Day 183: Bird Of Paradise Cake

I just realized after reading a comment on yesterday's post that I am halfway through the year.  In some ways its been a long 6 months, but in others its just flown by.  I can't believe how much I've learned since January!  Not only can I cook just about anything in a dutch oven, but I've learned so much about food and cooking.  I do a lot of things differently now, and every recipe I read I adapt to a dutch oven in my head while I'm reading.  It is a little weird.  : )  There are still a few things I haven't done yet.  I really need to cook a roast in my DO and I want to try a turkey as well, but I don't have a deep oven yet.  Maybe by Thanksgiving...

For the next few days I'm going to post some of the recipes from the Arkansas Dutch Oven Society's dessert recipe contest.  The winning recipe will be posted on Tuesday.  I figured no one will be reading this over the holiday weekend and I don't want you to miss the winner.  All the dessert recipes and the new main dish recipes from June are available at the arkdos website.

Bird of Paradise Cake
12" dutch oven

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple
1 small can mandarin oranges
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups chopped bananas
1/2 cup milk

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar

Combine the dry ingredients, add the eggs and oil and stir until moistened.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until combined.  Pour batter into a greased 12" oven and bake at 350° for 1 hour with 7-10 coals on the bottom and 14-18 on top. (I used the ring method with 1 1/2 rings on top and 1 ring on the bottom and mine cooked in about 45 minutes.)  Let cake cool for about 10 minutes and remove from pan.  Frost with cream cheese frosting.

For the frosting, combine both ingredients in a small dutch oven.  Over medium heat, (about 6 coals under a 10" oven) stir until combined and smooth.

The Finished Product

This piece has just a drizzle of frosting so you can see the chunks of fruit.

The Review

Look at the yummy chunks of fruit in this cake.  I substituted peaches for the pineapple, and you could also use strawberries, but I think the pineapple would have made this even better.  All the different fruits made this one a party in your mouth!  It tasted very "tropical" and was a nice change of pace from more traditional cake.  I think it is a perfect dessert for a summer picnic or BBQ.  This one gets an A-.