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Polish Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake Recipe (Surprisingly Delicious!)

Name: Polish Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake Recipe (Surprisingly Delicious!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 2 cups of all-purpose flour; 1 cup of sugar; 9 oz / 250g of sauerkraut; 1 stick of butter (4oz/115g); 1 tsp of baking powder; 1 tsp of baking soda; 7 tbsps of cocoa; ½ cup of milk; ½ cup of water or coffee; 3 eggs; 5oz / 150g of melted chocolate

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You probably know that sauerkraut is very popular in Poland but did you know that it is also used when baking cakes? This Polish sauerkraut chocolate cake recipe is one of the easiest recipes in the country. You will be surprised when you bite into a piece of this cake for the first time. The sauerkraut gives the cake a mild tangy taste which blends so well with the chocolate flavor.

Sauerkraut on the whole is a very healthy addition to any recipe. Made of cabbage, the sauerkraut undergoes a process of fermentation that produces lactic acid. This lactic acid is very good for gut health. In addition to this, cabbage itself is full of fiber which helps in gut motility.

Sauerkraut is also an easily available ingredient and it is inexpensive. This is one of the reasons why there are so many Polish recipes that use sauerkraut.

Polish Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake Recipe

Part I – Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Preheating the oven is an important part of any baking recipe. It ensures that the oven is just the right temperature when you place the cake in. Too hot and the cake will burn without baking or rising. Too cold and it won’t rise.

The ingredients for the Polish sauerkraut chocolate cake recipe

Part II – Rinse The Sauerkraut

Rinse 250 gms of sauerkraut with water. This will help reduce the tanginess that is always associated with this ingredient. Squeeze the sauerkraut well once you are done. The idea is to remove all the juice. Any extra moisture will interfere with the dough consistency. So pay close attention to this detail.

Part III – Chop The Sauerkraut

Once the sauerkraut has been drained, chop it fine. The finer you chop the sauerkraut the better. This way it will blend in with the cake dough better.

Part IV – Beat The Butter With Sugar

Use a large bowl. Add 1 stick of butter and 1 cup of sugar to it. Now beat the butter and the sugar together until it changes to a whitish color. Use a food processor to do this more easily.

Part V – Add The Remaining Ingredients

Add 2 cups of all-purpose flour, the finely chopped sauerkraut, 1 tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of baking soda, 7 tbsps. of cocoa, ½ cup of milk, ½ cup of water, and 3 eggs. You can also substitute the water with ½ cup of coffee if you would prefer that your Polish sauerkraut chocolate cake has a coffee taste in it. Mix the ingredients together till they form a smooth dough.

Part VI – Pour The Batter Into A Baking Pan

Use a 8×12” baking pan for this recipe. Pour the batter into the pan.

Part VII – Bake For 40 Minutes

Part VIII – Cover With Melted Chocolate

This step is totally optional. When the cake has cooled, cover the cake with a layer of melted chocolate. This will make the cake sweeter. Children love the chocolate layer while many adults prefer it without.

Polish sauerkraut chocolate cake ready to be served.

Polish Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake FAQ

Can The Milk In The Recipe Be Replaced With Another Ingredient?

You can swap the ½ cup of milk in the Polish sauerkraut chocolate recipe with 1 cup of water. Note that the 1 cup of water is in addition to the ½ cup of water that is already in the recipe. So you will effectively be using 1 ½ cup of water.

If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor, you can also substitute the 1 cup of water with a cup of coffee.

What Are Some Other Polish Cake Recipes?

Polish cakes are some of the best in the world and luckily most are pretty easy to make. Here are some recipes that you may try at home.

What Are Some Other Polish Recipes That Use Sauerkraut?

As mentioned before, there are loads of Polish recipes that use sauerkraut. Here are some of the popular dishes that I have talked about before along with their recipes.