This quick lunch box cake routinely showed up in our lunch boxes growing up. A favorite from childhood that I love as much now as then.
It's one of those easy cake recipes that can be assembled in less time than it takes to stir up a cake mix, or run to the store for something commercially prepared, but not nearly as good.
Mom's Quick Lunch Box Cake
Recipe Notes
This simple cake is made moist with fruit cocktail and topped with chocolate chips and nuts instead of frosting, so it's pretty light and healthy as cakes go.
In addition to making it lower in fat, calories, and sugar, the lack of frosting makes it a great traveler, perfect for pot lucks and lunch boxes.
Mom thinks this Quick Lunch Box Cake recipe came from a bag of Pillsbury flour back in the 1970s. I have her much cherished, spotted, tattered hand-written recipe card in my files.
Recently, I received an email from Julie W. who explained that she knew the recipe as as choco-moist cake that she found on a Stokely fruit cocktail can....
Both my sister and I are keeping the quick lunch box cake tradition alive - we often make it for our family and friends who seem to enjoy it as much now, as we did way back when.
WW Friendly Fruit Cocktail Snack Cake
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Cake?
According to my calculations, a small piece (when made with the lesser amount of chocolate chips/nuts specified) has 161 calories and:
8 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
8 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
8 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
4 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
If you like this classic lunch box cake with fruit cocktail, be sure to check out some of my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly dessert recipes including Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce Spice Cake, Crock Pot Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies, Easy 2-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake, Skinny Strawberry Cake and WW 3, 2, 1 Microwave Mug Cake
Are You Ready To Firmly Plant Yourself
On The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?
If you've made this Lunchbox Fruit Cocktail Cake, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Mom's Quick Lunch Box Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 can (16 ounces) fruit cocktail, undrained
- ½-1 cup miniature, semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½-1 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
- Combine all ingredients (except chips & nuts) in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
- Pour into the prepared pan and sprinkle the top with chocolate chips and nuts.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Recipe Notes
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
More Weight Watchers Friendly Cakes You Might Also Like:
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Sally
I purchased a .79 cent Pillsbury recipe booklet in 1967 titled “Time Saver Cookbook” that had this recipe for Quick Lunchbox Cake in it. I’ve made it numerous times over the years, and it’s super easy and really delicious! I was going to send you a picture of the booklet cover and the photo page with the recipe in its original format, but don’t see a way to do that here. Best!
Sally
Martha McKinnon
Would love the photos Sally. You can email them to support@simple-nourished-living.com. Thanks! ~Martha
Sally
PS: Once I was in a hurry and had no fruit cocktail on hand. I substituted a can of pears and it came out equally well.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks for the tip, Sally! ~Martha
Carol
Mom used to make this for us so often. Seems as if no one I know has even heard so they’re getting introduced at Christmas dinner! Love it
Martha McKinnon
Don't many folks know of it, but we grew up with it too!!!
JULIE WARREN
This recipe came off of a can of Stokely fruit cocktail back in the '70's around 1974. I was a newly wed and made this cake often. I still have the recipe that I cut off the can. It is called Choco-Moist Cake.
Martha McKinnon
Julie, Thanks for this! My mom just made it for us over the holidays. Her mom had clipped it for her back in the 1970 but I don't think she knew it's origins! ~Martha