Luther Burbank Cake Recipe

[Angie]

Luther Burbank, the famous horticulturist, was a relative of mine. He is famous for the Shasta daisy and over 800 different varieties of plants. Arbor Day is named after him.

http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=708

Here is a cake of his that one first prize at the 1981 Sonoma County Fair in California. It is an original honoring Luther Burbank's success with potatoes, prunes, and walnuts.

1 1/2 C dried prunes
1 C mashed potatoes
1/2 C oil
2 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
2 C flour
1 1/4 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 C walnuts, chopped

Simmer prunes until tender, drain. Reserve 1/2 cup liquid. Pit and chop prunes. Beat oil, sugar and vanilla until well mixed. Add eggs one at a time, Add potatoes and mix well. Mix dry ingredients together and add alternately with prune liquid. Add prunes and nuts. Pour into greased and flours 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350* for 50 minutes or until done.

Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting
2 C powdered sugar
1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
4 T butter
2 tsp vanilla

Sift sugar into a bowl. Add cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy.

 

[auntieshelly]

Angie ~ Thanks for sharing the recipe for Luther Burbank Cake. I will definitely give it a try -- it sounds like a recipe my grandmother used to make called Fruit and Nut Cake with dried prunes and apricots as well as lots of walnuts. It did not, however, include mashed potatoes. I have visited Burbank's home and gardens -- his work with plants was remarkable! Thanks, again, for the recipe!

 

[JoAnn L.]

Angie, I have never heard of a cake made with mashed potatoes before. I will have to make this cake to see what this taste like. The recipe really sounds good and I always love cream cheese frosting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[PA Baker]

Thanks, Angie. This sounds interesting! How were you related to Luther Burbank? When DH and I vacationed in CA a couple years ago we passed the Luther Burbank gardens in Sonoma--they looked amazing but we didn't have time to stop .

 

[Angie]

Thanks, Angie. This sounds interesting! How were you related to Luther Burbank? When DH and I vacationed in CA a couple years ago we passed the Luther Burbank gardens in Sonoma--they looked amazing but we didn't have time to stop .

I'm not sure the direct line, but I know he comes from my mom's mom's side.

 

[mudbug]

Boy, did this trigger a childhood memory for me. Used to read all kinds of biographies of famous people when they were kids. Usually the last couple of chapters were about their adult lives.

I remember reading about Luther Burbank.