You can make this pineapple cake with coconut frosting from scratch with simple ingredients and minimal effort and equipment. Do Nothing Cake, also known as Texas Tornado Cake, is a ridiculously easy poke cake recipe. It’s made with crushed pineapple, so it’s perfectly moist, and then topped with a gooey, buttery frosting filled with coconut and pecans. This recipe was created in the 1940s, before box cake mix existed, and at a time where many cake recipes were complicated and could be difficult for home bakers. This cake is called “do nothing cake” because of the simplicity of the recipe! There is no whipping eggs, no creaming butter and sugar, and no special equipment involved. In fact, there is no butter or oil in this cake at all, and you won’t miss it. You can also make this entire cake and the frosting with just a whisk and/or a spoon!
Do Nothing Cake Recipe Highlights
Old-Fashioned Recipe – Do Nothing Cake was created in the 1940s, and it has stood the test of time! The flavors are perfect, the recipe is super simple, and everyone loves it. Made From Scratch – This vintage cake recipe was created even before cake mixes existed, although you may see similar recipes out there with yellow cake mix. Poke Cake – I love this style of cake! All you need to do is poke some holes in your cake while it’s still warm. Then you pour the frosting on and let it soak in. This creates a a gooey, moist texture that is just divine. You’ll find the same method used in my Better Than Sex Cake and Banana Pudding Poke Cake. Delicious Flavors – Pineapple is the key flavor ingredient in the cake layer, while flaky coconut and chopped pecans make up the gooey sweet topping. The tropical flavors combine to make the most amazing dessert.
Ingredients In Do Nothing Cake
Here’s what you need to make this easy and delicious dessert: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is perfect here. Sugar: Granulated sugar adds the right amount of sweetness to the cake. Crushed Pineapple: Look for crushed pineapple in juice, rather than the kind packed in syrup. Pineapple in syrup can make the cake a bit too sweet. Eggs and Baking Soda: Together with the acidity from the pineapple, these give the cake rise and make it tender and fluffy. Unsalted Butter: I know that I said that the cake was butter-free, but we will need some to make the frosting! Evaporated Milk: A common time-saving ingredient in vintage recipes, evaporated milk is less expensive than heavy cream, and gives the frosting a delicious richness. Shredded Coconut: Sweetened coconut is the key ingredient for the frosting! I’ve reduced the sugar a bit in the cake recipe already so that it’s not excessively sweet, but you can also consider using unsweetened coconut. Pecans: these add a nutty, toasty crunch to the topping.
How To Make Do Nothing Cake
Recipe Tips
Let the eggs come to room temperature so that the batter mixes smoothly. Avoid overmixing: You only need to stir in the dry ingredients until you can no longer see them. Overmixed cake batter leads to tough, dry cakes! Add warm frosting to warm cake for the best ooey gooey results.
Storing Tips
Store leftover do nothing cake in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 3 or 4 days. Let it sit out at room temperature for a while before serving.
More Vintage Recipes to Try!
Take a trip back in time with some of these Retro recipes. They’re classics!
Sweet and Simple Glorified Rice Church Window Cookies Bisquick Impossible Quiche Old Fashioned Rice Pudding Classic Waldorf Salad Custard Pie Carrot and Raisin Salad Better than Sex Cake
Why is this called a Texas Tornado Cake?
I haven’t been able to figure out exactly why this recipe is sometimes called a Texas Tornado Cake, but I do know that Texas has added its name to some pretty great desserts. Check out my recipe for Texas Sheet Cake next!
Does Do Nothing Cake need to be refrigerated?
If it doesn’t disappear right away, you should store this cake in the fridge in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can store it for up to 3 days or so. It’s best to let it sit at room temperature for a bit before serving so that the frosting softens.
Can I make this without coconut?
You can leave the coconut or the pecans out of the frosting if you like. The frosting will be thinner and runnier without the mix-ins, but it will still be delicious! Do Nothing Cake! It’s what was considered an easy cake recipe before boxed cake mixes even existed, and it’s so delicious. Don’t forget to Pin the Recipe! © Little Sunny Kitchen
