**Disclaimer: I am NOT one of those women who believes any sort of food, herbal remedy or old wives’ trick can induce labor. I fully believe my little girl will come when she is good and ready, thus making the idea of this cake completely bogus in principal, but nevertheless, good for a chuckle.
Evening primrose oil, castor oil, spicy foods, raspberry leaf tea…I’ve heard of just about every trick out there to induce labor. Of course I believe they’re all complete horse pucky. So naturally, when I was reading on a popular baby discussion forum about all these women baking and eating these so-called “labor cakes” to induce labor, I laughed out loud. Of all the ridiculous notions….yeah sure, a boxed mix chocolate cake is going to kick-start my labor…riiiight. However, I sat there and got to thinking about a warm, gooey, chocolaty cake fresh from the oven and just couldn’t resist. While I don’t believe any amount of chocolate will convince Cassidy to get a move on, any excuse to shove my face full of cake is good enough for me. So I made myself a labor cake. Following the recipe exactly (box mix and all). And it was dang good. Did Cassidy come? Nope. Did I enjoy my cake and go to bed with a smile on my face? You bet.
“Labor Cake” (A dressed up chocolate cake)
1 box Devil’s Food Cake mix
1 small package chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 vegetable oil
1 12-ounce package mini chocolate chips
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
To make mine extra chocolaty, I topped it with my grandmother’s fudge icing:
Nana’s Fudge Icing (adapted to be a thin glaze rather than a thick frosting)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Heat all ingredients except vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until mixture is melted and beginning to thicken. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
Cake recipe source: www.justmommies.com
Ha, totally agree! Although, of all the wive’s tales, chocolate would have been my choice, too!
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Comment by Blog is the New Black — January 23, 2012 @ 4:19 AM
Droooool! This is heaven!
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Comment by Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar — January 23, 2012 @ 6:02 AM
Good luck with labor! This cake looks amazing.
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Comment by katie — January 23, 2012 @ 7:28 AM
My water broke about an hour after enjoying some chocolate cobbler last spring that looks pretty similar to this cake. Kind of strange!
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Comment by sarah r — January 23, 2012 @ 8:46 AM
Whenever it happens, I hope you have a speedy labor. In the meantime, enjoy this cake. It looks sinfully delicious.
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Comment by Eliana — January 23, 2012 @ 10:58 AM
I tried all of the fun wives tales on my LO’s due date and within 3 hrs was in labor. I think the really fun one was what got her going
Have fun waiting for your little one to arrive!
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Comment by Margaret — January 23, 2012 @ 10:59 AM
LOL I tried multiple ways to induce labor over the weekend and still no baby….Now I need to make this cake! HAHA I know my baby will arrive when he’s ready but I might as well eat good till then.
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Comment by Jenny — January 23, 2012 @ 1:02 PM
Haha well maybe you should have tried eating the cake while driving down a bumpy road.
This cake does look delicious, though!
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Comment by Jenni — January 23, 2012 @ 1:24 PM
My baby turns 6 months old this week… too late for a labor cake? Hmmm… I think I should have a sympathy labor cake for you… y’know, just to be nice.
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amy Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:52 PM
How thoughtful of you!
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Comment by Laura — January 23, 2012 @ 4:43 PM
This cake sounds wonderful whether it works or not. I love adding pudding mix to cake mix. It just gives a cake the extra love it needs. I know you are counting the days till Baby arrives. Good Luck to ya and Congrats!
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Comment by Shannon — January 23, 2012 @ 4:56 PM
Never heard of a labor cake but all about the chocolate! Enjoy your last moments of just you and Joel!
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Comment by Cara — January 23, 2012 @ 8:00 PM
I thought I heard Mozart when I read the title of your post… whew… hang in there, Cassidy! (And enjoy that cake, Amy!)
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Comment by Kimby — January 23, 2012 @ 9:02 PM
My son was 10 days late. Should’ve had some of that labor cake
Good luck!
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Comment by gigi — January 24, 2012 @ 1:45 AM
labor cake sounds much tastier than castor oil, which is what one of my friends tried last week to induce labor. hope that baby cassidy makes her appearance soon!
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Comment by elizabeth @ the kitchen counsel — January 24, 2012 @ 11:04 AM
ha this cracked me up==i’ve seen this cake recipe before but never heard it called labor cake!! hang in there, i bet she’ll be here so soon!
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Comment by natalie (the sweets life) — January 24, 2012 @ 11:32 AM
You’re a smart woman! It drives me nuts when women make themselves completely uncomfortable and think that it’ll put them in labor sooner. Our bodies are extraordinary – they know what to do and when!
I guess I was just lucky, but both of my kids came precisely on their due dates, although my first gave us a scare at 33 weeks.
This cake looks incredible – maybe coma-inducing? LOL
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Comment by Sarah E. — January 28, 2012 @ 3:24 PM
Out of all the tricks and hoops women jump through in attempts to start labor, this is by far the most appealing. I just stumbled onto your blog a little while ago and I love it. I hope your little one has arrived safe and sound by now. Have a blessed weekend!
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Comment by Mary — February 10, 2012 @ 12:02 AM