Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (2024)

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by Alea Milham 15 Comments

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This old-fashioned tomato soup cake recipe tastes like a spice cake. You can cook this vintage cake recipe in a loaf pan or in a cake pan.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (1)
First let me say, this cake tastes much better than it sounds! This recipe originated in the late 1920s or early 1930s. It was enormously popular throughout the depression as it is made without using eggs or butter.

Tomato Soup Cake was sometimes called Mystery Cake and a game was made of making first-time eaters guess the secret ingredient. It has a delightfully spicy flavor, making it almost impossible to discern that it is made with tomato soup.

This recipe was passed down to me by my mom. This is the cake recipe that I associate with my mom because she has been making it every year during the holidays for as long as I can remember. While Tomato Soup Cakes have been around for years, my mom is the only one I know who makes it in a loaf pan. Most people make it in cake pans, a 9×13 pan, or a bundt cake pan. If you don’t cook it in a bread loaf pan, you will have to alter the cooking time.

If you don’t have a can of condensed tomato soup, you can use this recipe for Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute.

More Depression Cake Recipes

Chocolate Depression Cake Recipe

Vanilla Depression Cake Recipe

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 can condensed tomato soup (10 3/4 ounces) (Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups flour**
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and vegetable shortening. Add the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and condensed tomato soup to the mixing bowl and stir until all of the ingredients are fully combined.
  2. Slowly add the flour to the mixing bowl in half cup increments, stirring well after each addition to ensure all of the flour is fully combined. Add baking powder, baking soda, the walnuts, and raisins to the mixing bowl. Continue stirring until all ingredients are fully incorporated into the batter.
  3. Pour the cake batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.
  4. Once it is cooled you can top it with cream cheese frosting or serve it plain. I leave it plain if I am planning on packing it in lunches and top it with frosting if I will be serving it to guests.

**You canusethisGluten Free Cake Flour to make this recipe gluten-free.

When the cake is cool, frost it with the Cream Cheese Frosting recipe below or, if you wish, slice it and serve it plain.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (2)

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

  • 3-ounce package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Put all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix together until the right consistency to spread on cake.

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (3)

Printable Tomato Soup Cake Recipe

4.8 from 4 reviews

Tomato Soup Cake

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (4)

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Author: Alea

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 12

Ingredients

  • ½ cup vegetable shortening or lard
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 - 10¾ oz. can condensed tomato soup (Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour ( use gluten-free all-purpose flour to make this gluten-free)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and vegetable shortening. Add the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and condensed tomato soup to the mixing bowl and stir until all of the ingredients are fully combined.
  2. Slowly add the flour to the mixing bowl in half cup increments, stirring well after each addition to ensure all of the flour is fully combined. Add baking powder, baking soda, and the walnuts to the mixing bowl. Continue stirring until all ingredients are fully incorporated into the batter.
  3. Pour the cake batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing the cake from the pan

More Cake Recipes

Vanilla Depression Cake Recipe

Chocolate Depression Cake Recipe

Vanilla Bundt Cake with Berry Topping

Brown Sugar Pecan Coffee Cake with Chai Spices

Easy Mocha Fudge Bundt Cake with Mocha Fudge Glaze

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Nonna says

    does anyone know if you could substitute oil for the lard? If so would it me more or less moist? I am so anxious to make it!

    Reply

  2. Deborah says

    My Grandma would make this every Sunday for as long as I can remember. I am 73 now. She used to call it a war cake. Because they were only allowed so much of everything to cook with. Still my favorite cake. Blessings

    Reply

  3. Patricia L Larson says

    I’ve made this cake dozens of times people can’t wait till i make it .I used to watch my mom make it, no eggs in it. It’s good for company when you don’t have any dessert. Frost it with a thin coating of butter frosting ,serve with coffee yummmmm. Enjoy

    Reply

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Tomato Soup Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does baking soda do to tomato soup? ›

When you add baking soda to tomato soup (or sauce, or chili), it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Not only will this make the tomatoes taste less acidic (good news if your tomatoes turned out more sour than you expected), but it also means that you can now add milk to your soup without risking curdling it.

What is the history of spice cake? ›

The first traces of spice cake can be found among the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, who made spice cake from grains, spices and honey. The Romans refined the recipe with pepper and dried fruit.

What are the ingredients in Campbell's tomato soup? ›

WATER, TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), SUGAR, WHEAT FLOUR, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, CANOLA, AND/OR SOYBEAN), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, POTASSIUM SALT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CREAM, CITRIC ACID, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORING, CELERY EXTRACT, GARLIC OIL. CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, SOY.

What does adding sugar to tomato soup do? ›

A small amount of sugar can help round out the flavor, while too much can make it overly sweet and potentially ruin the dish. Adding sugar may also reduce the acidity in a soup, making it taste less acidic.

What is the difference between cream of tomato soup and tomato bisque? ›

Tomato soup is usually made with either vegetable or chicken stock. Tomato bisque is made by adding cream or whole milk. The dairy is what makes it thicker and creamier, which gives it the defining traits of a bisque.

What is the oldest cake in the world? ›

The world's oldest known cake, baked during the reign of Pepi II in Egypt between BCE 2251 and 2157. Alimentarium, Vevey, Switzerland. The Egyptians gave us the world's oldest known cake–and also the world's oldest Tupperware as it happens.

What is the oldest cake in history? ›

That honor goes to a 4,176-year-old cake that was found in an Egyptian tomb, according to the Guinness organization. It is on display in a food museum in Switzerland.

What is a vintage cake? ›

Vintage cakes are vintage or “retro” because they've been around (and around and around) for centuries. They're known for their frilly, over-piped design and can be traced back to the French Rococo style of the 1700s – an age known for its ornate and gilded designs.

What can I add to tomato soup to make it taste better? ›

Add garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper and let sit on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Pour into bowls and top with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

What's the difference between Campbell's tomato soup and Campbell's tomato bisque? ›

But seriously the primary difference is that a bisque includes cream, where a traditional tomato soup does not. Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth of crustaceans.

Can you use milk instead of water in tomato soup? ›

The standard direction for a can of condensed Tomato Soup is to put the condensed soup in a saucepan, fill the can with water, add the water to the pan, stir, and heat just to the point of simmer. BUT. It's MUCH better with Milk, which makes it a creamy tomato soup, a bit more like a tomato bisque.

Why would you put baking soda in soup? ›

The ingredient helps vegetables break down, creating the smoothest possible texture.

Why do you put baking soda in soup? ›

- Adding baking soda to tomato soup and tomato sauces helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Tomato flavors really shine, and your sauce or soup will not curdle if you add milk. - Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of tomato sauce or soup will make flavors sparkle and become less acidic.

Does baking soda reduce acid in tomato soup? ›

Yes, adding a pinch of baking soda can help neutralize the acidity in tomato soup. However, it is important to use it sparingly, as using too much can alter the flavor of the soup. Alternatively, adding herbs like basil or oregano can complement the acidity and add a fresh, aromatic element.

Does baking soda make tomatoes taste better? ›

Gardeners will want to keep a little baking soda on hand when they're putting in their tomato plants in spring because sprinkling some of this ingredient into the soil can prevent certain kinds of produce from tasting dull and gives your tomatoes a boost of sweetness come harvest time.

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