Dessert for a 50th birthday

[hezzier]

Ok ladies, what have you got?  The restaurant told BIL that we can bring something in.  I made the mistake of asking him if he wanted store bought or home made, he said he likes my desserts...mind you, he now works near a nut free bakery, although he doesn't know this yet. 

I just made a cheese cake for thanksgiving, we also had pumpkin pie and apple crisp.

Any one have any great ideas?  Maybe some sort of specialty cake?  I have some skills in the decorating area but not like Hedgie.

[hedgehog]

What flavors does he like? Is he more of a chocolate lover, plain vanilla, fruity, traditional, funky flavors?

[hezzier]

It's for my sister.  She likes chocolate, could be with fruit or without. Funky would depend on what it was.

[hedgehog]

OH, ok, you had mentioned BIL in your first post.  Got it.

Going with chocolate, some ideas are: chocolate salted caramel, chocolate raspberry, anise chocolate, chocolate chai, chocolate orange, Oreo.  Any of that sound good? I can share recipe ideas and decorating tips if you like.

[momma2boys]

Tiramisu?

[hezzier]

BIL is a dork, I sent him a msg to see if she has a favorite dessert these days so of course he texts her and then she calls me to find out if  I'm having a conversation with her husband about dessert.  He's trying to keep stuff from her but she picked the date and the restaurant so it's weird.

I would love the chocolate salted caramel and the chocolate raspberry recipes.

She probably likes tiramisu, but I'm not a fan (I should make it to save myself some calories, ha).

[GoingNuts]

Who could resist a flourless chocolate cake with a berry sauce?  Certainly not me!

[hedgehog]

I will give two options for chocolate cake, and the recipes for fillings.

Easy option for chocolate cake: use whatever chocolate mix you like, but sub out coffee (I usually use decaf, for the who may not want or need caffeine) for half the water.  The coffee makes a big difference.

Scratch option for cake:
3 cups AP flour
3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
1 tbs baking soda
1 1/2 tbs baking powder
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 cups warm water or coffee (I would use about 1/2 water, 1/2 coffee)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350, grease and flour pan.
Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder to combine. Add wet ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into pan and bake 30-35 minutes.

I use a pan that is I think 11"x15".  If you wanted to do smaller layers, the bake time should be a bit less.

[hedgehog]

Salted caramel:

1 2/3 cup sugar
1 tbs light corn syrup
1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
1 cup heavy cream at room temp
1 1/2 tsp course sea salt

Combine sugar, 1/3 cup water, and corn syrup in small sauce pan. Stir with wooden spoon and bring to simmer over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture is a beautiful Amber color. As soon as colir is reached, Immediately add butter and stir until incorporated. Remove from heat. Add heavy cream and stir to incorporate. Stir in salt. Let cool.


Raspberry sauce/filling

I don't use a recipe for this.
Pour enough chambord into a small saucepan to cover the bottom of the pan.  Add two cups or so of raspberries (fresh or frozen), and sugar to taste ( I usually start with about a tablespoon, then taste once it is is cooking, maybe adding more). Simmer until it gets bubbly and raspberries fall apart. Let cool.

[hedgehog]

I would either make two layers, and fill the cake with either the caramel or raspberry.  Or you can bake one larger layer, and cut into two layers with a cake leveler.

[hedgehog]

And I have found that an easy, and delicious, way to do a scratch coat is not to use frosting for that first application. Make a chocolate ganache, pour over cake and spread evenly, the refrigerate to harden. Then frost with buttercream, or whatever frosting you like.

[hezzier]

I'm drooling just thinking about it!

[Macabre]

I haven't read the posts yet, but first thought was:

Cake by Hedgie

[becca]

Ganache under buttercream?!  YUM!

[hedgehog]

Ganache under buttercream?!  YUM!

Oh, yeah. That poker cake I made for A's birthday. I made a mocha cake, coved it with a mocha ganache, chilled it to get the ganache firm, then frosted with a coffee buttercream. I just wish I was there to have a piece.