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Tornado Cake Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 56 reviews
  • Author: Lily
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Description

This Tornado Cake recipe features a moist vanilla buttermilk cake with a delightful chocolate cinnamon swirl that creates a stunning tornado effect when baked. Perfect for dessert or an indulgent breakfast treat, the cake mixes a tender crumb with a rich, spiced cocoa ribbon to wow your guests and family alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Batter

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Tornado Swirl Mixture

  • 0.25 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 1.5 cups granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the softened butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to the bowl with dry ingredients. Mix just until these ingredients are combined without overmixing.
  4. Incorporate Buttermilk: Gradually add the buttermilk to the mixture while stirring gently to form a smooth batter. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
  5. Prepare the Tornado Swirl: In a small bowl, combine the unsweetened cocoa powder, 0.75 cup granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. This will create the flavorful swirl inside the cake.
  6. Layer the Batter: Pour about two-thirds of the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  7. Add Swirl Mixture: Sprinkle the cocoa-cinnamon swirl mix evenly over the batter layer in the pan.
  8. Top with Remaining Batter: Carefully pour the remaining one-third of cake batter over the swirl mixture to cover it.
  9. Create the Tornado Effect: Using a knife or a skewer, gently swirl the batter with a circular motion to create a tornado pattern. Be careful not to swirl too much or the layers will mix too thoroughly.
  10. Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then invert it onto a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Do not overmix the batter to maintain a light, tender crumb.
  • The cocoa and cinnamon swirl is what creates the tornado effect; be gentle when swirling.
  • Make sure your baking pan is well greased and floured to prevent sticking.
  • Use room temperature butter and eggs for best mixing results.
  • This cake stores well in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Tornado Cake, chocolate swirl cake, cinnamon cake, buttermilk cake, easy cake recipe, swirl cake

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Find it online: https://flavorbylily.com/tornado-cake-recipe/