My Cake and the Ants
By Bonnie
@yoyo1198 (3641)
United States
May 23, 2011 6:37am CST
I made a great old-fashioned sweet cream cake Friday night and delved right into it. I had to wrap it with foil and left it on the cooling rack over the double sink. So when I got up the next morning, the dam ants had found it and were just working their little tails off to get as much of it that they could carry to their house before I discovered them. Those little buggers work fast. I think I saw two larger anta, must have been the sergeant and lieutenant, scooting around and nudging the workers to work faster. These guys must have gone to management school they were so proficient at their nose bumps and nudges. So I wrapped the thing back up, ants and all and tossed the remaining cake into the trash can. Let 'em die in there, that would be fewer I'd have to hunt down and execute and surely they'd be dying happy.
I put some Terro Ant Killer out and the remaining batallion came hurrying out and started scarfing up the nice sweet nectar they thought they were getting. After the morning and most of the afternoon, I didn't see them thinning out enough to suit me so I got out the big gun and used a can of Raid for flying insects on them and down toward their house. Didn't take very long then. None of 'em were left or they were afraid to show their faces again for a while. Two or three ventured out again later; don't know how they missed the initial deluge, so I zapped them too. It's been over 24 hours now so I felt I was fairly safe to try for another cake.
And it is one of the best-tasting melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cake I've ever made. I made a butter cream cocoa frosting and one bite will make you want to leave your spouse and come and camp outside my doorstep just to beg for another cake like it. I swear this is true!!!
When you're in your kitchen and have things to do (like want to eat your cake but can't because ants have adopted it), what do you do? Toss it? Give it to the dog or cat? Trust me, the dog would have dug in. Not so much the cat as she's not into sweets.
Oh, and the cake is ¾ gone now and I did share with the neighbor.
8 people like this
27 responses
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
23 May 11
I wish I were your neighbor! If I were, there might not be any cake to keep away from them. I have had a lot of ants this year also. It seems like more than usual, probably because of all the rain. I put out ant traps and they seem to be working, but there are still a few. In fact, I just killed one. I try not to leave anything on the counters and wipe everything off. If I had made a cake, that I didn't eat, I would store in the microwave or refrigerator. So far, they have not figured out how to get into either.
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
23 May 11
Use white vinegar to wipe the counters off and it will help repel them.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
23 May 11
@cerebellum....I never thought to use the microwave to store a finished cake. The loaf size would fit just fine. The chocolate cake was made in a 9X13 so it would kind of crowd the space though. I just checked and so far the cake is okay and I don't see any ants. Guess the fly spray is working along with the Terro they ate two days ago.
@GG....I use vinegar to clean my pots and pans and wipe down the cabinets occasionally. I left some of the bug spray coating the cabinet top so I will use the vinegar to wipe down before I start making another meal.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
23 May 11
I had an ant problem the first year I was here in my house but I used caulk to seal up everywhere I could see them coming in and other places that I could feel air entering, very small places that would not normally be noticed. I have not had a problem since. But when I bake something or buy something I put it in the fridge so it's safe. I like cold cake, anyway. I put my flour in the fridge, too. That foils any bugs that may be able to get in!
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
23 May 11
Hi, dragons.....I've had 'em on and off all winter and into spring now. I usually just dump out some Terro and they disappear for a while. I live in the middle apartment of a triplex and the ants are coming from behind the stove which backs up to the neighbor's kitchen. So they're coming up from the walls I think. I'll just continue to control them from my side.
I don't like cold cake. Right now I've got it setting on the oven rack. I don't think the critters are in there. And I put a tight foil top over the pan.
Thank you for visiting my discussion.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 May 11
yoyo, you could warm the cake a little that you take out of the fridge before you eat it. son does that all the time. if we didnt have a microwave hed probably fire up the oven a couple minutes
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 May 11
I would pitch it....last night I went into my kitchen and found a bunch of the little critters on my plate left from supper. I however can't find my terro so that is on my list of things to buy today! Since I scooped them up and washed them down the drain I haven't seen any this morning....but I know they are there, just laying in wait for another bit of leftovers!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
23 May 11
It helps to to put a line of salt, or talcum powder down, or even a chalk line and the ants will not cross it. It will polish off their exoskeleton and dehydrate them and they will die.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
23 May 11
@ jill.....The Terro is great, isn't it? I'm down to my last few drops and will need to get more. It's hard to find the little bottle anymore. Terro now makes those little 'house traps' and I don't like them. They don't work as well as the liquid.
@GG....I've often heard of the talcum trick...not about the salt or the chalk. I don't have any chalk but I'll surely try the salt and/or the talcum. The only talcum powder I have is Chantilly. Think the ants will appreciate going out smelling good?
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 May 11
I hate ants. What a shame they runied your cake. Yes, i would have tossed it. I got this off a tip line once, sounds crazy but it has worked for me. Take chalk & go around your counter top & for some reason the ants want cross the chalk line. For instance if u had drawn a line around your cake plate or whatever u had it on it might have saved your cake. Want hurt to try it. Good luck on getting rid of the pesky things.
@msmamaof3 (244)
• United States
25 May 11
It would have gone straight into the trash if it were mine and I'd have been really irritated trying to kill and clean up all the ants. I despise bugs.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 May 11
I don't think any of us care too much for any bug. With all the weather we've been having this year, I think this is going to be the year of the bugs. Everyone could profit from having some kind of spray handy. Especially if we're going to be outside much. Thank you so much for responding, msmama.
@allknowing (136100)
• India
25 May 11
Any sweet item that is made in my house and needs to be cooled is kept on a base which is then placed in a shallow plate that has water in it.Ants cannot swim and so they cannot reach for the item. And this after we have experienced invasions after invasions of these hard working creatures. My pets do not get to eat sweet delicacies and I suppose I too would consign it to the dustbin.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 May 11
Considering the group-think of this colony, I wouldn't put it past them to have learned how to swim. Your moat suggestion is worth a try, however, and I will seriously consider it along with the other ones I've received. It's going to rain again tonight and tomorrow so I'll most likely have a chance to use a few of 'em.
Hope all is well with you, allknowing. Thanks for looking in and responding. 
Your moat suggestion is worth a try, however, and I will seriously consider it along with the other ones I've received. It's going to rain again tonight and tomorrow so I'll most likely have a chance to use a few of 'em.
Hope all is well with you, allknowing. Thanks for looking in and responding. @allknowing (136100)
• India
25 May 11
Calling it a moat is a nice way of describing it. Why did it not occur to me earlier?!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
23 May 11
I do not leave things out, they go in foil and then go into the fridge. I made a brandied fruit cake last week, it did not last long.It does not use any brandy as such, it is one of those friendship cakes that you do a starter and keep adding things until it is done then divide it and make cakes. In your position the cake would have gone out by the alley for whatever wanted it to have. Birds, squirrels, dogs, coyotes and foxes and skunks and raccoons and possums. Not the cats. I am headed out now with some beans.
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
24 May 11
Be safe with the storm you do not need a fried computer. I have done friendship bread that has pudding and a sour dough like starter in it. I generally do not share the starter. A friend told me a long time ago that instead of adding one cup of each thing, just add 1/4 cup and you do not have more than you can use. I like this one with the fermented fruit. It is really yummy. I have found the recipe online that says you start with fruit and brandy. I start with the juice my family gave me, and add sugar and fruit. Then there is a recipe to put it in a cake.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
24 May 11
That sounds like a German recipe that I've seen. I get a recipe newsletter from a German cooking maestro and seems like I've gotten such a recipe.
The storms are gone for now but are expected back Tuesday. Looks like the same path that the Joplin storm/tornado took Sunday night. I feel so for all of those people. If I was younger and able to get around better, I would go and offer whatever help I could.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 May 11
Normally, I don't use a cake mix so I can control what goes into the cake. Occasionally I'll take a mix, add a pudding mix and sour cream and extra vanilla, more eggs and end up with a better tasting cake than only a mix will give me.
I'd really rather have a cake than a pie. However, I'm thinking of putting together some Magic Bars. I've been looking through my recipe file box and they look so tempting. Come on and join the crowd. Thanks for looking in and responding.
1 person likes this
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
24 May 11
Ants are pretty smart.. its like they have this working system that really works for them. i actually admire ants through they can be pests.
wow from how you describe your cake, i am craving for it now!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
24 May 11
Well, come on over and join the crowd. The doorstep is about to get full though. I'm going to have to start handing out numbers.
Ants seem to have a consolidated intelligence. I think they all know what's going on all of the time.
Thank you for your response. (don't be late)
Ants seem to have a consolidated intelligence. I think they all know what's going on all of the time.
Thank you for your response. (don't be late)@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
24 May 11
don't worry i am on my way and i am patient.
i love triple chocolate cake hope you could bake that too!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
23 May 11
Am at work so have to be brief. Just a few questions:
Where do you live and please may I come and live with you?
You write very well - would still like it come and live with you
I don't really kill insects but I am prepared to change my ways if you let me come and live with you
Please will you give us the recipe?
If not, then a plague upon your houses!
Please will you give us the recipe?
If not, then a plague upon your houses!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
23 May 11
Hi, cyn....You're so funny. I live in Kentucky just a couple hours' drive from the beautiful Kentucky horse country with the bluegrass and white fences that you can see for miles and miles.
The recipe for the chocolate cake is at www.allrecipes.com as MMMmmm Chocolate Cake and the frosting is at the same site as Vanilla-Chocolate Powdered Sugar Frosting. I didn't change either recipe as I liked them as they read. I wasn't disappointed.
If you want to come and live with me, you will have to promise not to eat up all of my cakes as soon as I make them. I have my own sweet tooth and so does the next door neighbor. You can help with the baking though.
Don't need a plague on my house. The ants have been plague enough.
Hi, Diana.@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
24 May 11
You are so kind to give the recipe. If you want, nearer to Christmas I will give you my alcofrolic Christmas pudding/cake. When you eat this you will not care whether it is a pudding or a cake. Everyone says that I make the best one but they say it whilst under the influence as it were. I will make tis cake after the wedding in July. have ten pounds to lose
Would love to visit Kentucky.
Would love to visit Kentucky.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 May 11
I would have been mad as a hornet. I would have tossed it out. I usually get that stuff that you spray around the outside of your house and windows. I haven't had any rotten little critters sneak in on me after that..lol..there is a certain time of the year here that I have to worry about it..after the spray..no problems. @yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 May 11
Hi, Jen! How y'all doing down there? Stay safe tonight and tomorrow during these storms!
I live in a rental and I don't think the owners do any spraying. At least, I've not ever seen any being done. I mainly see the ants when it's wet outside so I'm keeping my Raid, vinegar, and talcum handy. The only talcum powder I have is Chantilly so they'll go out smelling good!
Thank you for looking in and responding.
Thank you for looking in and responding.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 May 11
Hi yoyo 
Those buggers are pretty smart critters, gee they can smell anything edible a mile away. Last Friday my boyfriend brought me a really nice huge Hazel nut cupcake, at the moment I was not able to eat it and put it on the side of my desk. I forgot to put it away the next morning the darn cupcake was swarmed with ants.
May I and boyfriend come over for the butter cream frosting, we promise not to be bad, we just promise to eat it and be good friends thereafter. lol With continual visits.
How sweet of you to bake and share, your neighbor must really love you. I don't get to bake like I use to. *sad*
What is it with the ants? I wonder if it has to do with the erratic rainy weather almost everywhere? Did you get the bad rain storm too last night?
Those buggers are pretty smart critters, gee they can smell anything edible a mile away. Last Friday my boyfriend brought me a really nice huge Hazel nut cupcake, at the moment I was not able to eat it and put it on the side of my desk. I forgot to put it away the next morning the darn cupcake was swarmed with ants.
May I and boyfriend come over for the butter cream frosting, we promise not to be bad, we just promise to eat it and be good friends thereafter. lol With continual visits.
How sweet of you to bake and share, your neighbor must really love you. I don't get to bake like I use to. *sad*
What is it with the ants? I wonder if it has to do with the erratic rainy weather almost everywhere? Did you get the bad rain storm too last night?@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
23 May 11
Sure, come on down!!!! You take one bite of this cake and you'll want to stay long enough to have me make one for you to take back with you.
I think the wet weather and wet grass and ant houses are all wet so they're coming in for shelter and restaurant service. But I just closed up shop on 'em once they made their nasty appearance. I think some of them had been preggers and just delivered cause I saw some of 'em that were no bigger than a pen tip.
It rained here for about a couple of hours; hard rain with the thunder and lightning. One boom was loud enough that thc critters looked up at me to see if I was scared so they would know whether to start panicking. But when I ignored it and them they just lay back down and went to sleep.
Thanks for dropping by and responding.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
28 May 11
Hi, lajonez....If you read through these responses that myLot members have made, you will find several suggested remedies for an ant problem. Since I didn't have a made-to-fit cover for the loaf pan, I had wrapped the cake in foil. I thought it was tight enough but the ant colony all got together, apparently had a meeting and decided amongst themselves how to get around the barrier. Next time, I'll probably just refrigerate the finished cake even though I'm not real fond of cold cake. I'll zap it in the microwave a few seconds, I suppose. Thank you so much for responding.
Next time, I'll probably just refrigerate the finished cake even though I'm not real fond of cold cake. I'll zap it in the microwave a few seconds, I suppose. Thank you so much for responding.1 person likes this
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
31 Oct 12
Wow you have a nice way of writing, I enjoyed reading this first discussion of yours that i've found so far. It was very much enjoyable.
The cake sounds good but it is a shame thsoe ants found it. They were working hard on your cake trying to do away with the evidence before you caught them. Its just too bad for those ants, you did catch them and you did kill them. That is just what had to be done! They would have gotten into every nook cranny and crevice to find all of your food to haul it away in their ant train, if you hadn't. I am sure of it. Darn ants!
Its just too bad for those ants, you did catch them and you did kill them. That is just what had to be done! They would have gotten into every nook cranny and crevice to find all of your food to haul it away in their ant train, if you hadn't. I am sure of it. Darn ants! @yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
31 Oct 12
Hey, echo. You must be mining the old discussions.
Since this cake and the war of the ants, I've had a couple of more ant incursions. Mostly during rainy weather. But not into any of my food. The Terro is the best stuff for getting rid of them. I've used up one little bottle already over this year. But I bought three at the time so I'm still good to go.
Thanks for coming in and responding.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
7 Jun 11
Don't you just hate when you cook up something nice like this, and then it ends up getting ruined? We have been lucky most of the time to not see very many ants here in our house. It is a nice feeling for sure. The only time we have had any problems with ants, or whatever is back when we had the one guy who was renting a room who tried taking over our place cook up a lot of Ribs, and thought it was great leaving them out on the counter and then attracted a lot of ants, etc. It was grouse. Thank goodness we have only had problems that one time.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
8 Jun 11
Hi, Tina....I've made at least three cakes since this epic battle and so far the ants seem to be defeated. Either that or they've started a campaign elsewhere. I made another Wacky Cake last night with a xxxsugar glaze. Then I sinned further and made a hot chocolate sauce to pour over it all. Mmmmmmmm......
I refrigerate all of my leftovers so as not to create temptation for the ant colony, all except the cakes. I just don't like cold cake. I'm throwing together some pasta e fagioli right now but that will all be eaten up. Thanks for responding.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 May 11
Hi yoyo, sorry I'm a few days late in responding. I guess making a couple of my own had gotten me a little backlogged but I hope to catch up and then finish commenting back on my own. Plus I was at my parents place yesterday and cleaned their house for them so I've been a bit busy as well.
Sorry you lost your cake due to those pesty ants! When hubby and I lived in Texas, we had an anit problem too. Heck, everybody in Texas has an ant problem. lol Anyway, we put Eliminator outside our house so keep them from being able to get inside. You can get some at Walmart in the garden section in a bright red bag however, if you decide to get some, please use gloves for it is a poison that you don't want on your skin. This stuff is a life saver for everyone with an ant problem. Also, maybe you can get a cake cover, one that seals so to have an added protection. Good luck in making another!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
28 May 11
Hi, CatsandDogs.....the replacement chocolate cake is now history and I made some gooey brownies last night. They've been put into a plastic tupperware-type container with a lid with wax paper covering the brownies to keep freshness. But I don't think they're going to last long enough to have to worry about them staying fresh. Thanks for dropping in and responding.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
24 May 11
One or two ants, I'd just refrigerate it, but if it was all over ants, I'd toss it. D*mn ants....
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
24 May 11
Bless your heart. You've made me hungry for sweets now. And, doggone it, I think the only thing sweet I have in the house is some sherbet and that's lime (not exactly very sweet).
Hmmm. I haven't had ants in the house for a long, long time. Wonder if it's because we have little that's sweet in the house. 
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
25 May 11
Ah, no one has blessed my heart in a long time, kenzie. Thanks.
If you're going to come down for sweets here, you've gotta get in line. I detest lime anything. I never understood why the candy makers load those boxes of Mike & Ike and Dots, etc. with more lime and lemon than any of the other flavors. Really, the only sherbet flavor that I like is raspberry. I'll pick that over chocolate. Mix 'em together and I'm in hog heaven.
The ants here are, so far, staying out of sight. (fingers crossed) Thanks for dropping in.
Thanks.
If you're going to come down for sweets here, you've gotta get in line. I detest lime anything. I never understood why the candy makers load those boxes of Mike & Ike and Dots, etc. with more lime and lemon than any of the other flavors. Really, the only sherbet flavor that I like is raspberry. I'll pick that over chocolate. Mix 'em together and I'm in hog heaven.
The ants here are, so far, staying out of sight. (fingers crossed) Thanks for dropping in. 
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 May 11
hi, if ants are your problem and do not want to put the cake in the fridge cause you do not want it cold, then why not make a moat, simply put the cake container in a larger container or large dish and fill the outer container with water
, think that would do the trick, mom use to do that when we were kids when she left jams and sweets on the table because it was not yet time to put it in the refrigerator cause others have not yet eaten, good luck
, think that would do the trick, mom use to do that when we were kids when she left jams and sweets on the table because it was not yet time to put it in the refrigerator cause others have not yet eaten, good luck@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
24 May 11
Oh, my, louievill, you don't know my ants. These guys are smart enough to build a boat and motor over the water to the cake before I would have a chance to grab the can of spray.
Serious now: that is a right good idea of your mom's. I've been getting all kinds of good advice here after the fact. I'll definitely remember so I can save the subsequent cakes. Thanks so much for responding. 
@whispers168 (768)
• United States
16 Jul 11
At least someone in this case a sergeant and a lieutentant got to enjoy the cake.It must have been a very good way to die.Your sweet to have left them with the rest of the cake.lol..
