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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tunnel of Fudge: A 1960s Icon


Tunnel of Fudge is a cake that Betty Draper might make, if Mad Men continues (fingers crossed) for a few more seasons.

This unusual cake -- yes, there really is a tunnel of fudge running through its center -- was the creation of Ella Rita Helfrich who won second prize in the 1966 Pillsbury Bake-Off.  (For her efforts, she received $5,000; the first place winner took home $25,000 for a bread made with cheese spread and onion soup mix.)

For a second place winner 44 years ago, this cake has legs.  First, it popularized (or saved from extinction) the bundt pan, which was only rarely used at the time.  (Its legacy is enduring; many remember the small, yet pivotal role the "cake with a hole in it" played in the film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.)  Pillsbury reported that it received 200,000 calls from home bakers looking for bundt pans following the 1966 contest.

When Pillsbury discontinued making the packaged frosting mix called for in the original recipe, there was such an uproar that the company went back to the drawing board (read: test kitchen) and developed a completely scratch recipe.  That's the one I used, and pasted below.

Was it good?  Yes, though it seemed more like a brownie than a cake, not that there's anything wrong with that! The brownie reference may be due to the two cups of walnuts in the recipe. One is instructed not to skimp on the nuts, as they are considered critical to the formation of the gooey center.  Most experts in the chemistry of baking attribute the tunnel creation to the excessive amount of sugar in the recipe.



DH, who brought some cake to work, wrote the following email to colleagues:
For those who like my wife’s baked goods….
 I have with me the most extreme chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted – the unfortunately named ‘tunnel of fudge’ cake – that I’m going to put out at 2:45 in the 5th floor bullpen. Be forewarned – it can put you into a diabetic coma!! And must be cut with a gallon of coffee….I only had one bite and gave up….
 This is why I was at yoga and spinning at 7 a.m. twice this week…..

For those who want a diabetic coma of their own, may I present the Tunnel of Fudge recipe.

Cake:
3 1/2 sticks butter softened
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 
6 large eggs 
2 cups confectioners' sugar 
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
2 cups chopped walnuts

Glaze:
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar 
1/4 cup cocoa powder 
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons milk
1.     Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan or 10-inch angel cake pan. Dust with flour and tap out the excess.
2.     In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3.     Gradually add 2 cups confectioners' sugar, beating until well-blended. By hand, stir in 21/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup cocoa and the nuts; mix until well-blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
4.     Bake for 58 to 62 minutes. (Because this cake has a soft tunnel of fudge, an ordinary doneness test cannot be used. Accurate oven temperature and baking time are critical.)
5.     Let the cake cool upright in the pan on a rack for 1 hour, then invert onto a serving plate and let cool completely.
6.     To make the glaze: In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and 1 1/2 tablespoons milk. Mix until well blended, adding the remaining 1/2 tablespoon milk to make a spooning consistency.


12 comments:

  1. Sounds like Mrs. Helfrich was robbed. Cheese spread & onion soup mix?

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  2. I love reading this blog
    I had never seen this type of cake before
    Simply amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Grew up with this cake and it was always a big hit!!!! Have not had since they quit making the ingredients.

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  3. Good news: MAD MEN Season 4 debuts July 25th.. we can eat this cake or something else that evening! ABA

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  4. April 18, 2016- Been searching for my Mom's recipe for this delectable childhood cake. I have not been able to find her recipe, if she used one, but she made her cakes from scratch...this sure sounds like it! Funny thing is too, that I remember very early 60's, as I was 5 or 6, having my first taste, never forgetting it's delightful, gooey inside of lusciousness...I don't remember having glaze on it...but what the heck...I'm making this today, as my sister happened to be thinking of it recently, so I want to make this truly from scratch recipe...TUNNEL OF FUDGE...Thank you..Can't wait to make it, so I will be able to confirm that this is it...HOPEFULLY!P.S. For 60 years I have thought and wondered how my Mom created this scrumptious TUNNEL OF FUDGE...Magical!

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    1. Well, I made this cake...adhered to specific instructions...awful! The best part was glaze. To think I wasted all those expensive ingredients...definitely is not my Mom's Recipe. Hope others have better luck...I hate to waste food, cuz too often we don't have, but there was no place but the garbage. At least I tried!

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    2. So sorry it didn't come out well. I feel your pain -- nothing worse than wasting good ingredients. This happens to me a lot -- just last night when a rhubarb torte cemented itself to the pan. You might try googling other tunnel of fudge cake recipes once you feel up to it.

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  5. My sister you to make this cake, and it was delicious the whole family loved it. I forgot about this recipe Called Tunnel of Fudge. Haven't had this for atleast 25 to 30 years. She's been gone for atleast 22 years. And she hadn't bake it herself for atleast 10 years. You sure brought back wonderful thoughts with that Tunnel of Fudge recipe. Now that I bake I will try my hand at baking it myself. Thanks for reminding me of all those wonderful years of her baking the Tunnel of Fudge. Sincerely Kay Trammell

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  6. GM OMG I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE TUNNEL OF FUDGE CAKE MY SISTER USE TO MAKE UNTIL I CAME ACROSS IT NOW ON PINTEREST. THAT CAKE WAS THE BOMB, AWESOME ITS BEEN ABOUT 25 TO 30 YEARS SINCE I'VE HAD THAT CAKE. MY SISTER HAS LONG GONE ON TO GLORY. SO I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE TUNNEL OF FUDGE CAKE, BUT NOW SINCE IVE SEEN IT ON PINTEREST AND I BAKE IM GOING TO MAKEBIT FOR THE NEXT FAMILY FUNCTION IT WE EVER GET OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. SINCERELY KAY TRAMMELL THANKS FOR THE RECIPE.

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  7. The original recipe called for a boxed frosting mix that made the center fudegy and they don't make it anymore. Every other version is just not the same so I don't try to make anymore. My Mom was asked to bring that cake to every work Celebration, it was always a hit.

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  8. I still have the original receipe but cannot make it since they don’t make the frosting anymore. Will try this though. We also made Sock it to Me Bundt cake around the same time in the 60’s. I made it today.

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  9. I used to make the Tunnel of Fudge cake many years ago for my husband (of 50 years). It was his favorite. Like many others, I’ve been unable to make it since the frosting mix was discontinued. I was eager to try this recipe, but alas it turned out dry and no fudge “tunnel” though I followed the recipe precisely. Needless to say, we were both disappointed. I’m open for ideas or suggestions.

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