Don't let that leftover cake go to waste.
Think again before you toss out perfectly fine cake just because it is a little dried out. You can revive stale cake in a variety of ways including steaming it, or by wrapping the cake in a moist paper towel and microwaving it for a few seconds. However, if you do not want to eat it as cake any longer, there are a number of ways to re-invent the stale cake into a tasty dish.
Crusts and Toppings
Use stale cake as a crust for pies or as a crumb topping. The cake needs to be very dry to be used in this fashion. If it is not, crumble the cake up into small chunks and place it in a baking dish. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the chunks are dry and crispy. Place the dried cake chunks in a food processor or blender to crumble into very fine crumbs. To use as a crust, add just enough water to be able to press the crumbs together into a pie dish. For topping, simply sprinkle the crumbs over top of the pie or other completed dessert.
Ice Cream Mix-In
Have a "Make Your Own Sundae" day with a variety of mix-in options, including stale cake. Divide the cake into bite-size chunks. To mimic an ice cream mix-in shop, use a cold granite slab to mix the ice cream, stale cake and any other toppings together. The ice cream will soften the stale cake enough to that it will have a texture and taste like regular cake and ice cream.
Other Desserts
Use the stale cake to create a trifle dessert. Slice the cake into thick chunks and place a layer in the bottom of a glass bowl, followed by a layer of pudding, whipped cream and fruit jam. Repeat the layering order until you reach the top of the bowl and serve. Use stale cake to make tiramisu, as it absorbs liquid better without becoming overly soggy.
Breakfast
For an extra sweet French toast, use stale pound cake instead of stale bread. Slice the cake into thick slices, about the thickness of Texas toast, and soak in an sweetened egg mixture just as you would with regular French toast. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Another idea is to pour cream over stale cake slices, and then fry it in a little butter and top with fruit preservatives for a slightly crispy, biscuit-like treat.
Tags: stale cake, cake into, stale cake, cake into thick, chunks place, French toast
