Jan 20, 2009

I'm back with a Party Cake

My belated Pongal wishes to my dear readers and
friends..With the old computer still infected I got
a new one which was delivered few days back only..
But the frigid weather gave the kids a long weekend
and made me busy.And finally today I could sit
back with a party cake which I made for the New year
Party at our home..
I made this cake from Dorie Greenspans Baking - a great
book for baking. The pics are not that appealing , It was
taken in a hurry..But the taste was heavenly..
Ingredients
For the cake
All purpose flour - 1 1/3 cup
Unssweetened cocoa powder - 1/2 cup
Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Unsalted butter - 10 tblsp
Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 3
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Bitter sweet chocolate - 2 ounces ( melted and cooled)
Butter milk or whole milk - 1/2 cup
Boiling water - 1/2 cup
Mini chocolate chips - 2/3 cup ( I omit this )
For Frosting
Egg whites - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Cream of tartar - 3/4 tsp
Water - 1 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tblsp
Method
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.Butter and dust two 8 " round pans.
  • Sift together flour , cocoa , baking soda , baking powder and salt.
  • Beat butter and sugar in a medium speed for 3 min or until soft and creamy.
  • Add eggs one by one beating for 1 min after each addition.
  • Beat in vanilla . Add the melted chocolate.
  • Add the dry ingredients alternately with the butter milk.
  • On low speed mix in the boiling water and stir in the choco chips if you use.
  • Divide the batter evenly in two pans .Bake for 25 - 30 min.
  • Cool the pan in the wire racks .When the cake reaches the room temperature slice each layer horizontally in haf .
  • Set 3 layers aside and crumble the fourth layer.

For frosting

  • Put the sugar , cream of tartar and water in a small sauce pan . Bring the mixture to boil over medium heat , cover the pan and boil for 3 min. The syrup should reach 242 F or soft ball consistency.
  • While the syrup is cooking start beating the egg whites.When it reaches the shiny peaks slowly pour the hot syrup over the egg mixture.
  • Add vanilla extract and keep beating until it reaches room temperature .
  • The result will be smooth , shiny frosting.

To Assemble the cake

  • Put a bottom layer cut side up . Cover the layer generously with frosting.
  • Top with second layer , cut side up and frost it . Finish with the third layer cut side down and frost the sides and top of the cake.
  • Cover the entire cake with chocolate cake crumbs, gently pressing the cake into the filling with fingers.
  • Refrigerate the cake for about 1 hour before serving.

It sounds like a lengthy process but when you have

all things around it is not all difficult . I prefer this cake because

we need not worry about uneven , smooth and neeat frosting. All my flaws

are covered entirely by the crumbs.

11 comments:

FH said...

Hope you enjoyed Pongal. Kamala. I came back on the first week of Jan. and been busy ever since. Good to see you back too. Beautiful cake there!

Kids are doing well, Trisha got accepted to Chapel Hill. College starts in August! :)

Pallavi said...

Welcome back! The cake looks great. Nice and moist.

Laavanya said...

Good to see you Kamala... Cake looks awesome.

Cham said...

The cake looks so decadent Kamala. Hope you a great Happy Pongal! Great to see u back around :)

Finla said...

Beautiful and delicius cake.
Welcome back to the blog world ;-)

Vidhya said...

welcome back. Love it. I have just started learning how to bake a cake... will book mark yours

Unknown said...

woow..that looks absoltely delicious..

Shreya said...

welcome back! and its a lovely cake:-) Belated Pongal wishes...

Srivalli said...

Great to have you back Kamala....cake looks yum!...

Madhavi said...

Welcome back, cake looks greattttt and yummmm!!!

Priya Suresh said...

Nice to see you back Kamala...Cake looks delicious..