Dolly Madison Zingers (Devil’s Food)

Former U.S. President James Madison’s wife did not

create this baking company, despite the fact that her

name is on every carrot cake, crumb cake, and Zinger that

comes off the production line. It was instead company

founder Roy Nafziger’s brainstorm to use the former first

lady’s name, since she was notorious for throwing huge

shindigs featuring a fine selection of desserts and baked

goods. Nafziger said his company would create cakes “fine

enough to serve at the White House.” While I don’t expect

you’ll be treated to a tray of Zingers on your next stay

in the Lincoln Bedroom, I will agree that these little

snack cakes are a tasty way to appease a sweet tooth.

You can craft a version at home by making little cake

pans out of aluminum foil that is wrapped around an

empty prescription pill bottle. The cake batter is easy,

since you just use any instant devil’s food cake mix.

I like Duncan Hines, but you can use whatever you want.

As for the frosting, it may not come out as dark brown

as the original since the recipe here doesn’t include brown

food coloring (caramel coloring). But the taste will be

right on. And I think President Clinton would agree that as

long as the sweet little treats taste good, appearance is secondary.

Cake

Duncan Hines devil’s food cake mix

1 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup oil

3 large eggs

Filling

2 teaspoons hot water

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups marshmallow creme (one 7-ounce jar)

1/2 cup shortening

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup Hershey’s chocolate syrup

2 tablespoons shortening

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

dash salt

Tear off a bunch of foil pieces about this size. These will be your

mini cake pans after folding two times and wrapping around a pill

bottle.

Empty prescription medicine bottles are actually good for something.

Use a toothpick or skewer to dig three caverns in the cakes where the

filling will live. Later you will cleverly hide these holes with

frosting.

1. Prepare the cake batter following the directions on the box.

If you use Duncan Hines brand, you will need 1 1/3 cups of water,

1/2 cup of oil, and three eggs. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To prepare the cake pans that will make cakes the size of Zingers,

tear off 20 pieces of aluminum foil that are each about 8 inches

wide. Fold the foil in half and then in half once more so that you

have a rectangular piece of foil. Wrap this piece of foil around a

small prescription medicine bottle. Tuck in the ends and take the

bottle out, leaving the foil open at the top. This will form a little

pan. Flatten the bottom so that the mini pan stands up straight.

Place this into a baking pan and repeat with the remaining pieces

of foil. When you have arranged all of the foil pans in a baking

pan, spray the inside of all the pans with non-stick cooking spray.

Fill each little pan about halfway with cake batter. Bake cakes

for 15 to 17 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes

out clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool

completely.

3. To make the filling, combine the hot water with the salt in a

small bowl and stir until the salt is dissolved. Let this mixture

cool.

4. Combine the marshmallow creme, shortening, powdered sugar, and

vanilla in a medium bowl and mix well with an electric mixer on high

speed until fluffy. Add the salt mixture to the bowl and mix.

5. To make the chocolate frosting, combine all the frosting

ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well with an electric mixer

until smooth.

6. To assemble your snack cakes first poke three holes with a

toothpick or skewer in the top of a cake and swirl around inside

the holes making little caverns for your filling.

7. Use a pastry bag with a small tip to squeeze some filling into

each hole. Careful not to overfill, or your cake will burst open.

Sure, it’s exciting, but this mess won’t make for a good clone.

8. Once the cake is filled, use a butter knife to spread frosting

on top of the cake over the holes. Drag a fork lengthwise over

the frosting making grooves just like the real thing.

Makes 20 snack cakes.

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