Recipe for disaster: a collegiate culinary column

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Can you make a cake in the microwave? With soda? It sounds like a terrible ‘50s jingle, a perfect recipe for disaster. Generations of college students have passed down this odd recipe, but could it be successful or is it a half baked idea? We set out to the kitchen to find out.

The Recipe:

1 box of white cake mix

1 can of Mountain Dew

Microwave until ready.

We divided the task in two: One cake would follow the recipe as specified and the other would attempt to make it edible - if possible. We ventured out on the icy road to Weis Market and picked up our supplies for under $5, then made our way back to headquarters. After giving the kitchen a good scrub, we began our experiment like mad scientists.

Upon combination of the Mt. Dew and white cake mix, the "batter" turned bubbly and fizzed fiercely. Since one cannot put metal in the microwave without a spectacular light show and a possibility of burning down the kitchen, we poured the batter into a Pyrex bowl. With great trepidation, we put it in the microwave for three minutes.

We did not expect what happened next. The batter began to grow and spilled over the sides of the bowl like the attack of the Marshmallow Man. It was still liquid in nature. After another two minutes, it congealed into a sticky, spongy abomination that was very difficult to scrape off the microwave plate. The taste was similar to a regular white cake only with a texture and appearance akin to Spongebob.

We figured it couldn't get any worse, so we followed the same process as the original Mt. Dew cake recipe, except we used strawberry soda instead and baked it in the oven on 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Our result proved a warm, delicious pudding-like cake with a powdery aftertaste. A step up from failure.

We really can't say that it was a success yet we can't trash it as failure, either. We did make a cake, but it did not rise to the standard of a Betty Crocker. This would be excellent paired with some ice cream like a rich brownie sundae or strawberry shortcake, but it cannot stand alone. If you're feeling adventurous, this creative recipe can sweeten up a snow day and melt the winter blues.