White Bean Bundt Cake

white bean cake

 Five Things I would encourage you to do this weekend:

One:  Give yourself some time to DO and NOT DO.  Sleep in or take an after-pancake nap.  Then clean out a kitchen drawer… or tackle a bathroom shelf or two.  Do and Don’t… it’s all a balance, right?

Two:  Read something special.  I’m reading An Everlasting Meal.  It’s not a cookbook.  It’s not a memoir.  It’s a book about life and the kitchen.  It feels so different and so good.

Three:  Make the call.  Call you mother.  Call your uncle.  Call your neighbor.  There’s not enough time in the day, especially when things like Twitter and Pinterest exist.  I understand.  Listen… just ignore the stupid Facebook timeline thing that’s totally annoying, and pick up the phone to tell you’re Great Aunt Mary that you love her and you think she’s the most awesome old lady around.  Those things are important.  Facebook timeline is not… don’t let them trick you.

Four:  Buy a new lipstick.  I love how a new lip color changes how I feel about my wardrobe.  Girl talk!

Five:  Maybe you have to work all weekend.  I know… that’s real life.  Why not come home, order good Chinese food, sweep your apartment floor while you’re waiting for delivery, then quickly eat your take-out while you watch an old episode of The Walking Dead.  Eat somewhat quickly… before the zombie mess gets too gross.  Aaaannnddd… you just got a glimpse of how I really live.

white bean cake

Five things!  Enjoy them, or just totally ignore me.  Either way I’m glad you’re here.

Oh!  I made a cake with beans in it!  I have a mad fascination with sneaking beans into things.  Black Bean Brownies!  Major.  A new favorite for life.

I also have a huge fascination with big, chunky, flaked coconut.  I’ve made doughnuts, and I’m downright obsessed with this kale and coconut concoction.  I’m just really into this coconut.  This sneaky bean cake is just the latest victim of coconut sprinkling.  Get into it!

white bean cake

Start by fluffing up dry ingredients.  I use a fork.  Just whip and fluff.  Get some air in that business.

IMG_5060

We’re going to fold this flour into a creamed mixture of white cannellini beans, butter, and eggs.

white bean cake

Does this look like it has a whole can of beans in it?  Totally not.. right?

Sneaky moves.  All sneaks.

white bean cake

This recipe is adapted from a Martha Stewart Everyday Food creation.  Using beans in this recipe allow us to cut down on the butter while adding moisture, structure, and protein.  The cake doesn’t taste like beans.  It tastes like cake!

white bean cake

Golden and delightful.

I love a bundt!

white bean cake

I thought a whipped meringue frosting would be a sweet compliment to this cake.  It feels like Spring!

white bean cake

A good slathering of this light frosting acts like glue… shredded coconut glue!

white bean cake

This looks like success!

You can tell people your bean secret or keep it to yourself.  No one will tap you on the shoulder and say… wait, does this cake have cannellini beans in it.  They just won’t.  I promise.

white bean cake

I just need to tell you this one thing.

My cat is obsessed with this bowl.  He’s always sitting in it.

He’s a big boy.  He totally doesn’t fit.

white bean cake

White Bean Bundt Cake with Fluffy Meringue Frosting

This cake is a sweet and dense.  It’s no joke.  The cake itself is a great base.  I added vanilla and almond extract to mine, but you might consider also adding, blueberries (fresh or frozen), orange zest, diced pineapple, dried cherries, or chocolate chunks.  Just think of all the ways you could dress up this beauty.

I coated this cake in a sweet meringue frosting, but the cake would also be lovely with a Chocolate Buttercream, or a thick berry glaze.  There is really no limit to your options with this base cake.

In baking, just be sure not to over-bake this darling, as it is dense and may dry quickly.  Happy Baking!

Makes one bundt cake

adapted from Everyday Food Jan/Feb 2012

Print this Recipe!

For the Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (15.5 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract (optional)

For the Meringue Frosting:

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup granulated sugar

pinch of salt

pinch of cream of tartar

1/2 cup toasted coconut

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour a bundt pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

Add beans to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment.  Whip until beans are almost to a smooth puree.  It’s ok if there are some beans that are not completely pureed.  They’ll be well incorporated once they are beaten with the butter and sugar.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add butter, sugar, and bean puree.  Beat on medium speed until butter and beans are well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes.  Beans will break down and create a slightly soupy mixture.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute between each addition.  Beat in vanilla and almond (if using).

Slow the mixer to low speed and add half of the dry ingredients.  Beat until almost completely incorporated, but several white streaks remain.  Add all of the buttermilk.  Beat until incorporated.  Add the remaining dry ingredients and beat until incorporated.  Stop the mixer and remove the bowl.  Use a spatula to fold together and make sure all of the wet and dry ingredients are completely incorporated.

Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the cake come out clean.  Try not to over-bake the cake, as it’s dense and can quickly suffer from dryness.

Remove the cake from the oven.  Allow to rest in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

While cake cools, make the frosting.

Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

In a medium, heat-proof bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar.  Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk until sugar has completely dissolved, about 4 minutes.  Mixture will be a foamy white and on it’s way to thickening.

Transfer the warmed egg mixture to the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed until whites are thick and glossy, about 4 minutes.  Add vanilla extract and almond (if using).

Smooth frosting over cooled cake.  Top with toasted coconut.

Cake will last, covered in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

All Comments

I Made This

Questions

177 Responses

  1. I can’t wait to try this lovely-looking cake. But, I have to ask – – is it a “Pooter Cake”? Reference: “Beans, beans, the musical fruit; the more ya eat, the more ya toot! The more ya toot, the better ya feel!! So have some beans with every meal….”

  2. My friend and I just made this tonight!! Wow!! Thank you for the recipe!! Oh, and I love “The Walking Dead”. I am a huge zombie fan!

    – Mary

  3. Firstly: LOVE the new web design!
    Secondly: I finally made something from your super-smashing debut cookbook (been a busy bee lately) and decided on the browned butter choc chip cookies. Apart from making blackened butter on the first attempt (whoops! should have actually listened to you when you said not to multi-task…) I mastered it and by jove produced the most amazing biscuits (sorry I’m British) I have EVER had. Went down a storm with my running friends after a local half marathon race this morning! Anyways love the blog and podcasts as always, and of course the book and can’t wait to work my way through it!

  4. Made this for Mother’s Day and it’s going down a treat! I added some lemon juice and zest into the cake, it totally gave it a lemon pudding feel. Topped with your meringue frosting (also with a bit of lemon zest) and it was an all round winner!
    Thanks again from Melbourne, Australia :)

  5. Looking forward to using my bundt pan again as soon as I figure out how to gluten free it.
    The Cat Rules!

  6. Oooo! Yummy! I really want to try your bean creations … but we live without electricity — any ideas how to get them smooth enough by hand?? Maybe I’ll try a potato masher and see if that can do the trick!

  7. i love this cake and am going to make this on the weekend… but aside from all that gorgeous cake… i was struck lifeless by your cat… i want one just like that… i wonder if i can get my 9 month old golden retriever to sit in a bowl or a bucket just for a pic like that! haha!

  8. Oh I bet this tastes wonderful! It reminded me of those white bean paste buns I was so obsessed with a little while ago, I had to make them at home (I had a glorious encounter with them at an Asian market, great with soy milk btw) and had a lot of fun making my family go ”what’s that delicious filling made of???” HAH BEANS! YOU’RE ALL EATING BEANS IN A NON CONVENTIONAL WAY

    I will definitely try this and make them guess again, I think i’ll make it with home cooked lima beans

    and maybe a matcha swirl too….

  9. I’m totally making this. Especially since the avocado/chocolate cupcakes I made were to die for. Beans (and avocados) in cakes. Who knew ?

  10. Oh my goodness, how gorgeous is this cake? I LOVE LOVE LOVE meringue frosting and large slices of toasted coconuts, and the addition of beans? Simply brilliant. I’m no baker by any stretch of the imagination, but this is for sure a cake I’m willing to tackle. Bravo!

  11. Your cat = too cute
    The beans in the cake make me wonder how many other things we can stick into baked goods with similar effect!

  12. I made this cake and it is surprisingly good I used half cake flour and half all purpose flour It came out light. I will be making this often.

  13. Your cat is going to break that bowl, I hope you’re not lying about the cake. If my kids find one bean in it, they’ll never trust me again!

  14. Your recipe looks yummy and healthy and I love the pic of your cat in a bowl. I have been playing around with substituting coconut oil for butter (healthier) and wonder how it would taste in this cake (since there is already coconut on top). I made a carrot cake for my hubby’s birthday and substituted coconut oil in both the cake and and in the cream cheese frosting. Added drained crushed pineapple and shredded coconut to the batter, along with walnuts. The cake was delicious and kind of reminded me of a pina colada.

  15. Love your sneaks!! Will be making this very soon. I also just got your book, and I adore it! Really, there are so many recipes in there that I need to make. And, I’m so excited about the smoothies – the one with toasted oatmeal will be be perfect if it can help me sneak oatmeal into my kids (besides in oatmeal cookies).

    And, I sold my friend on your book with two words: Coffee Bacon. ;o)

  16. Your cat has a sweet little fat roll! (I am not calling him fat, it is totally just the way he is sitting, I was in the same situation in yoga class today). I am going to buy a bundt tin as a treat to myself, and this will be the first thing I will bake in it. WOO HOO.

  17. I love that you’re getting into baking with beans!! I’ve been sneaking pureed white kidney/navy/cannellini beans into things for years – in fact a good friend and I just published an entire book on beans, with a whole baking section. I’ll get our pub to send you a copy! This cake looks fab!

  18. What a great idea! The cake looks so lovely. I’m increasingly feeling like my life is incomplete because I don’t own a bundt pan.

  19. I’ve just started following your blog and I love your cat pictures! Especially because my cat looks exactly the same and probably acts the same too. He is a big boy – partly Maine coon. And he loves to help cook. I am going to try to adapt this bean cake recipe to my poppy seed cake for Easter. Yum!

  20. Joy, Joy, Joy, I think (many?) people might have asked you this before, but what breed is your cat?? Why is he so dang pretty??? I would looove a big fluffy GINGER cat too.

  21. Oh gee Joy- Not to repeat what everyone else is saying, but you sure are one smart cookie. Beans in cake? Who would have thought? I’m totally trying this so I can feel better about stuffing my face with sweets!

  22. Hey, your cat reminds me of my 15 month old boy, who is currently obsessed with sitting in soup pots! DO and NOT DO — you have put into words what I’ve always thought is THE recipe for a fantastic weekend. A friend introduced me to your blog last week and I can’t stop reading it. So many yummy things to try and fun things to read. Thanks!

  23. Yum! That cake looks amazing. I’ve been wanting to try adding beans to baked goods for density and protein. This looks like first recipe to try. :)

  24. My weekends usually look a lot like that, but my grandson is coming to stay with me this weekend, so I will basically spend the weekend at the park or in line at some dumb place he likes and I will absolutely love every single minute of it!

  25. I’ve never made a bundt cake before but I just bought a pan and it came in the mail today. I can’t wait to try it out! I’m also over the moon excited about meeting you in Brooklyn tomorrow!

  26. A few things to tell you.

    1. Putting beans in cake is totally bonkers & brilliant!!
    2. You’re the only reason I’ve started saying bonkers.
    3. Your kitty in a bowl is adorable.
    4. I think we share the same life sometimes.
    5. More bacon recipes.
    6. And more spinach ones, to counteract the bacon.
    7. You rock.

  27. I have a Maine Coon who sits in any bowl left on the counter…he’ll even try to cram himself into a cereal bowl.

    I think I’m going to spring this cake on my family this weekend, but probably without the coconut. Not a big coconut fan.

  28. I did three things!!! I worked hard tutoring English and then I had a mojito and Moka ice cream for dinner! Tomorrow, clean the house and email my family!! Thanks, Joy. I love this post!

  29. You inspired me to maybe, MAAAAYBE clean my kitchen junk drawer. Maybe I’ll clean it while this bundt is baking? Or maybe I’ll just make the cake, nap, then eat the cake? Forget the whole cleaning thing, it’s overrated?!?! Seriously though, I’m loving the idea of adding beans to this bundt!

  30. Hey Joy….while you are traveling, why dont you just pop down to the south island of New Zealand. Love to have you here!

  31. I totally want to try this! I love the picture of your kitty sitting in the bowl. It’s so funny and cute! LOVE.

  32. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I love that you can get your sweets, and fiber, and protein all at once. Wow! That is truly awesome. I would have never thought to put white beans in a cake. I’m totally making this this weekend and posting about it. Now I just gotta figure out how to use this lovely bean-base cake to make something a little different :) Thanks for all the suggestions and the recipe.

  33. I’m not afraid of beans AT ALL! I try to eat them or lentils (you know what they say about lentils ‘they’re the workhorse of the legume family.’) at least four times a week. This recipe is going to be made in my home. Also I LOVE coconut and can’t wait to try the big flakes, yum.
    The very best part of this post is Kitty in a bowl. I just had to ‘pin’ him and share it with my daughter. That cat is just too cute!

  34. Lord knows I’m a sucker for a bundt cake! But, a bundt cake with beans? Well, that sounds interesting and I love trying new things. So, this post ranks high for a number of points already, Joy.

    But, come on, you toss a ‘cute kitty in a bowl’ shot in? Well, let’s not pretend that isn’t a major game changer. You had my heart at ‘bundt’ but broke it wide open with bowl kitty! Sigh. :)

  35. This just came out of my oven, and it smells amaaaazing! My husband has dairy allergies (but can do small amounts of butter ok), so I used almond milk with a little white vinegar in it instead of buttermilk. I’ll let you know how it turns out! :)

  36. wow, that frosting is just gorgeous! this cake may convince me to buy a bundt pan. and orange cats are such characters. :)

  37. Love the cat in the bowl. Love your comment about Facebook timeline – I’ll be spending time with my aunts this weekend who are visiting, but I do need to call my Grandma stat. Love that you’re reading An Everlasting Meal – it’s already on my Amazon wishlist thanks to a great article about it in the Washington Post, but with another confirmation of it’s awesomeness, I’m going to pull the trigger and buy it. Love that you’re encouraging me to buy more lipstick…but I can’t until my financial diet is over. :) Thank you for the awesomeness!

  38. My cat enjoys my laundry hamper and my keyboard – cats just like to sit on and in things!

    And as for sneaking beans into cakes – you’re a genius! I’m sure it still tastes delicious, but feels more dense and hearty.

    xoxo,
    mon amy

  39. love when our desserts are chocked full o nutrients; looks wonderful!
    ps-can’t wait to meet you tomorrow in NY (bonkers crazy excited)
    :)

  40. Love your cat in the bowl. My cats tend to like empty paper bags and boxes, of any size. They will try to squeeze themselves in, sometimes together, and parts of them will lop over the sides. And they will fight over them too.

    The cake is on the list to try… I’m thinking Easter…

  41. OK, so this cake looks unbelievably delicious, but can we just talk for a second about how YOUR CAT SITS IN BOWLS. Because that is my favorite thing, ever. My cat is not as cool as yours.

  42. AHH you’re blowing my mind. Again. All the time. What was it that creepy guy said? You’ve got me all sewed up? Whatever it was…it was creepy and it’s totally not how I feel about you and this cake. But you’re still bonkers awesome.

  43. Love this, as always! All your pictures are eye candy. The white beans in the cake also help to balance blood sugar. Not that you were looking for that or anything… I have to add protein to all of my baked goods to help my blood sugar, so I’ve used white beans in baking too…. although my baking is nor normal. ;)

  44. Black bean brownies are one of my faves too…I’ve only made them out of whole black beans, but Bob’s Red Mill makes a black bean flour – you think it’ll work? hmm… Your bundt is gorgeous. I wish I had a bundt like yours ;) And I adore your white bean recipe, this is very sneaky. With the toasted coconut on top, wowsers lady…what a delight.

  45. sounds really delicious, and i also love those coconut flakes! and what a gorgeous cat….he has a very handsome profile. i know the brother of the woman who wrote “an everlasting meal”…he’s a great chef, too.

  46. I don’t know if it’s because it’s Friday, but I totally looked at the last shot of the cake slice and went “That cake looks like a taco.” I’m tired… and haven’t had breakfast yet… and now I want cake… cake with beans in it. Oh Joy, the things you do to me. Haha! Definitely going to try to make it to your Brooklyn show tomorrow. Congrats again on the book tour!!!

  47. There is something about lining up jars of dried beans in the pantry that makes me feel like a pioneer, saint, and health nut all in one. So darn empowering! I’m taking every chance I get to slip these babies into my cookery.

    Also…can I just raise a little hallelujah amen about post-pancake naps? Turkey, watch out! Pancakes be stealin’ your rep!

  48. Wow. I’m still afraid to try baking beans into things, but I love how you are fearless and plunge on ahead with this stuff. Your cake (and your cat) look amazing (no I don’t want to eat your kitty, I just think he’s a spectacular color is all :D )

  49. Oh, I want a piece of this now, it looks and sounds so wonderful, especially with the coconut on top! I can’t wait to make this and surprise my daughter. Only after she eats some of it or the whole piece will I tell her that it has beans in it. Is that mean of me, am I a mean mother for doing that? I just can’t get her to eat beans for the life of me.
    You rock, Joy! Totally love the commentary. Thank you for moving me to call my grandmother this weekend. I’ve been thinking about it, but I needed a good kick in the butt. xoxox

  50. Just wanted to say I love your recipes and your style (of writing and of living)
    Oh yeah, and now I think I love your cat too!
    Reading you all the way here in the Netherlands

  51. Our cats sit in things too–especially things they don’t fit in. And especially basket-shaped things. I don’t understand the allure!

  52. Good morning Joy. The cake looks wonderful :). Thanks for all the yummy recipes here. Happy Friday.

    ps – in your list of five for the weekend, you doubled item three, three :). I got to the end of the list and wondered where five was :o. In case you did not plan it that way….

    You rock!

  53. That looks like a wonderful cake. My mom likes coconut & has been so busy with work I think I will make it for her.
    I love your cat!! I have a cat who likes to sit on things. Doesn’t matter what it is. Come into my house set down a bag or box, she will sit on it. Or in it!

  54. I love this Joy! I have been trying to sneak things into all my cakes and loaves recently from avocado to prune puree to zucchini and I really love how moist it makes them. Beans is definitely next, I love how it adds fibre and protein and moisture. Thanks for the inspiration!

  55. Your cat in the bowl!! I love it!
    All good ideas Joy. I’m lucky, I don’t have to work at the weekend, so I’m going to visit a friend I’ve not seen in ages and there will most definitely be pancakes eaten!
    Enjoy your weekend :)

  56. How is it possible that you make so many things that I want to eat?! Like almost every post. Glad to hear the cake doesn’t taste like beans – I’ve always wanted to try it – just to add a little something healthy, but I’m so worried about having to throw food away because no one wants to eat it – pet peeve. . . .And glad to see it’s a bundt. I love bundt cakes – they’re adorable and easy. . . Plus, white cakes are my fave. Sheesh. Thanks for another great one!

  57. What’s the crumb like? Is the texture pretty standard-bundt? Why does spell check say “bundt” isn’t a word?

  58. This cake is so pretty and it does look like spring. I’m also reading “An Everlasting Meal” right now and the writing is beautiful–it makes you want to do all kinds of things, like boil eggs, chickens and roast vegetables. Really, it’s the verbal equivalent of the pictures of this cake, which make me want to put beans in everything.

  59. I wrote about two bean cake recipes I made, both from reputable sources, in my blog https://munchingsandmusings.blogspot.com/2011/02/first-foray-into-gluten-free.html. Will you try one of those two recipes and write about it here too? I need someone experienced to let me know if I messed up and should try again, or if those were just poor examples. (Could be because they were gluten-free – maybe the flour helps disguise some of the beanness?)
    P.S. I love your photos, especially of the meringue frosting. Wouldn’t a cannelini bean cake be delightful with a lemon-rosemary glaze?!

  60. If you say “The cake doesn’t taste like beans. It tastes like cake!” – I believe you because I tasted your marshmallowey frosting that you made at Todd & Diane’s and you clearly have awesome tastebuds :) so if you say it’s cake, it’s cake.

    I love beans, but just have never gotten into them…in desserts. But you have me so tempted to try, finally!

  61. I can get on board the protein in dessert wagon! There’s even a whole bag of big coconut in my pantry. Speaking of big, I remember your cat being itty bitty in that bowl. Amazed he hasn’t knocked it off the table yet!

  62. I have never heard of a bean cake before… This looks delish! I definitely need to do number three this weekend. Amazing how I find time to do a lot of Internet stuff and forget about simple things like calling family. NEED to do that more often and NEED to make this cake so I can brag about it to my mom. Good plan?

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