We Thought Tomato Soup Muffins Sounded Icky. Boy Were We Wrong!

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This tomato soup muffin recipe is a delicious and moist spice cake, that can be topped with powdered sugar or cream cheese frosting. You can make it as a cake or muffins, like I did!

Yes I know.  The thought of putting tomato soup in a cake, let alone muffins is causing icky faces everywhere.

Just like what happened when I made my Mayonnaise Cake!ย  But stick with me ok?ย  This cake recipe, that Iโ€™ve made into muffins, is full of heavenly spices, and there is absolutely no tomato soup flavour at all!

This post was originally published March 22, 2019 and updated January 28, 2020. Enjoy!

I think muffins are the perfect way to bake a cake.  Just a handful (or two if they are really big) muffins can be baked in batches, frozen to keep fresh, and enjoyed with coffee or tea, for breakfast, any time at all.   This recipe is like taking your favorite spice cake batter and making into muffins or cupcakes if you prefer.

spice cake muffin in lotus blue baking wrapper on white plate with pieladybakes logo

I think the texture is heavy enough to call them muffins, and they are just so yummy loaded with sweet raisins and finely chopped walnuts.  We made it eggless too โ€“ not because of any allergies, but because I ran out of eggs!

muffin in blue muffin wrapper on a white plate with other muffins and tomato soup can in background

You will need: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, tomato soup, unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, raisins and chopped walnuts.

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Grandmaโ€™s Tomato Soup Cake Backstory

Grandma was a young bride during the Depression era โ€“ the 1930โ€™s, when the stock markets crashed, and people were left with no homes, no jobs, and very little food.

When both my grandparents would tell me about that time, to me it sounded awful!  How could people survive? Grandma said they โ€˜made doโ€™ with what they have.  That phrase โ€˜make doโ€™ has stayed with me my entire life.

several muffins in blue and purple baking cups on a baking rack

My grandparents also lived on a farm, so they not only grew their own vegetables and some fruits, but they also raised their own meat, with chickens, lamb, a pig every now and then, and they also had cows for milk.

Grandma said that sometimes they didnโ€™t really know how they were going to pay for something, but then the milk cheque would arrive, and everything would be fine again.  They were dear God fearing people, and I miss them every day.

tomato soup muffin on its side on a white plate with lots of muffins in the background

So whatโ€™s all this got to do with a recipe for Tomato Soup Cake Muffins?  Well I guess by sharing a little family history with you, I was demonstrating that there are many ways to create delicious foods by being a little bit creative.

This 1950โ€™s Tomato Soup Cake is really a spice cake recipe.  But Iโ€™ve also seen recipes for a Tomato Soup Chocolate Cake!  I havenโ€™t tried that yet, but maybe someday?

Even though the recipe was first introduced in the 1930’s, it has endured to 2019!  If you google search tomato soup cake, there are lots and lots of recipes, in addition to the one in the Campbell Soup Cookbook!

freshly baked muffin slathered in butter on a white plate with muffins and tomato soup can in the background

TIPS TO MAKE THE PERFECT TOMATO SOUP MUFFINS

  1. Always use fresh ingredients, check your expiry dates on baking powder & baking soda!
  2. Follow the directions exactly as they are written
  3. Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately
  4. Gently fold the dry into the wet ingredients and only stir until moistened.
  5. Overmixing will result in dry and โ€˜toughโ€™ muffins
tomato soup muffins with powdered sugar on muffin in front shows four muffins in background on a white plate

Recipe FAQs

Will I taste the tomato soup in the cake?

Not at all.  While the tomato soup adds the liquid needed in the cake batter, there is absolutely no tomato taste!

Why does the recipe call for Tomato Soup?

The origin of the tomato soup cake recipe actually starts in the 1930’s during the Depression.  The Campbell Soup Company adapted it in the 1940’s when it was a steamed pudding and early photos show the cake being steamed in the soup can.  Today the recipe includes butter and eggs, which of course were often scarce in the Depression.

Can I make the recipe into a cake instead of muffins?

Absolutely!  This batter is perfect for a square 9 X 9 baking pan.

Can I use something else other than Tomato Soup?

No this recipe is best if you use condensed tomato soup from a can.  We used Campbell’s.

Is this a Tomato Soup Cake Recipe without eggs?

Yes.  Eggs weren’t always available in the depression, so egg substitutes were used.  Unsweetened applesauce is a great substitute for eggs.  I recommend buying the small packs of individual cups, so that there is less waste.

tomato soup spice cake muffins dusted in powdered sugar
These tomato soup cake muffins are so rich in flavour we just dusted them with powdered sugar!

Old Fashioned Tomato Soup Cake Muffins

These muffins are the best.  Crunchy sweet tops, packed with raisins and walnuts, and the blend of spices is just right.   The tomato soup gives them a reddish gold colour and that’s just fine. 

You can double the batch so that you have some muffins now to enjoy with family and friends, and a dozen for the freezer!  They are wonderful in lunches, and with a cup of tea. 

Just pop one in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up and then slather with butter.  I think a really good marmalade would enhance the rich flavors.

And of course, you can tell everyone that these amazing muffins that you just baked for them have a full can of tomato soup in them.  Or not, that’s up to you.

If you like this recipe, please give it a 5 star rating.

spice cake muffins in blue and purple baking wrappers with a white dessert plate

Tomato Soup Cake Muffins

4.55 from 11 votes

Click to Rate!

Judy
A rich and moist spice cake that has tomato soup as a main ingredient! We made this vintage recipe without eggs and made the cake batter into muffins. 
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert/Breakfast
Cuisine North American
Servings 9
Calories 457 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup butter - unsalted, softened
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce - substitute for one egg
  • 1 can tomato soup - condensed 284ml/10.75 oz
  • 1 1/2 cup white flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup walnuts - finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350F
  • In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter
  • Mix in the unsweetened applesauce and tomato soup
  • In a separate bowl mix the flour, spices, baking soda and baking powder
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients
  • Add the raisins and walnuts
  • Fold all together, mixing lightly.ย  Do not overmix muffin batter.ย  You will see the flour isn’t completely mixed in but don’t worry about that.ย 
  • Bake in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes.ย  Muffins are done when the tops are golden, and a toothpick comes out clean.ย  Let cool and enjoy!

VIDEO

Notes

  1. Place generous spoonfuls into the muffin cups.ย  I used lotus muffin cups by Paper Chef, so it was about 1/3 cup of batter in each.ย  If you want 12 muffins use regular muffin cups and put 1/4 cup of batter in each cup.
  2. I loved using the tall paper cups, there are so many varieties! Tulip and Lotus cups are very popular. These are one of the best rated tulip muffin cups and Amazon Choice!ย 
  3. Muffin Tin || Glass Mixing Bowls || Measuring Cups || Measuring Spoons || Oven Mitts ||ย 
  4. You can sprinkle your muffins with powdered confectioner’s sugar or make your own cream cheese frosting!ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 276mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @pieladybakes

We have lots of great recipes for you to enjoy!


And if you are looking for more recipes with crazy ingredients, check out the Wacky Cake by Brown Eyed Baker.  This is another eggless recipe, but you will be surprised by what else is missing in this cake!

No time to bake right now?  PIN IT for later!

easy tomato soup cake muffins orange text on vertical image of muffins in blue wrapper on a white plate with pieladybakes logo

This retro 1950โ€™s Tomato Soup Cake recipe is a winner, either as a cake or made into muffins.

The incredible aroma while these muffins were baking conjured up visions of a cozy country kitchen, where the stove is the focal point, and delicious goodies are created with love.

So what do you think? Is this a recipe you would love to try, or are you still making icky faces? ๐Ÿ™‚

Let me know in the comments below ok?

Enjoy, xo

Judy

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Judy Kahansky is an experienced writer and baker, creating delicious desserts (including pie!) for over 40 years. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Millie.

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4.55 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is the most awesome cake I have ever baked. I personally think it tastes more like a spice loaf. The consistency of it resembled that of a banana nut bread, only it tasted more like a spice cake. I added 2 pinches of salt and topped it with powdered sugar and it tasted just wonderful!

    1. I’ve been making tomato soup cake since the 60’s. It’s been a favorite of mine. I just had to prove to a friend that it was really a recipe not something I made up.

  2. 5 stars
    This is the most awesome cake I have ever baked. I personally think it tastes more like a spice loaf. The consistency of it resembled that of a banana nut bread, only it tasted more like a spice cake. I added 2 pinches of salt and topped it with powdered sugar and it tasted just wonderful!