You've all seen the recipe on the label of a jar of mayonnaise - Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Hmmm, you thought. How would that taste? Would it taste mayonnaise-y? I decided to make the cake for myself to see how it would turn out. Mind you, I didn't use a box of chocolate cake mix as the recipe suggests. I had a different recipe that specifically called for mayonnaise which I thought would give me a better idea of how the mayonnaise flavours or doesn't flavour the cake.My decision to make this cake coincides with a country-wide Hellmann's Taste Test that asks Canadians whether or not they can tell the difference between Real and Half The Fat mayonnaise. I always buy real mayonnaise but, to be fair to the general idea of the taste test, I made two cakes using both types of mayo. It was up to my taste-testers to see if there were any discernable differences.
The first difference I noticed was in appearance. Real mayonnaise is thicker and scoopable whereas Half the Fat is creamier. When incorporating it into the cake batter, the Half the Fat mayo dissolved very smoothly. Both cakes baked up exactly the same way in exactly the same amount of time. The interesting thing about the recipe I used is that it doesn't require butter at all - the mayo completely replaces it. Once the cakes were frosted, it was tim
e moment of truth. Would one taste better than the other?The result? Both cakes tasted the same. They were both moist and chocolaty with no mayo flavouring evident at all. I knew which cake was which but, if someone was presented with two slices I don't think they would have been able to tell the difference. I've concluded that, in this particular cake, both types of mayo worked equally as good as the other. There was no sacrificing of taste and, if you're counting calories, Half Fat mayo cake would be a reasonable dessert choice, icing being optional.
To see if there's a taste test going on in your neck of the woods, check Hellmann's for details. They're running until September 23 at a grocery store near you.
(Disclosure: In anticipation of this event, I was provided (with thanks) a jar of each Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise and Hellmann's Half the Fat.)
Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
17 comments:
Nice cakes.
I used to make a chocolate mayo cake with my grandmother, using Miracle Whip instead of Hellman's (I think it was before Hellman's)
They looks scrummy! I remember my grandmother talking about a mayonnaise cake she used to make but I have never tasted one myself.
I have seen a couple of baking recipes with mayo but have never tried any of them - the cakes look magnificent, Jen!
Beautiful cake!! I would have never thought to use mayo - but it's really good to hear that you can cut the fat without losing the flavor or texture!
They look good but mayonnaise? in a cake? Why? I mean being Dutch I love me mayo (on fries, on croquettes, on cheese and rye) in a cake however...
I once tried a true Southern recipe using tuna and mayo in an ovendish, not to be repeated.
Michael's mother made a Miracle Whip cake for his birthday every year, at his request. Then one year he actually saw her making the cake and putting in the Miracle Whip. He was all traumatized until his mom explained that this was how she made his birthday cake every year. After that, he recovered. :-)
Mayonnaise is basically oil and eggs, right? I have vague memories of making a cake when I was kid with mayo, some recipe from my grandmother. I'll have to add this to my recipes to try list.
how risque!
Mayo cakes are always so moist. Great of you to perform your experiment.
This recipe brings back memories of childhood picnics. My grandmother would always make a chocolate mayo cake to bring. My brother and I would get chocolate all over our faces and then go swimming to "clean up"! I haven't made one of these in years but think I will have to make one now.
Love your blog and thre recipes and ideas you give.
I have been tagged by Canadianbakertoo, Hendria, and now I am tagging you LOL
Please join in if you like.
Quellia - I think MW would work just as well.
Katie - Try making one, you might enjoy it!
Patricia - Thank you!
Deborah - I know - that's part of the challenge. Low-fat is just as good as full fat.
Baking Soda - I thought that too, why mayo? I think its economically cheaper to make a cake with it rather than butter and it does produce a moist cake!
Andrea - Too funny!
Elizabeth - You're not he first to mention grandmothers...perhaps the notion of using mayo in cakes is not new?
Johnny - Don't I know it!
Peabody - It was fun to try them both.
Breadchick - Go ahead and take a walk down memory lane!
Rosemary - Thank you so much!
Wow, this cake looks great. Mayo adds such a richness and depth to chocolate cake...yummmmm...I want a piece right NOW!!! Great photos btw.
Dear Canadian Baker. I just have one word 'wow'. The chocolate cake with mayo is just wonderful. I am sure it must taste yummy. I was just wondering if i can experiment chocolate cake to embellish it with sugarcraft. Have started recently to do sugarcraft so was just wondering.Do visit my site and leave a comment for a beginner
http://sugarcraft-india.blogspot.com
Hi Canadian Baker
Just wanted to show you. I recently made the 5-layered cake for an Indian Wedding in Botswana.It was an experiment. Do pass by me site whenever you can.
I am lookin for a recipe almost like this one only it called for instant coffee in it. We called it Black Magic Cake. My aunt used to make it and she now suffers from early stages of demntia and we are trying to jog her memory. If anyone out there has this recipe I would be forever greatful.
I always wondered if the light mayonnaise will work in this recipe or not, so I never made the recipe, but now I know! Thank you very much!
I want to cut the recipe in half, but don't want to bother with 1 and 1/2 egg, so do you think I can use just one? I saw lots of chocolate-mayo-cake recipes that doesn't use any egg, but you never know in baking...
Love your blog :)
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