German confectioner Fred Sanders Schmidt first opened up his confectionary in Chicago, but that venture was short-lived, as it was a casualty of the Great Fire in 1871. Sanders and his wife, Rosa landed in Detroit, where he reopened for business in 1875. Sanders Confectionery has been a Detroit institution ever since.
For its first few decades in business, the store was simply a good old-fashioned chocolate and candy shop, with most of the products handcrafted by Fred and Rosa. In 1912, Fred decided to begin selling baked goods to honor the passing of his father, who had been a prominent baker and business owner in Illinois. One of those items was a rich chocolate cake, first frosted with vanilla buttercream and finished with a glossy chocolate fudge ganache, a nod to Fred’s candy-making skills. During one recipe test, Fred began to run out of vanilla buttercream, and instead of frosting the cake in a thick layer as planned, he playfully piped the white frosting in several rails across the top of the cake, which created a bumpy surface under the fudge icing and made for an attractive cross-section. After recognizing that most Sanders customers always asked for “the cake with the bumps,” the name was changed from “Devil’s Food Buttercream Cake” to “Chocolate Bumpy Cake” and a dessert icon was born on April 27, 1913.
side note: this is one of my favorite cakes and also the nickname given to me by the waiters i worked with years ago, who suggested that i should use the name ‘bumpy teacakes’ should i ever become a dancer, and the entire restaurant crew knew me by this name forever after.
—
“nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
-ralph waldo emerson
—
credits: sandersbakery.com
Like many happy culinary accidents, the newly fashioned cake with its unique look took off with customers. Initially called “Devil’s Food Buttercream Cake,” so many people simply asked for “the cake with the bumps” that Sanders changed the name to “Chocolate Bumpy Cake.”
Like many happy culinary accidents, the newly fashioned cake with its unique look took off with customers. Initially called “Devil’s Food Buttercream Cake,” so many people simply asked for “the cake with the bumps” that Sanders changed the name to “Chocolate Bumpy Cake.”
first cab 🙂 what a fun sobriquet to be known by , Beth ; so much good has come from serendipity 🙂
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that is so true, and I’m set up for a potential retirement job as a dancer
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Lol 🙂 🙂
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))
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How interesting. I’ve never heard of this cake.
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it’s really big in the midwest, but now is also international
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Looks very rich!
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it is, a small piece is plenty, but most don’t stop there )
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What a lovely story of necessity driving creativity and ingenuity. However, I will never be able to read your posts now without thinking “Bumpy Teacakes”. What a great stage name!
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yes, and it all worked out in a wonderful way. if you ever hear of someone else using my stage name let me know….
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Sounds delicious!
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it’s really rich and good
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Even if I followed the recipe word for word, the cake would be a flop. And I would be left with a sink full of dirty dirty dishes. ;(
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better to just buy it and enjoy
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I am a chocoholic and would happily eat this cake. I’d also go see a show with a star named Bumpy Teacakes!
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you’d love the cake and as for the dancing…
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I’m so hungry right now and would love a slice of this bumpy cake.
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it is delicious and you would love it, sadje
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I can imagine. I wish my iftar platter included a slice of this.
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🎂
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🥰
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THE BEST CAKE!!!!
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So good!
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Parece delicioso. Saludos
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Thanks
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Now that’s quite a nickname, for a person and a cake, Beth!
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Well…
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This looks so yummy and what a great story (liked the side story too!). I would love to get a piece of that cake. I wonder if it’s around on the east coast? My German relatives owned a confectionary outside of the Black Forest but they sold it years ago. I’ll have to tell my cousin about this one. Thanks for sharing, Beth.
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They do ship it – look up sanders bakery in Detroit
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Oh, nice! 🙂
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Fascinating story, delicious ending.
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So worth every bite
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Serendipity is one of my favourite words.
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Me too!
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A beautiful post and an interesting story. And yes, enthusiasm is the beginning of great things! 😊
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It really is
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A great story, Miss Bumpy Teacakes. I think I need to try this one!
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I think you should!)
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Hmm, Bumpy Teacakes…love that! And I also love happy accidents.
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Yes, Both are full of surprises)
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New to me…I need this birthday cake today🤓maybe I’ll make one😅enjoy!
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I hope you do!
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That’s quite a story and quite a delicious looking cake. I’ll have a piece, please.
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Even a small piece is perfect
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Oh, to have a piece of that delicious looking cake! The nickname – umm…
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Well…
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😀
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‘Bumpycake’ is a better nickname than ‘Yoda’, or ‘Grumpy Pete’. Both nicknames I was known by when working for the Police in London. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Okay, yes )
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Bumpy Teacakes… I like it!
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It works for me!
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The best creations and inventions mostly happen accidentally or due to improvising. Great fact, thank you for sharing this, Beth.
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Absolutely right and thank you!
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You are welcome, Beth!
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I never heard of this cake, and now I feel I need to have it!!
Bumpy Teacakes is a great name for a dancer!!
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Hopefully you’ll have a chance to eat it one day and yes to the name)
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I’ve never seen this kind of cake here in the Pacific Northwest, but you had me at “chocolate ganache!” 🙂
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it’s so so good.
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That looks divine.
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it’s a real treat
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Bumpy Teacakes is absolutely wonderful. I’m sure the Bumpy cake is delicious but the name, takes the cake.
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)))
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Haha—Bumpy Teacakes. That’s hilarious!!! A preschool teacher by day and a professional dancer at night. Can I be your agent when Lifetime comes calling?
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maybe a sitcom?
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I love happy accidents 🙂
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I so do too
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I have never heard that story and I am digging it! You know me I looooooooove chocolate so this happy accident sounds pretty tasty.
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you would looooooooove it!
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What a delightful story! The quote is absolutely perfect!
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Thanks, Jennie – I’m so connected to this cake in various ways )
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You’re welcome, Beth. Bumpy will always make me smile. 😀
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)))
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I love it! Looks delicious!
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It’s really good!
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:>)
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What a great story. And bumpy teacakes is hilarious!
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thanks, and I’m kind of fond of the name myself ), like an old vaudeville burlesque act)
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Totally!
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Great story and that looks like the best mistake EVER!!!!
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I think so too
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Reblogged this on .
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Ty
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