Atomic Cake

This has been a week of surprising culinary reports from two of my sisters. This one from my sister two years younger than I:

The Bakery is called Wolf in Evergreen Park
(708-422-7429) on 95th near Kedzie.
Cake is Atomic Cake - Strawberry, Banana and Whipped Cream - really
good.
Cost ~$21.

The other astonishing report will be a separate post, my almost twelve years younger sister has the cooking bug. She even took a cookbook to bed the other night to scan the recipes.

Is there a full moon presently?

Regards,

Yes, there was a full moon within the last few days. Also, we experienced Atomic Cake at that bakery first hand on Beefathon IV.

I had never heard of Atomic cakes before I started my current job (managing a catering contract for a firm in the Loop.) Anyway, a small part of my job is ordering cakes when people retire, get promoted, celebrate a big work anniversary, etc... and the first time someone requested an Atomic cake I had no idea what they were talking about. I was told "don't worry, the bakery knows." For a variety of reasons, we use Rolf's. Their version includes one layer of chocolate cake, one layer white cake and one layer of banana cake, separated by one layer of fresh strawberries in whipped cream and another of bananas in whipped cream. The whole thing is then covered with whipped cream frosting. People are crazy for these things! I must order at least one a month.

Rolf's Patisserie
4343 West Touhy
Lincolnwood

Okay, I'm ready to look stupid. I've done a Google search, and, although there are numerous recipes for Atomic Cake, not one entry explains why it is called Atomic Cake.

So here goes, "Why is Atomic Cake called Atomic Cake?"

Buddy

Is an Atomic Cake a southside thing? Grew up North SIde/North Shore and never heard of these beasts. Working in the loop in an office full of southsiders and the cake is the go to birthday order. Can anyone enlighten?

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Okay, I'm ready to look stupid. I've done a Google search, and, although there are numerous recipes for Atomic Cake, not one entry explains why it is called Atomic Cake.

So here goes, "Why is Atomic Cake called Atomic Cake?"

Buddy

After eating it your waist size explodes according to the formula e=mc**2.

iblock9 wrote:Is an Atomic Cake a southside thing? Grew up North SIde/North Shore and never heard of these beasts. Working in the loop in an office full of southsiders and the cake is the go to birthday order. Can anyone enlighten?

I'm from the North side,now living in Lansing and yes this seems to be a Southside thing. Almost every bakery out here makes one and even the local grocery chains (Strack&VanTil,Walts,Ultra Foods) carry them.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Okay, I'm ready to look stupid. I've done a Google search, and, although there are numerous recipes for Atomic Cake, not one entry explains why it is called Atomic Cake.

So here goes, "Why is Atomic Cake called Atomic Cake?"

Buddy

I read somewhere that it falls apart or "explodes" when you cut into it. I've only had one myself,but it did kind of fall apart after cutting it.
It also might be called that because of the colors,yellow & red,that show thru on the sides,but that's just a guess on my part.

The question "Why is Atomic Cake called Atomic Cake?" is finally solved..
Chicago ushers in the Atomic Age — and its cake

How intriguing! I was delighted when I first had atomic cake here -- the name is unheard of out West. Llama's family were nonplussed that I hadn't heard of it, and had a hard time explaining it to me (banana cake isn't common where I'm from, either). I had always wondered why it was called the Atomic Cake, and that seems as satisfactory an answer as any.

Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

Pie Lady wrote:Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

I know that Bennison's in Evanston used to make Atomic Cakes...maybe they sell slices?

My aunt who lived on the southside always brought atomic cakes to our home in Michigan for my birthdays by my special request. I remember it always had a glassine plastic ring around it holding the cake together and you took it off right before you ate it.

This is reminiscent of the banana split torte at Weber's Bakery in Summit, no? http://www.webersbakery.com/site/epage/48697_670.htm

Pie Lady wrote:Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

Not now. I know this because I've checked EVERY local baker of Atomic Cake. BUT Orland Park Bakery has served single serving cups at the Taste of Orland Park. Mark your calendar for the first weekend of AUGUST. I mentioned it in this WBEZ blog post (link to photo there, not mine, otherwise I'd post here):
http://www.wbez.org/blogs/louisa-chu/20 ... itage-list

Diane wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

I know that Bennison's in Evanston used to make Atomic Cakes...maybe they sell slices?

I doubt it. The Atomic cake does not hold up well for slicing. It tends to fall apart due to the layers of banana,strawberry,and whipped cream.

Deerfields bakery used to make something (Queen Elizabeth cake seems to be the name of it from a quick look at their website) that sounds very similar. No idea if they sell by the slice and the only locations are in the northern burbs (Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg) but if you're really craving, worth a call. The BG store has a café so maybe they sell slices.

Does anyone know any bakeries on the north side that sell these?

Dinkel's. From an email correspondence: the size for an atomic cake would be an 8"- feeds 9-12 people. To order a cake, we ask for just one day in advance. But if you need it for Sunday, please place your order before 10AM on Saturday!

Hi,

Dinkel's might be the last place I'd order an Atomic Cake. It is something they are doing special, though not likely a cake they have available on the spot or make often.

I'd go to a bakery which makes it available daily, which are scattered all over the south side.

Regards,

boudreaulicious wrote:Deerfields bakery used to make something (Queen Elizabeth cake seems to be the name of it from a quick look at their website) that sounds very similar. No idea if they sell by the slice and the only locations are in the northern burbs (Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg) but if you're really craving, worth a call. The BG store has a café so maybe they sell slices.

I wish I liked their cakes. They look stylish, though my lasting impression of their cake is it tastes like a mix.

Regards,

rehorn wrote:This is reminiscent of the banana split torte at Weber's Bakery in Summit, no? http://www.webersbakery.com/site/epage/48697_670.htm

Yes, though Weber's is actually in the city, not in Summit. I used to work in Garfield Ridge and this cake made frequent appearances at staff birthday celebrations. I believe some of my employees did call it Atomic Cake, too.

ah, yes, you're right about the Chicago location - oops. Interesting to know that some folks referred to it as "atomic cake."

I do know the Busy Bee bakery in Downers Grove has atomic cake. Probably not by the slice. And don't know if you have to order it ahead of time.

My daughter ordered one for my birthday from here:

Chicago Sweet Connection Bakery
5569 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 283-4430

Pie Lady wrote:Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

Pie Lady, if I can find someplace that is open on Sunday, and carries Atomic Cake, I'll try to bring one to the dessert exchange.

Louisa Chu wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Is there a place where I can buy just a slice of atomic cake?

Not now. I know this because I've checked EVERY local baker of Atomic Cake.

Pete's Fresh Market doesn't bake their own Atomic Cakes—they're from Chicago Sweet Connection—but I wouldn't be surprised if they sell more than anyone, and they sell slices.



I think Pete's routinely carries only the chocolate-topped "super" version but I understand you can order a "regular" Atomic Cake as well.

diane ck wrote:My daughter ordered one for my birthday from here:

Chicago Sweet Connection Bakery
5569 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 283-4430

How was it?

Rene G wrote:How was it?

I'm curious about this, too. Chicago Sweet Connection is located close to my house, and they seem to be the source of most of the cakes you see in the rotating cake displays at many of the Greek owned coffee shops in the area. Most of their stuff I've found to look far better than it tastes, though they do turn out a respectable loaf of bread. How was the Atomic Cake?

P.S. CSC does sell single slices of most of their offerings at the store.

I hope I'm not stirring up a hornet's nest here . . . and maybe I'm just being a Debbie Downer when I say I just don't get the attraction to this cake. I've had it twice and both times I found almost every element of the cake to have been cheaply prepared. Then again, I'm not sure I've ever had a whipped cream frosting on a cake that I enjoyed. Now I love the combination of bananas and strawberries as much as anyone, but I don't think this is the way to bring out the best of those flavors.

Right there with you, BR.