded with optional add-ins like nuts and coconut, it’s perfect for potlucks, church suppers, or family gatherings.
Friendship Cake
Description
This classic Friendship Cake is a beloved community dessert that relies on a unique, fermented fruit starter passed from friend to friend. The batter combines golden cake mix and instant vanilla pudding with a moist, tangy fruit mixture containing peaches, pineapple, and maraschino cherries. The result is an incredibly moist, dense cake with a beautiful pink hue and a complex sweet-tart flavor profile. Loaded with optional add-ins like nuts and coconut, it's perfect for potlucks, church suppers, or family gatherings.Ingredients
Directions
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Pour the Friendship Cake Starter into a clean glass gallon jar.
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Add the can of sliced peaches with their juice to the jar, cutting each slice into four pieces.
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Add 2 1/2 cups of sugar to the jar and stir well.
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Cover the jar loosely with a lid or cloth and keep at room temperature.
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Stir the mixture every day for 10 days. Note that not all sugar may dissolve immediately.
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On Day 10, add the can of pineapple tidbits with their juice and another 2 1/2 cups of sugar.
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Stir well and continue stirring daily for 10 more days. The starter will change color and foam when stirred.
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On Day 20, drain the maraschino cherries and cut each cherry in half.
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Add the cherries and the remaining 2 1/2 cups of sugar to the jar.
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Stir well and continue stirring daily for the final 10 days. The cherries will give the juice a pinkish color.
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On Day 31, drain the fruit from the starter into a large bowl, reserving the juice.
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Pour the reserved fruit juice into three separate pint jars to share with friends or save for future starters.
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Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease and flour two 9x13 inch cake pans.
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In a large bowl, combine the golden cake mixes, instant vanilla pudding mixes, eggs, oil, and half of the drained fruit.
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Mix with a spoon just until well combined.
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Stir in the raisins, walnuts, pecans, coconut, and the remaining drained fruit.
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Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
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Bake until a straw inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 45-50 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 2 cups
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 1704.8kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 5.8g9%
- Saturated Fat 1.0g5%
- Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
- Sodium 18.0mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 404.4g135%
- Dietary Fiber 30.1g121%
- Sugars 167.4g
- Protein 31.4g63%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.