Ugly Cake is a simple and delicious dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. Despite its name, this cake is all about taste over looks, and it’s super easy to make with basic pantry ingredients. The beauty of ugly cake is there’s no pressure to make it look perfect—just mix, bake, and enjoy!
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Ugly Cake might not have the most glamorous name, but it’s incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious. The recipe is simple and straightforward, using basic ingredients you probably already have at home. Just mix everything together, pop it in the oven, and you’re done.
This cake is perfect for any occasion. It’s moist, flavorful, and a crowd-pleaser every time. The best part is, you don’t need to be a baking expert to nail this recipe. It’s a great option for when you want a tasty dessert without all the fuss.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Despite its humble name, ugly cake is moist, flavorful, and always a hit, proving that looks aren’t everything.
- You can whip up this cake quickly, making it ideal for last-minute gatherings or when you need a fast dessert.
- Ugly Cake uses simple, everyday ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
- Yellow Cake Mix: Any brand will work!
- Homemade Vanilla Custard: Made by whisking together vanilla pudding mix, an egg, a block of cream cheese, and some whole milk.
- Eggs: Add a nice bounce and some structure to this moist cake.
- Whole Milk: Keeps your cake rich and moist.
- Salted Butter: Melted. For a smooth buttery taste!
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the natural sweet flavors in this ugly cake.
- Powdered Sugar: Optional for garnishing.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- Mix in fruit like apples, bananas, or berries to add a fruity twist. You can also swirl in fruit preserves or jams for extra flavor.
- Add chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds, or sprinkle seeds like chia or flax for extra texture and nutrition.
- Incorporate cocoa powder into the batter for a chocolate version, or add chocolate chips for melted chocolate throughout the cake.
- For a more rustic texture, add oats or shredded coconut to the batter. You can also incorporate crushed cookies or graham crackers for a crunchy element.
How To Make Ugly Cake
Step #1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, eggs, milk, vanilla, and melted butter until homogenous.
Step #2. Pour the cake batter into a prepared baking dish and set aside.
Step #3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, milk, pudding mix, and egg to create the vanilla custard. The custard does not need to be perfectly smooth but avoid any large clumps.
Step #4. Pour the custard over the cake batter and use a knife to swirl the two layers together. Bake the cake until the edges are golden brown. Allow your cake to cool on the counter before slicing. Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, Ugly Cake is versatile and can be made in various flavors. You can add different extracts, fruits, spices, or mix-ins like chocolate chips and nuts to customize the flavor.
Absolutely! While the cake is known for its simple appearance, you can still decorate it with frosting, glaze, powdered sugar, or other toppings to enhance its look and flavor.
You can make Ugly Cake healthier by using whole wheat flour, reducing the sugar, adding fruits, nuts, or seeds, or using healthier fat substitutes like coconut oil or applesauce.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix just until the ingredients are combined to keep the cake light and tender.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This helps the cake set and prevents it from breaking apart.
- Ugly Cake often tastes even better the next day, as the flavors have time to meld. It’s a great make-ahead dessert that stores well.
What To Serve Ugly Cake With
Ugly Cake pairs well with coffee, tea, milk, or a scoop of ice cream. It can be served plain or with toppings like whipped cream, fruit, or a drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce.
How To Store Ugly Cake
Store Ugly Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. For longer storage, refrigerate it or freeze it for up to three months.
More Cake Recipes To Consider
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Ugly Cake
Ingredients
Ingredients for Cake:
- 1 box yellow cake mix (15 ounce box)
- 3 eggs large
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Ingredients for Custard:
- 1 3.4 ounce package vanilla pudding (instant pudding)
- 1 egg large
- 8 ounces cream cheese 1 block
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, eggs, milk, vanilla, and melted butter until homogenous. Pour the cake batter into the baking dish and set aside.
- Create your custard by whisking the cream cheese, milk, pudding mix, and egg together in a medium sized bowl. The custard does not need to be perfectly smooth, but should not have any large clumps in it.
- Pour the custard over the cake batter and use a knife to swirl the two layers together.
- Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes? Or until the edges are golden brown.
- Allow your cake to cool for 30 minutes on the counter before slicing. Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Because of the custard layer it can be tricky to know when this cake is done cooking. Once the edges are golden brown you can take your cake out of the oven. You can also poke around the edges with a toothpick. The center of the cake will have the most custard and will not result in a clean toothpick no matter how long you bake the cake.
- Allowing your cake time to cool helps the custard settle, which allows you to get cleaner slices. If you try to cut and serve your cake immediately then you may end up scooping your cake rather than slicing it.
- Room temperature cream cheese will be easier than cold cream cheese to mix in to the custard.
- If you don’t have whole milk you can use half and half or 2% milk.
- Salted butter helps balance the sweetness of the cake and custard. If you only have unsalted butter then you will want to add a teaspoon of salt to the cake batter.
- It is not necessary to dust your cake with powdered sugar but it gives the cake a nicer look.
- Store your leftover cake in the fridge for up to 4 days. This cake is great served warm, cold, or room temperature. If you’d like you can zap a leftover slice in the microwave for about 45 seconds.
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