MomOfOneFunOne Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I'm not much of a baker. I can but don't often. I make GREAT bread but find that when I bake bread, we eat the whole loaf and the stick of butter to go with it. When I buy bread, we eat a piece when we need/want it: a piece of toast w/ breakfast instead of a 1/2 a loaf with breakfast. I also make a pretty big mess when I bake bread. I would like to bake more, though, especially more cookies, cakes, et c. AND I'm getting a KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas. I'm so excited! So, we traditionally WANT to bake a cake for Christmas (birthday cake) but sometimes bake one, often buy one. This yr I'll have my lovely new KA and my daughter and I would love to make a magnificent cake. I have a delish recipe for carrot cake somewhere and I might do that. I'd like to branch out, though. What's your best ever cake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 For flavor, this is our absolute favorite. It is a really delicious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoffeeChick Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Okay - here is probably the BEST cake I've ever made ... and that says a lot because I've made some awesome cakes in my life ;) This one takes a lot of work/time, but it's well worth it. I seriously want to spoon the topping into my mouth! German Chocolate Cake 3 oz (12 squares) German sweet chocolate 1 C. butter, softened (use only REAL butter) 2 C. white sugar 4 egg yolks 1 tsp. vanilla 1 C. buttermilk 2 1/2 C. cake flour (not just regular flour) 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 4 egg whites 2 C. white sugar 2 C. evaporated milk 1 C. butter 6 beaten egg yolks 3 C. flaked coconut 2 C. chopped pecans 2 tsp. vanilla (1/4 C. vanilla pudding mix - optional) Preheat oven to 350. Line the bottoms of 3 - 9inch round pans with parchment paper & grease the sides. Melt the chocolate squares and set aside. Mix together the flour, soda, & salt and set aside. Cream together 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light & fluffy. Beat in 4 egg yolks, one at a time. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla. This next part is the most important one and the easiest to goof up: Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Mix ONLY till just incorporated. DO NOT OVERMIX. In a seperate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/2 the whites into the batter, then fold in the other 1/2 until no streaks remain. Pour into the prepared pans & bake 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove the cake to cool completely onto a cooling rack. For the topping: Toast the coconut and pecans in the oven. (I normally do this while the oven is preheating for the cake.) In a saucepan combine 2 cups sugar, evaporated milk, 1 cup butter, and 6 egg yolks. Cook on LOW heat, stirring constantly until thickened - takes about 30 minutes. (If you want to speed the thickening process, add between 1/8 - 1/4 C. of powdered vanilla pudding mix.) Remove from heat & stir in the toasted coconut/pecans and vanilla. Cool in fridge until it is the right consistancy to spread - about an hour. Spread the filling between the layers of cake and also on the top & sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocCityMom Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Both of our faves are from Ina Garten. One is chocolate with chocolate frosting and the other is a coconut cake. Delish!! I get requests for these each year for my kids'/husband's birthdays. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cake-recipe/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 anything from King Arthur Flour recipes is awesome. This is is particularly good: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chocolate-cake-recipe You didn't ask about scones, but I happen to LOVE this recipe. You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it! http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/scones-recipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 (edited) I love an Ina Garten cake recipe, too. Her chocolate ganache cake is in the Parties! cookbook, and is in cupcake form at Food Network. For cake, put batter in a parchment lined cake pan and bake 40-45 minutes until just set. Always a hit. Super rich, super easy :) Edited December 18, 2010 by ladydusk Oops ... fixed the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Gingerbread cake with Maple Whipped Cream frosting - The very best Christmas cake EVER. Ever. Seriously. Best Ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Perfect Chocolate Cake I have no clue where our recipe came from & was surprised to find it on the internet--apparently it's NOT a family recipe. We usually double the chocolate frosting & skipped the whipped cream between the layers. If you use the whipped cream, you have to eat the cake pretty fast to avoid soggy, sliding layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I made this pumpkin cake with brown butter icing from Martha Stewart for a Christmas tea a couple weeks ago and it was AMAZING! The cake was moist, a little spicy (not hot) and the icing was out of this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 This thread is SO cruel to someone on a diet lol. I started looking because my oldest daughter's birthday is coming up. But I had to stop looking- I still have a couple more weeks, and it was just making me hungry and making me crave chocolate. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3littlekeets Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 My holiday favorites are red velvet with peppermint frosting and chocolate cherry cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txbloobonnet Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 This one is VERY yummy and super easy to make. http://waysiderecipes.blogspot.com/2010/11/chocolate-fudge-cake.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 The recipe on the side of the box of Hershey's Cocoa Powder. Oh, and "cookies and cream" which is white cake (angel food) with crushed oreos mixed in :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 chocolate cherry cake This cake is SO good. I can't make it unless I'm going to share it b/c I eat it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Gingerbread cake with Maple Whipped Cream frosting - The very best Christmas cake EVER. Ever. Seriously. Best Ever. Oh, yes. Yesyesyes. TXMom speaks the truth. This gingerbread cake is also divine (though not especially fancy, so maybe more of a weekday cake). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 This thread is SO cruel to someone on a diet lol. :iagree: I'm salivating at all these recipes, particularly the Red Velvet one w/Peppermint Frosting ... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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