Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Chocolate Cake with Pink Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Today is my birthday and I baked myself a cake over the weekend. A pink coloured cake to be exact as I do like pink. However I'm not the fanatical "pink" type of person where my whole wardrobe or furnishings are smoothered in this colour. I love a subtle pink hue and I think the "little" girl in all of us, do!

Anyway today is suppose to be a happy occassion - however a tinge of sadness does underlay it. The sad part is that I would never be able to to celebrate such days with my dearest LT. In the more than 15 years I have known him, he was never the type to display the romantic side of himself in public. However on special occassions he would present me with little gifts when I least expect it of him. He knew I liked pink and he would go out to buy me small little items in this colour, such as handphone cover, a pink tee shirt, pink golf set covers.

Rose


I remember on my birthday last year when I picked him up after work to go out for dinner, he sheepishly placed something at the back of the car. I didn't know what it was until we reached our destination. He then told me that he had bought a dozen and half pink roses for me. In the day time he would ride a motorbike (as it was easier because of the work he did), so I can only imagine how he had transported the roses back from the florist. I thought it was so sweet of him to do this.

In writing this, I dedicate this post to my dearest LT and to everyone who is in love.

Photobucket


"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart" Quote by Helen Keller

Pink cake 2


Chocolate Cake with Pink Swiss Buttercream Frosting
Makes 2 layer 8" cake
Recipe Adapted from Here


Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups good cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk (alternatively use 1 less 1 Tbsp cup milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar. Let sit for 10 mins before using)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (eg. canola, corn, sunflower)
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee (I used espresso coffee sachets)

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Grease the pans with some butter on the bottom and sides. Then line with parchment paper

2) Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined.

3) In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

4) Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Makes 6 cups
Recipe Adapted from Martha Stewart


Ingredients:

452g (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 egg whites
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Method:

1) Beat butter with electric mixer until fluffy and pale. Transfer to small bowl.

2) In double boiler over simmering water, whisk sugar and egg whites until warm and sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to clean bowl of electric mixer; beat on high with whisk attachment until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes.

3) Reduce mixer to medium-low; add butter a scant 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

4) Switch to paddle attachment; beat on lowest speed 3 to 5 minutes. Leave at room temperature if using same day. (If you are staying in the tropics, it is best to put the frosting in the fridge for about 30 minutes before using.) Or store airtight in refrigerator up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature; beat until smooth.

Flower 1


Pink cake 3

22 comments:

  1. Jo, very very pretty cake and I love the colour contrast between the dark chocolate and the pretty pink frosting. LT will approve, I am sure.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy Birthday, Jo! Pretty pink cake!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Birthday Jo:) That's a beautiful cake!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy birthday. This cake is a beautiful way to celebrate.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy Birthday Jo! Lovely pink! My fave colour!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Birthday Jo, the cake is so pretty, I love he light pink color frosting!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You made me tear, Jo. I just want to wish you happiness, not just on your birthday, but everyday. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jo, be strong....Have you heard of the movie called 'P/S: I love you'? You should watch it if you have not....

    The cake looks very pretty and amazing, like usual. Here's wishing you many happy returns of the day, and every other day.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This cake is so lovely. Love the contrast between the chocolate cake and pink icing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy belated birthday, Jo. Your cake is in the exact pink which I adore, very sweet and pastel.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy Birthday Jo. Best wishes to you on this special day. That is a beatiful tribute to LT. God Bless his beautiful soul. Jo stay strong and be happy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy birthday Jo, I love your pink birthday cake and tribute to LT

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Birthday Jo.. Not sure what happened, but hugs to you.

    You've baked a very nice pink cake there!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Belated Birthday!! Sorry to hear about the sad story. Your cake looks so sweet and pretty!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Jo,
    This is truly a very beautiful pink cake. The colour is really very sweet, just like you. Happy birthday.

    ReplyDelete
  16. hey Jo,

    happy belated birthday! thats a lovely birthday cake. nice contrast of dark brown cake layers with pink coloured frosting.

    ReplyDelete
  17. the cake is beautiful!!!! I only have 1 question.... what kind of frosting did you combined the cakes with....

    Thanxxx arfa

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi all, many thanks for your wishes and thoughts. All of you are so sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi arfa, I used a sour cream chocolate ganache and the recipe is posted in my triple chocolate cake as well as the matcha macaron posts. It is a very versatile frosting and left overs can be kept for months in the freezer.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Jo, I'm an ex-colleague of Steven's in KL and he suggested your blog for recipes.
    Would like your permission to try this cake as my son loves chocolate cakes and I have tried two other recipes in the past but yours is the first one that I notice requires one cup of brewed coffee and so much of cocoa powder so it looks very tempting.
    Thank you, and a Happy Chinese New Year to you :)

    ReplyDelete