We are celebrating the first birthday of a certain little miss this weekend and I offered to bring a cake. I would make it a few days beforehand and freeze it and we would take it up north so that Kezzie’s Mommy and Daddy could frost it. Of course, such an auspicious occasion called for not just any cake, but, a cake made from scratch, so, scratch I did, itching around in my favorite cookbooks, until I came upon an Ina Garten recipe (she never lets me down).
Cocoa powder and buttermilk and freshly brewed hot coffee all thrown into the mix of ingredients – how easy is that?
I decided to used a twelve inch pan instead of two layers for easier cutting and rummaged around until I found one my grandmother used to use to make karidopeta, a most delectable Greek nut cake, laden with a sugar water syrup that I really must make sometime soon. This time, however, it made Beatty’s Chocolate Cake from Barefoot Contessa at Home.
Ina’s recipe calls for the pan to be buttered, then lined with parchment paper, and buttered again, followed with flour. My mother always made her cakes this way. I used to watch her and wonder as a young girl why she did it this way and prefer to use PAM myself these days, but, the recipe called for parchment and butter, so, parchment and butter it was. The cake came out beautifully. Have you ever used parchment paper? There is something that awakened the child in me as I pulled the paper slowly away from the cake. A finality of a cake well baked? Maybe I was just remembering pleasant times with my mom.
Unfortunately, several hours later, as I went to slide the cake onto a cardboard cake round for freezing and transporting, the cake slipped and was rent in half! Sigh! (Well, actually, it wasn’t a sigh, but a few choice words instead as I chided myself). What was to be done?
I cut the “better half” into two large pieces to freeze, and, well, it was ruined anyways, so, I might just have taken a little slice and then Tom might have taken another and, gosh, Jennifer came by and we both ate a few slivers, just to make sure it would taste good. Oh my! This cake is so rich and moist that it really doesn’t need frosting.
Another big, round cake is cooling right now. Beatty’s Chocolate Cake is a keeper, whether whole or in pieces, and I’m mighty determined to get this one up to Minnesota in one piece real soon.
I could almost taste it from the picture, yummy….Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Keziah! Have fun Grandma, can’t wait for pictures…..
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Sharon, it is yummy. For you, I would make it into a two layers cake with a raspberry filling. On behalf of Kezzie, thank you.
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So much better that the cake fell before it got to Minnesota. It would be sad to drop it at the birthday celebration. At least now you know how good it will be. Have a very sweet birthday celebration.
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Don’t hold your breath, Janet, we still have to get it there. haha! It really is a good cake and I will make it again. This is the grown-up cake. Katy is actually making a special cupcake just for Kezzie and her friends.
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The cake looks wonderful, Penny. I bet the second one will make that first birthday really special.
I love parchment paper – we call it grease-proof paper here….My favourite use is with shortbread. It is wonderful to cut and lift the pieces from the paper ready for a cuppa at the kitchen table.
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It is really very good and moist and I’ve now managed to get the second one out of the pan and onto the cake round in one piece. Holding my breath – we still have to get it 400 miles away.
Me too. I haven’t thought of using it with shortbread, which I make frequently. I’ll have to try that. I use parchment all the time when I roast chicken. It just does something to the flavor.
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Oh Penny that looks delicious! I am going to have to make that recipe because not only does it look delicious, but the ingredients sound like a great combination.
I know you hated to have to bake a second cake, but I couldn’t feel too sorry for you for dropping the first one – to me that sounded like a ‘happy accident’ in the long run since you were able to enjoy eating the broken cake!
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Let me know how you like it, Janet. There is a frosting recipe with the link, but, for just everyday, it is great as it is.
haha! I was a happy accident – and have have the extra pound to prove it.
Thank you for the birthday wishes for Kezzie, which I see just below this.
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… and happy 1st birthday to Kezzie!
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Another tasty post! Good luck with transporting the cake safely. Just as well you had time to make another one, and to enjoy the crumbs of the first one. (are you sure it was an accident?)! – just teasing.
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Thank you. Two cakes are now in the freezer, waiting for their trip up north. Now, we need to remember to take them. ha! I have been searching my soul on whether or not this was an accident. hmm It sure was a tasty mishap.
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P.S. I’m so glad to find out how to use grease-proof/parchment paper without sticking as it so happens I just used it to bake a loaf and it got stuck to the food. Next time I will butter the tin, put down the paper, butter again and then add flour. This was well-timed advice.
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Juliet, it is a great item to have around in the kitchen. Try it with your loaf. I also use it when roasting chicken, baking cookies, and even wrapped it around salmon and baked it. Enjoy!
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Mmmm delicious! I think you dropping the cake was a blessing in disguise!
Now tell me – I always worry when I see recipes for chocolate cake that call for coffee to be added. I hate coffee – can you taste the coffee over the chocolate?
Happy happy happy first birthday to Miss Kezzie! I wish you all a wonderful celebration together – what a special day!
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Tee hee – it was, Rachel. I’m glad it dropped on the table.
The coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate. You cannot taste it at all. Just this sense of something better having teased your taste buds. (excuse me while I eat another piece). Just kidding. I have to wait until Sunday for another taste. Truly, Rachel, try it sometime.
Thank you. It will be fun to celebrate. I can’t believe a whole year has already passed.
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BEST chocolate cake ever! It was my breakfast! Hope Kezzie loves it (as much as any 1 year old loves their b-day cake). Well the adults will like it regardless.
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It WAS good, wasn’t it? There is another wedge in the freezer, my dear – all yours if you want it. Kezzie will actually have her own special cake, hand crafted by her mommy and daddy. I’m glad you liked it, Jennifer.
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What fun you had with cakes, the recipe certainly does sound very good. Have fun when you go north to celebrate with the birthday girl. Today I went to a great niece’s first birthday, she had no idea of why everyone had gathered but she certainly enjoyed all of the attention.
I always use baking paper, it is so much easier to remove the baking from the tins or off the trays.
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I’ve learned to “roll with the punches” in life, Marilyn. I couldn’t let that poor, crumpled cake go to waste. How fun for you to help celebrate your great niece’s birthday. Babies usually seem to either stare in confusion or cry at their first birthdays. It will be fun to see what our Kezzie does.
This paper is the best for baking, isn’t it? I even used it for removing caramels at Christmas.
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For the first time in probably three years, I made a chocolate cake and one of the ingredients is coffee! Oh, it was so good, and sooo unnecessary, decadent even. The last thing I needed turned out to be the first thing I needed. It broke in half, you had to eat it. Some things are meant to be. 🙂
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That’s it, Teresa, that’s it, indeed. Somethings are meant to be. I’m wondering, hearing of your cake breaking as well, if it is the moistness that makes it weak. No matter, we get to eat it! The problem is that the more pieces broken, the more I want to put in my mouth.
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Ina’s recipes never disappoint, do they?
Have you tried her coconut cupcakes??? Divine!
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She never lets me down, Pamela.
I have been eyeing the coconut cupcakes for some time. An Ina Garten recipe and your recommendation now makes them a “must make soon” recipe.
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So glad you can roll with the punches. Very important skill in life. That is so because then you have frozen chocolate cake in the freezer for an emergency. Like the next time you are required to roll with the punches, maybe. ;o)
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Wonderful philosophy of life, Mike, and one more reason to make more chocolate cake! Off I go to roll with some more punches. tee hee
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