What? Spiced Green Tomato Cake? It’s a delightful and surprising way to use up green tomatoes at the end of the season that never ripen. The result is a moist, warmly spiced cake that pairs perfectly with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
This has quickly become one of our favorite late-summer and early-fall desserts.
Why You’ll Love Green Tomato Cake
- Unique Flavor: The green tomatoes add a subtle tang that balances the cake’s sweetness and warm spices.
- Moist and Tender: The tomatoes add natural moisture, keeping the cake tender and preventing dryness.
- Warm Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves give the cake a cozy, autumnal flavor.
- Easy to Make: The recipe is straightforward and reliable, even for novice bakers.
- Use Up Green Tomatoes: It’s an excellent way to use an abundance of green tomatoes rather than letting them go to waste.
So Why Green Tomato Spice Cake?
I first found this recipe years ago and saved it. One September, with a small garden full of green tomatoes and the season ending, I needed a way to use them up. Fried green tomatoes can only be served so many times, so I pulled this old recipe out and made the cake. I had every ingredient on hand and the result was a hit — moist, flavorful, and not what most would expect from a cake made with green tomatoes.
I served it to friends and family without mentioning the ingredient, and they loved it. The cake tastes like a spiced, autumn coffee cake rather than tomato-forward; the tomatoes mainly add moisture and a subtle brightness.
Why not share this sooner?
For years I kept it a little secret because my daughter bakes with me and can be picky. I was convinced she wouldn’t eat a cake she knew contained green tomatoes, so I didn’t tell her. This year she ended up with a huge surplus of green tomatoes, and we made the cake again. She only realized afterward and was pleasantly surprised — it still tasted like the cozy spice cake she loved.
Before you turn up your nose, give it a try. It really is a classic spice cake in taste and texture — moist, slightly dense like a coffee cake, and perfect with tea or coffee. It’s a great way to enjoy the end of the garden season.
Handy tip: Frosting
If you frost the cake, a cream cheese frosting with a light dusting of cinnamon on top is a lovely complement.
A few Green Tomato Spice Cake Tips:
- To keep the tomato presence subtle, chop the green tomatoes very finely. They cook down and become nearly undetectable.
- Peeling is optional. Chopping small usually makes peeling unnecessary.
- Many people salt the chopped tomatoes to draw out liquid; I prefer a light sprinkle of sugar. It helps pull out some juice and enhances sweetness without leaving a salty taste.
- Pureeing the tomatoes can work, but it sometimes makes the cake too moist and a bit fragile. Finely chopped is a safer choice.
- These tips come from years of making the cake — take what works for you.
Printable Recipe for Green Tomato Spice Cake
Green Tomato Spice Cake
Nicole Cook
Ingredients
- 4 cups green tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar (for tomatoes)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, place the chopped tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of sugar and let stand about 15–20 minutes.
- Rinse, drain in a colander, and pat dry with paper towels as much as possible.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until creamy.
- In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda and salt.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture and beat well.
- Fold in the drained tomatoes and mix thoroughly.
- Spoon batter into prepared pan and bake 45–55 minutes at 350°F, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool before slicing.
Notes
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch, either folded into the batter or sprinkled on top.
- If frosting, use a cream cheese frosting and dust the top lightly with cinnamon.
Nutrition Facts
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