S'more Cake

It is the perfect time of year to start the bonfires and roast some marshmallows! But lately all we have been having is rain rain and more rain, so not the best weather for outside activities. If you are in need of some chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker goodness look no farther then this cake.



Recipe

1 box Devil Chocolate Cake
1 Cup sour cream
1/2 Cup oil
1/2 Cup water
4 eggs
2 6oz packages chocolate pudding
graham cracker crumbs
1/2 Cup butter
2 7oz jars of Jiffy Puff Marshmallow Cream
Chocolate Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil. Combine cracker crumbs and butter into a crumble (little chunks) and place on baking sheet and bake for a few minutes (5-10). Remove and set aside.

Mix cake mix, sour cream, oil, water and eggs with electric mixer. Add half of the cracker crumble. Pour into 2 round cake pans that have been sprayed. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. Remove and cool.

Remove lid from one Jiffy jar and place in microwave for 10 seconds ( or enough time to get warm but not explode). Place one layer cake on cake plate and cover top with Jiffy Puff and crumbles. Then add second layer and coat with chocolate frosting. Then warm the second jar of Jiffy and place on top of cake then sprinkle remaining crumble.



I would have loved to roast the marshmallow but I couldn't think of a way to do it without a cooking torch which I don't own and didn't want to purchase. Any ideas?

I made this with Hollie and so we just split each layer to make take home a lot easier. I also used a sweet foil pan to give it a more rustic camping feel :)


Thanks Hollie I had so much fun!!

Strawberry Short Cake

I got inspired to make this cake based on the Boston Cream Pie. I used the same cake and cream recipe then topped it with strawberry's and drizzled with chocolate for a little extra deliciousness.

I made this for General Conference weekend. We had a family dinner and was asked to bring dessert. I wanted to make this but I also wanted something that would be easy to serve for the amount of kids that were going to be there. So I mad it into cupcakes and cut out the centers. Then filled it with cream and topped with strawberries. But I ran out of cupcake papers so with the rest of the batter I used a bread pan. And just smothered that with the rest of the cream and covered it with strawberries.

This is one of my favorites so fare. Perfect for spring!



Ingredients
White Cake:
3 large eggs
5 large egg whites (reserve yolks for the pastry cream)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups pastry flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, and vanilla and set aside.Place the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add in the softened butter and half of the egg mixture to the mixer and beat on medium speed until batter is very smooth, about 4 minutes.

Add the remaining egg mixture in 3 additions, scraping down the bowl after each addition, and beating for 2 minutes afterwards.

Portion out the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake until the cake springs back when lightly touched in center, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out to cool completely. Can be made a day ahead.

Pastry Cream:
4 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar, divided
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
5 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, cold

Place most of the milk, half of the sugar, and vanilla into a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Meanwhile, whisk together the rest of the milk, eggs, yolks, the remaining sugar, and cornstarch. Temper the egg mixture with 1/3 of the hot milk, whisk well, and pour back into the saucepan. Over medium heat, continue to cook and whisk until the custard is thick and starts to bubble. Continue whisking and cooking for 10 more seconds. Immediately cover the entire custard surface with plastic wrap and cool before using.

When the pastry cream is cool, remove the plastic wrap, beat the pastry cream on medium speed until smooth. Remove the cream to a mixing bowl. Whisk the heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold into the pastry cream in 2 additions.

Boston Cream Pie

Last week I went on a much needed vacation to Sunny San Diego. I had a great time there with my family. While I was there me and my mom made an AMAZING Boston Cream Pie. My mom found this recipe after watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients
White Cake:
3 large eggs
5 large egg whites (reserve yolks for the pastry cream)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups pastry flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

Chocolate Ganache:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate
1 pound semisweet chocolate
1 pound unsalted butter
2 cups heavy cream
Pastry Cream, chilled, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line 2 (8-inch) cake pans.

For the cake: Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, and vanilla and set aside.

Place the sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add in the softened butter and half of the egg mixture to the mixer and beat on medium speed until batter is very smooth, about 4 minutes.

Add the remaining egg mixture in 3 additions, scraping down the bowl after each addition, and beating for 2 minutes afterwards.

Portion out the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake until the cake springs back when lightly touched in center, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out to cool completely. Can be made a day ahead.

The cake is super yummy and moist, its like a pound cake.

For the ganache: Place the ingredients into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Whisk until melted and smooth.

Pastry Cream:
4 cups whole milk, infused with thyme and orange zest, strained
1 cup sugar, divided
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
5 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, cold
Place most of the milk, half of the sugar, and vanilla into a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Meanwhile, whisk together the rest of the milk, eggs, yolks, the remaining sugar, and cornstarch. Temper the egg mixture with 1/3 of the hot milk, whisk well, and pour back into the saucepan. Over medium heat, continue to cook and whisk until the custard is thick and starts to bubble. Continue whisking and cooking for 10 more seconds. Strain the pastry cream through a sieve, pushing through with a spatula, into a clean mixing bowl. Immediately cover the entire custard surface with plastic wrap and cool before using.

When the pastry cream is cool, remove the plastic wrap, insert the beater attachment into the stand mixer, and beat the pastry cream on medium speed until smooth. Remove the cream to a mixing bowl. Whisk the heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold into the pastry cream in 2 additions.

Place the cooled cake on a cake round. Trim the top of the cake and hollow out the middle to hold the pastry cream (basically you want it to look like a big tire, this is were you are going to put all the cream, so the bigger the hole the more cream). Cut the trimmed cake into big chunks and set aside. Place the lightened pastry cream into the cake, creating a small mound in the middle. Pile the cake pieces on top of the pastry cream. Pour warm ganache over the entire surface until covered. Let the cake rest for 2 to 3 hours before serving.




Its a tough one but so worth it! Next time I think I will leave out the thyme and orange zest from the cream. Its not that I didn't like it, but I am just a strait up cream kind of girl.

Mmmmm..... Doughnuts

This weekend my sister came to visit and we had a blast. While she was here we tried this new doughnut place called Beyond the Glaze located at 54 West 700 South, Salt Lake City.

What makes these doughnuts so unique is how they are mostly just glazed doughnuts but have amazing toppings that give them there flavor.



I got this one for Bruce it was a German Chocolate.

But my favorite had to be the Raspberry Mango!



I love finding new places to eat specially when they are SO delicious!

Cocoa Layer Cake

I made this cake with my friend Hollie today. We had so much fun and I cannot wait to eat it!!



Recipe

Cake

1/2 C Natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 C Lukewarm water, divided
1/2 C Buttermilk
1 1/2 C cake flour
3/4 t baking soda
1 C sugar
1/2 (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 C (1 stick) butter, room temperature
2 Large eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Butter three 9 inch cake pans. Whisk cocoa and 1/2 C warm water in small bowl. Whisk buttermilk and 1/2 C water in another small bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat both sugars and butter in large bowl until pale yellow and fluffy. With mixer running, gradually add beaten eggs. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add cocoa mixture. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Divide batter among pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean (about 18 min. Cool completely in pans on racks.

Frosting

10 T butter
1 1/3 C golden brown sugar
1 C milk chocolate chips
1 C heavy whipping cream
2 t vanilla extract

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cocoa, chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually stir in cream. Stir until mixture is very hot and just begins to simmer at edges. Reduce heat to low; stir 1 minute. Transfer to medium bowl; stir in vanilla. Frosting will resemble chocolate sauce. Chill until just thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. let stand at room temperature.

German Chocolate Cake

This is a special cake for Bruce and I. I have made it for his birthday every year since the night he popped the question. It was February 25,2008 and Bruce was visiting my in College Station, Texas. I wanted to do something fun for his birthday, but he said dont worry about it I have it all planned out. This made me a little suspicious but I was excited to see what he came up with.

So when he picked me up from work we went home and got dressed up since this was a "fancy" place. Then he blind folded me and drove me to the restaurant. He lead me to the front door and took the blind fold off. We were in front of a old glass chapel in the middle of no where lit with candles and a covered with roses and a table for two. My mom made my favorite dinner, and since it was Bruce's birthday she made German Chocolate Cake.



Recipe

1 1/2 C milk chocolate chips
1/2 C butter, softened
2 C packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 C all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 C sour cream
1 C hot water
2 t vanilla

Melt chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave stirring every 30 seconds until they are melted. Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mister, beating about 5 minutes until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla. Pour into 3 round greased and floured cake pans (or two works). Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Check often after 15 minutes, you want the cake to be soft to the touch but dont let it over cook and get dry. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove layers from pans and let cool completely on wire rack.

Coconut Pecan Frosting
1 12oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 C sugar
3/4 C butter
6 egg yolks
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 C chopped pecans
1 1/2 C coconut

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly 12 minutes. Remove from heat; add remaining ingredients, and stir until frosting is cool and spreading consistency.

Chocolate Ganache
1 12oz package milk chocolate chips
1/2 C whipping cream
3 T butter

Microwave chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a 2 quart bowl at medium power stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter; let stand 20 minutes (important). Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture forms soft peaks.



Happy Birthday Bruce! I LOVE YOU!!

Cake Catch-Up

Wow I really have some catching up to do. It was a little busy with the holidays finding time to blog all my cakes, but don't you worry I was still making them.

Week 15: Julie's Birthday cake



This is a Raspberry Blackberry Truffle Cake, super yummy and rich! It is also 3 layers so its pretty intense I'm glad my little cake plate could handle it.

Click here for the recipe.

Here is what I changed:

*Since the recipient requested no nuts I added some of the blackberry and raspberry jam to the butter cream frosting to give it a tint of flavor and color.

*For the frosting I used Bakerella's cream cheese frosting recipe (I'm not a fan of cool whip).

Week 16: Thanksgiving Ginger Bread Cake



Click here for recipe.

It was fun having at cake at our Thanksgiving celebration since we usually stick to pie. It might be a new tradition :)



Week 17: Audrey's German Chocolate Ice Cream Cake



So I kind of made this one up.

Recipe:

Your favorite vanilla ice cream
Your favorite chocolate ice cream
Oreo's

Coconut Pecan Frosting
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/4 cups butter
6 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups coconut

Chocolate ganache
1 12 oz package milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons butter

Line a spring form pan with plastic wrap. In a blender crush the Oreo's (I crushed only the tops twisting them to get ride of the cream). Mix with 1 tablespoon of butter and mash on the bottom of the pan to make a crust. Let the ice cream soften (i let mine soften too long and it got hard to work with so just make sure its playable but not liquid). I mixed some Mexican Vanilla, Coconut, and pecans, in the ice cream then started with the Vanilla ice cream. Let that set up in the freezer for 30 min or so. while that is setting up make the Chocolate Ganache and Coconut Pecan Frosting (see below). Add layer of chocolate then layer of coconut and top with the chocolate ice cream. Place in freezer until firm. And Enjoy!

Coconut Pecan Frosting
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, 12 minutes. Remove from heat; add remaining ingredients, and stir until frosting is cool and spreading consistency.

Chocolate Ganache
Microwave chocolate morsels and whipping cream in a 2 quart bowl at medium power stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter; let stand 20 minutes (important). Beat at medium speed with an electric miser 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture forms soft peaks.

Week 18: Cranberry Cake



This cake was super yummy! And I just so happened to have everything in my cupboard! I love when that happens!

I got the recipe here.

I did change the topping to a white chocolate crumble topping. I couldn't find the recipe I used but basically it was melted white chocolate folded into the top of the cake and then I mixed brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and oats together and sprinkled on top before baking the cake.

The white chocolate and cinnamon went really well with the cranberry flavor and it turned out to be a great cake served warm with ice cream.



Week 19: German Chocolate Sheet Cake

We had this one for a Christmas party and I didn't get one picture. But it was really good. Here is the recipe.

I liked it because it was easy and delicious.

Week 20: Rocky Road Cake



I thought this cake up when I first started this blog so I was really excited to make it.

I used the Retired Models cake recipe.

For the topping I used this Marshmallow Butter Cream recipe.

Frosting

2 sticks butter (I use unsalted)

2 cups powder sugar

1 jar marshmallow fluff (7 oz)

2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract

In a bowl, add room temp. butter and sugar together. Mix until fluffy. Add marshmallow and vanilla, and mix well.



I used store bought chocolate icing, and made a chocolate ganashe and chunks of almond for the top. I also added some almond chunks to the cake itself. It was very rich and delicious!



Week 21: Heath Bar Cake



This picture does not do this cake justice. It was Really REALLY goood!!

I made the Retired Models cake and mixed in some of the Heath Bar chocolate chips that i am in love with. Then when the cakes come out of the oven place them on a plate and let cool a 3 minutes. Then poke small holes with a fork and cover with sweetened condensed milk, and butterscotch ice cream topper. Let that set up for a few more minutes.

For the frosting I used the Retired Models cake frosting and drizzled it with the remaining Heath bar chips and butterscotch topping.

There you have it! 7 cakes in one post! I hope I didn't leave any out.