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So the red velvet cake thread got me to thinking. I'm hosting my mother's birthday at my home in a couple of weeks and will have a total of six people over for dinner. Just the family, no big shindig. I was going to buy her a cake from Whole Foods. Their cakes are quite good. But I thought it would be nice to make a cake from scratch. I'm a pretty good cook/baker and know my way around the kitchen. I have a handheld mixer and was thinking of making a double (or more) layered cake.

Any ideas or videos you guys can think of and post to help a fellow RJ'er out? I'm thinking along the lines of something chocolaty with lots of frosting. She'll be seventy-two this year. I'm thinking of something elegant but really delicious. And Mom doesn't like cheesecake nor does she like carrot cake (how can anyone not like cheesecake...or carrot cake?!).

Anybody?

not sure as 2 flavor...what's her fave? i do know that my mom really liked the heart shaped cake i made 4 her b-day.

it's simple: bake half in a 9" square pan, and half in a 9" round pan (or do multiples if you want a layer cake). once cooled, cut the round in half. place the square on a sheet like a diamond. place 1/2 of the round on the rt upper side, and the other on the lt upper side.

voila! heart shaped cake, ready 4 frosting.

Have any pics of this masterpiece, Tail?

How can anyone not like Cheesecake - I have a real addiction to the baked variety!

In terms of other cakes - I have always been quite partial to Black-Forest Cake (Chocolate cake, cream, Kirsch, Cherries, etc) or something of an Aussie flavour (Pavlova). However you could go really fancy and try a croquembouche.

Good Luck MMTM

Ahaha I'd go for a 2-3 layer cake(3 layers, less icing) and then do a chocolate nut buttercream filling.

Just to be clear. I'm gonna need instructions.

Perhaps a youtube.com video?

The red velvet thread had an excellent instructional video. But my mother doesn't like red velvet. She's kinda picky now that I think about it. Hymph!

She likes chocolate and vanilla. Can do a fudge chocolate icing or...?

MuchMoreThanMuscle saidHave any pics of this masterpiece, Tail?

haha, nope. it was German Chocolate made from scratch including the frosting. wow, my mouth's watering just thinking about it!

youtube has vids on how 2 do it tho. it's pretty easy.

here's a German Chocolate cake and frosting recipe:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/GermanChocolateCake.html

Ok so you said a layer cake and that she likes chocolate or vanilla.

What about a chocolate layer cake? Or a choc/vanilla marble cake? Both I've made before and I am only a so-so cook. They are pretty easy to prepare.

I've got a few cake recipes as a good friend of mine is a pastry chef.

I also hate cheesecake

try this

http://gourmetgirl1.blogspot.com.au/2008/04/chocolate-mayonnaise-cake-with-dark.html

It's rather good

ALWAYS go with chocolate. mmmm.


It's never failed me!

Hands down, chocolate cake! Here's a recipe I use. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Double-Chocolate-Layer-Cake-101275.

Side note: Check the cakes while they are baking. Ovens are different, so the cooking time will vary. You don't want the cakes to be too dry.

Good luck!

I like Hummingbird cake, it's the best flavour. It's surprising since most people would go for something typical. I think the original recipe came from the 70s in South Carolina.
Its main flavours are pineapple, bananas and pecans, it's light, fruity and moist (uses oil instead of butter) but if you're mum doesn't like carrot cake I'd replace the cream cheese icing to something else.

I'd layer it with a black forest so the fruit theme matches.

A friend's mum made him a Lemon Myrtle and German chocolate cake for his wedding (He's Australian and the bride was German) which was insanely phenomenal. Great contrast pairing of flavour.

My favorite cake to bake involves ho ho's. Take a two small round cake pans and make regular chocolate cakes according to the recipe on the box. After they back and cool, set one cake out and then cut ho ho's in half and place them on top of the cake, take the other cake and it put on top of the ho ho's. Press lightly to "smash" the cakes together. Then get some chocolate icing and icing the whole cake.

Could just try a chocolate cake:

Just need some 3/4 cup canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup AP flour
4 large egg yolks
2 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup dutched cocoa powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 1/3 cup sugar
and some nonstick cooking spray


Just heat up an oven to 350F and spray a rectangular pan or two rounds with the nonstick cooking spray, and line them with parchment paper (though you may be comfortable with skipping).

Then in a saucepan stir together the sugar, salt, cocoa, and baking soda.

And in another saucepan bring 1 cup water to boil. Stirring constantly add the boiling water a little at a time to the cocoa mixture. Let it darken and thicken, then bring it to a light boil, be stirring it though or it'll bubble over. Then turn off the heat and allow the mixture to stand in the pan about 10 minutes.

Then pour the cocoa mixture into a mixing bowl. Add the oil and vanilla and mix on a low speed for a few seconds. And on a low speed beat in the flour and start bringing in the yolks, eggs, and buttermilk. It'll be a pretty thin batter. Then just pour it all into the pans.

Bake for about 25 minutes in the rounds, 35 if doing rectangular. Should be springy and all that if you've baked before you'll know when it's done. Then just let it cool in pan about 10 minutes.

Could use some ganache on it for a nice clean look.

Kind sir, I have found your cake!
I was drooling while searching lol..

Now why is this your cake? Because it has chocolate, and more chocolate and more chocolate, but also vanilla and lots of icing and more chocolate

Double choc fudge cake with white chocolate buttercream


recipe

Happy birthday to your mom!

I'm going to echo the Black Forest cake (Schwarzwalder kirschtorte) suggestion: the cake itself isn't super-sweet, but the cherries add little bursts here and there.

Also, with that, you can re-enact this scene:

lilTanker saidtry this

http://gourmetgirl1.blogspot.com.au/2008/04/chocolate-mayonnaise-cake-with-dark.html

It's rather good

Wow, at first I thought this was a joke. A chocolate cake that has mayonnaise? I would like to try some of this before I make it. I can't stand mayonnaise, but my curiosity is piqued.

All these look awesome.
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/howtocook/dishes/cakerecipesmilehighchocolate

I personally like any flavor as long as the recipe includes strawberries.

MuchMoreThanMuscle said

lilTanker saidtry this

http://gourmetgirl1.blogspot.com.au/2008/04/chocolate-mayonnaise-cake-with-dark.html

It's rather good

Wow, at first I thought this was a joke. A chocolate cake that has mayonnaise? I would like to try some of this before I make it. I can't stand mayonnaise, but my curiosity is piqued.

It really is good, you don't taste the mayo in it but it really contributes to the texture of the cake.

It's called the V8 cake. May take you a while though

http://www.masterchef.com.au/zumbo-v8-cake.htm

dash_8 said

It's called the V8 cake. May take you a while though

http://www.masterchef.com.au/zumbo-v8-cake.htm

It doesn't look like it's meant to be eaten.

Suddenly, I am reminded of that saying about food that the rich care about appearances, and middle class care about quantity, and the poor care about whether it's edible.

Where would you even buy 3/5 of the ingredients?

commoncoll said

dash_8 said

It's called the V8 cake. May take you a while though

http://www.masterchef.com.au/zumbo-v8-cake.htm

It doesn't look like it's meant to be eaten.

Suddenly, I am reminded of that saying about food that the rich care about appearances, and middle class care about quantity, and the poor care about whether it's edible.

Where would you even buy 3/5 of the ingredients?

That is a gorgeous looking cake. The ingredients sound good, but I think I would wear myself out just trying to find those never before heard of ingredients.

It sure epitomizes a very elegant looking dessert.

How about an Amaretto Bundt Cake:

My chocolate butterscotch cake is often requested for birthdays. I don't have the recipe handy though.

I just make a yellow butter cake from scratch. Be sure to use real butter. Then I toss in butterscotch and chocolate chips halfway through the baking.

Then I make a chocolate buttercream frosting (with Crisco and butter!) for the outer layer of icing and a butterscotch cream filling for between the cake sections and on the top of the topmost cake layer.

RunintheCity saidMy chocolate butterscotch cake is often requested for birthdays. I don't have the recipe handy though.

I just make a yellow butter cake from scratch. Be sure to use real butter. Then I toss in butterscotch and chocolate chips halfway through the baking.

Then I make a chocolate buttercream frosting (with Crisco and butter!) for the outer layer of icing and a butterscotch cream filling for between the cake sections and on the top of the topmost cake layer.

That sounds good to me!