professional tips to make your baking fabulous
Apple Cake (Torta Di Mele) Pine Nut Torta
Buche De Noel Rhubarb Upside Down Cake
Cappuccino Cheesecake Torta Caprese
Chocolate Chip Pecan Pound Cake Torta Caprese Bianca
Coconut Pound Cake Torta De Santiago
Cornmeal Cake Vanilla Sponge Cake
Flourless Chocolate Cake Wild Maine Blueberry Cake
Last week my friend Alice asked me for a recipe for a simple chocolate lava cake she could make for her boyfriend. We are in Vietnam and not many people have ovens so a cake designed to work in a microwave is a necessity. This recipe is for a single serving but can easily be multiplied! Enjoy this rich chocolate cake the way Alice does – warm with vanilla ice cream!
We just had a birthday here! A delicious white cake filled with strawberries and iced in whipped cream – basically the birthday cake version of strawberry shortcake! Seems like white cake is an elusive creature. Some are more yellow (made with butter), some look an unnatural ghostly white (Crisco), and still others are dry and crumbly or dense and grainy. No more! This white cake is moist, a lovely creamy color, and simple to produce. The texture is between sponge cake and pound cake – light enough to melt in your mouth and firm enough to stand up to slicing, filling, and icing. I have used this delicious cake for years and it never lets me down – especially on important occasions!
Over the past 2½ months, I’ve posted many recipes that incorporate the flavors of southeast Asia. That’s because Vietnam doesn’t really have a dessert culture in the western sense. However, here is a delicious dessert that is truly Vietnamese. Not really a cake in the standard sense, this dense, rich dessert is a cross between bread pudding and coconut custard.
Continue reading “Banh Chuoi Nuong (Vietnamese Banana Cake)”
It’s that time of year when many of us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Here is a great recipe to help you get your green on. Best of all, this cake can be mixed up in the pan you melt the chocolate and butter in which keeps dishwashing to a minimum. Guinness chocolate cake with a Guinness glaze is a great way to celebrate your Irish heritage!
Flourless chocolate cake is a wonderful addition to the battery of basic recipes any pastry chef should have. It is extremely versatile and is simple to prepare. Best of all, it is superb for those who can’t have wheat.
Coconuts are everywhere in Vietnam. You can buy them whole in stores or on the street for a quick refreshing drink. This moist, delicious cake uses coconut cream and dried coconut to give a deep rich flavor. Paired with caramelized fruits and kaffir lime, this coconut pound cake makes for a wonderful treat.
Continue reading “Coconut Pound Cake With Caramelized Tropical Fruits”
There are more variations of cheesecake than you can count and this is one of my favorites! This cappuccino cheesecake is a simple variation of our dense, delicious New York cheesecake. Serve this cheesecake for your next event (Hanukkah? Christmas Dinner? New Year’s Eve?) and you are sure to get rave reviews.
There are many, many ways to make a buche de Noel – sponge cake, buttercream, whipped cream, meringue mushrooms – the list goes on and on. This version is light and airy, delicate and sophisticated, and modern in it’s presentation. Having a party? This is the perfect centerpiece for the dessert table!
During the holidays company can show up at the most unexpected times! Be prepared with this delicious chocolate chip pecan pound cake. Not only is it moist, it keeps very well for several days if wrapped well. Keep this on hand and you will always have a wonderful treat to serve no matter who knocks at the door!
Torta Caprese originated on the Isle of Capri just off the Amalfi Coast. There are many stories about the possibilities of its origin but one thing is certain – this moist, dense chocolate and almond cake is sure to please.
