First I have to say that I am so glad I made this cake, it is fabulous! This week’s Tuesday with Dorie pick was none other that the decadent looking cover shot on the book, Baking from my Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. This recipe was chosen by Stephanie of Confessions of a City Eater and can be found on page 247 or on Stephanie’s blog.
This recipe came together very nicely. Many of the recipes in Dorie’s book LOOK really intimidating, but as long as you read through the instructions first and have all your ingredients ready to go, they generally are pretty simple. The cake was really moist so a bit challenging cutting the layers, but all worked out well.
I did notice that some of the other TWD bakers said it took a long time for their syrup (part of the frosting recipe) to reach 242 degrees on the candy thermometer. Mine only took about 15 minutes, so I wonder if maybe their stove heat may have been too low? I had mine at medium high and it worked great. I was very skeptical about the icing as I have never made that before but it came out beautiful! Dorie even said to expect splatters while mixing, I had none of that and it all came out perfectly. I did have to cover the top of my cake with crumbs because I think I put too much filling in the cake layers and didn’t save enough for the top. Plus the crumbs spread into the frosting because the top of my cake crowned a bit and I had to slice the top to make it flat, hence leaving a crumb-y type top.
I did end up baking mine in a 13×9×2 pan as I did not have any 8″ rounds and was too afraid of the 9″ round being too big. You see this cake didn’t rise a lot, so I didn’t want to chance it. The only thing that I really found challenging was the crumb topping. Because this cake came out so moist, some balled up instead of crumbling.
Thank you Stephanie for choosing this delicious cake! Be sure to visit the other TWD bakers to see how theirs came out.
OMG!!! This looks absolutely amazing!! I am so going to try thisone. LOVE it!! Love things with layers!!!!
Very great looking cake. Your layers look so yummy! Im glad you enjoyed!
Your cake came out great. Good job.
I agree I would make this cake again but change the frosting!
Your cake looks great!
Ciao Amanda ! I did enjoy this cake a lot maybe one coluld alternate frosting-ganache-frosting…
Your cake is very beautiful !
Amanda, I love seeing the results of the 9 x 13 project. I used the "too big niners." he he It was a little disappointing in the layer thickness category. So I have to decide if I want to buy 8'ers. I learned from P & Q's Lauren to toast the crumbs, then you can crumble them finer if you like. Also, I have found if you chill the cake before you do the horizontal slice it is much easier. I put too much frosting between the 1 and 2nd layers as well. Oop! Its that learning curve. Thanks for coming by for a visit and leaving kind words. Your Cake looks really so moist and beautiful. Glad you liked it.
AmyRuth
Your cake looks as good as the one on the cover of the book! Really! We loved this one, though I made cupcakes instead of the whole cake.
Looks fabulous! I would definitely try it again, because I did enjoy it. Next time, I think I would make cup cakes…better portion control! :o)
This cake is seriously drool worthy!
This looks just great! I love the way the thick marshmallow looks against the chocolate.
Wow, I’m impressed! It looks so professionnal, just like Dorie’s cake!
Awesome, way to make it work in the 9×13 pan! Looks great!
It looks just like the cover.
I love the cake! I really need to make this one!! Great job!
Your cake looks great. I wish I had put more frosting in between the layers. I was too conservative and had lots of frosting on the top. I think the cut pieces look better with more frosting between the layers like yours.
I agree, I will definitely use a different topping next time! Your cake looks like perfection!
Your layers are so pretty. I love your suggestion of chocolate ganache topping. Last night, I *almost* drizzled warm chocolate sauce over my slice. So we’re thinking along the same lines here!
Fantastic looking cake! I was too skimpy with my frosting between layers.
Nicely done. I am jealous of your beautiful layers of frosting.
Wow, your layers are as gorgeous as Dorie’s. Great job!
Your cake looks gorgeous!
Perfect Layers! Looks wonderful!!!!
Wow that looks good!!
Your layers look fantastic, well done! :)
Nice job on your cake, it looks great!
Wow! Your cake turned out fantastic, it looks beautiful. I agree, a different frosting would do well with this cake. Great job though!
That looks amazing! Your frosting is so fluffy!
It looks gorgeous! Glad you liked it.
I agree that this cake was nice and moist and really really good. With ganache it would be INTENSE!!
Nancy
Your cake turned out great! And it is a very good cake recipe, isn’t it? I think I would have liked a different frosting too!
It looks great Amanda. I love chocolate cake with marshmallow frosting and have just been drooling at all the TWD blogs featuring this cake!!! I just have to make this soon!!!
Looks great – nice layering!
My crumbs balled up too — I really think that I’m going to leave them off next time. I just like the cake part too much to turn it into crumbs. Yours is beautiful!
Your cake looks delish!
I had the opposite problem with the frosting/filling. I under filled the layers and then had a TON left for the top. I also cried when I had to throw a good portion of it away.
your cake looks great!
I had the same little frosting problem, but all in all, it still turned out good.
nice job!
<3
Wow, that’s absolutely gorgeous! I was nervous about the frosting too, but yours looks just perfect.
Wow, yours looks just like Dorie’s!! Congrats on the successful first time meringue.
Wow…simply fabulous looking cake, this is heaven on a plate. Pass a fork please!!
This looks so amazing!! I love the rectangle shape.
très réussi, ton gâteau est superbe :)
Beautiful job Amanda!
Very well layered and great pictures!
Your cake looks amazing! I am so glad to know that it works out so well in a 9×13 pan. I had trouble with the crumbs too, go figure!
Awesome job — your cake looks cover worthy!
Wow, Amanda! How rich and fabulous this cake is! That double big layer is fantastic!
That looks exactly like the cover! Good job!
This looks fab Amanda – great job.
Your cake looks great- what a pretty slice!
I would never have thought of putting it in a 9 x 13 pan. Good thinking! It looks great.
Your cake looks fabulous; I love the generous layers of frosting.
Your cake is drop-dead gorgeous! I’m glad it was a hit.
Your cake looks amazing! Cover shot worthy for sure :) Doing it in the 9 by 13 was a great idea!
Looks just right. Glad your frosting stayed put. Great job.
That cake looks so good!
Looks good…LOVE the frosting to cake ratio!!!
~ingrid
I used Almond Roca with mine and it was deeeeelicious!
Yours look very nice. Share a slice, please.