Let's talk about cake

[pineapplebryanbrown]

Not pies or tarts, only cakes.

I've given this a lot if thought and have decided the best cake is coffee and walnut without walnuts and with an enormous amount of buttercream icing.

I've just had some Victoria sponge and it was better than nothing but no icing.

Oh this is my thread. I love cake. All (good) cake. There is nothing more disappointing than bad cake. It can actually make me quite angry.
I live in Germany and we have amazing cake shops here. One time when my late mum visited me we made it our mission to find the best cake in the area...we got through a LOT of cake in that week :)

I'm not sure that I've ever knowingly had coffee and walnut, so I think I will make that tomorrow. Can anyone recommend a good recipe?

The tea room I'm just back from charges £3.50 per slice. We're there so often that I ask for "generous" slices. Was carrot cake with a lot of cream cheese icing today. Mum had a slice too and she scraped off the cream cheese. I wanted to eat hers but she was watching me because I am fat. I'm sure you are all incredulous that I am fat.

Saw these for sale in Booths in the Lake District. Definitely the brainchild is a genius 4 cakes in one. Truly having your cake and eating it

Colin the Caterpillar - yummy

Walnuts are apparently good for your brain so coffee and walnut cake is a health food 😉

thigh it was a loaf shape and seemed like it was made of different chunks of cake shmooshed together, each chunk having been soaked in a different type of jam. Sort of like a battenburg created by Picasso. It was beautifully moist, fruity and juicy without being soggy. No icing or other peripheries required.

The effect was kind of tie-dye sponge.

In looking for a pic for thigh, I finally seem to have found something just like it (google image throws up all sorts not like this).

Thanks for this thread!!

Just discovered a new one. Lemon sponge cake with a coffee buttercream topping. Sounds strange but was a lovely combination!

Do you have Avoca cafes in the UK ?
Their cakes are to die for but the helpings are too big ( and expensive).
Their food is delish.
I know there are lots in Ireland and there is one in Belfast.
It's a lifestyle store. Full of stuff you never knew you needed but now want.

I'm not wild about Victoria sponge either. Or lemon drizzle.

My problem is that DH is not very adventurous when it comes to cake, and his favourites are... Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle. And he doesn't even LIKE chocolate cake. Wtf?? Also, he sometimes buys mr kipling

My favourites are:
Coffee cake
Carrot cake
Ginger cake with buttercream filling
Bara brith
Bakewell slice

onalongsabbatical
What recipe did you use for the chocolate cherry cake please. It looks yummy.
Is that cream or melted white chocolate dribbling down ?

Angry at bad cake - Yes!

I had a slice of cake in Costa last week and it wasn't great. Felt rather miffed. Lesson learnt.

Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

Bad cake is such a wasted opportunity. I fear there's quite a lot of it about.

I am torn between feel sad for, and disappointed in people that provide anything less than their best cake. It's such a betrayal.

I could make more of a profit on mine if I used much less buttercream, or lemon flavour rather than fresh lemons etc. I just can't bring myself to do it.

Bad cake... I refuse to eat shop cake or chain coffee shop cake. It's aways a disappointment. Or maybe not always, but 90% of the time, and that's enough for me to boycott it.

Bad cake gives me the absolute rage! Now I’m older and wiser (and put on weight more easily) I often have no cake rather than risk bad cake...

helena me too, 100%! Quality over quantity every time. Especially when it comes to cake.

@beanaseireann just seen your request! Here it is! Here’s the recipe but I played around with it, as far as I can remember I didn’t bother with the ganache, I subbed vegan marge for the sunflower oil but you could use butter if you're not doing vegan, I made two layers not 3 – top layer smaller which is why it’s hat-shaped. I sandwiched the two layers together with good quality cherry jam and the cherries are from a tin, stones removed, and the white stuff is oat cream but if you’re not serving it to a vegan knock yourself out with cream, why not! Instead of ganache I just melted good dark choc and poured it over with the cherries and the oat cream. For a vegan gluten-free cake it was fab, but it’s be fab anyway. Easy to make it not gluten-free just use ordinary flour and no xanthan. Enjoy!

Vegan Ganache:
• 350 g (12.5oz) vegan dark chocolate (40-70% cocoa solids. Or use half dark and half milk chocolate) chopped

• 350 ml (1 1/2 cups) full fat coconut milk

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake:
• 360 ml (1 1/2 cups) almond or soy milk

• 1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar

• 260 g (1 1/4 cups) caster (superfine) sugar

• 150 ml (scant 2/3 cup) sunflower oil

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 230 g (scant 2 cups) plain (all-purpose) gluten-free flour plus xanthan
• 80 g (2/3 cup) cocoa powder (Dutch processed)

• 3/4 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

• 1/4 tsp salt

You simply whisk together the wet ingredients, sift together the dry, then mix the two together and bake.

1. Start by making the ganache; place the chopped chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Heat the coconut milk until it is just boiling then pour it over the chocolate.
2. Set aside for 2 minutes then stir until smooth and the chocolate is completely melted. Cover and place in the fridge for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, while you make the cake.
3. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease three 15cm/6inch round tins and line the bases with baking parchment (or use two 20cm/8inch tins instead).
4. Whisk together the almond/soy milk and vinegar in a large jug; the milk should curdle slightly. Whisk in the sugar, oil and vanilla extract.
5. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking p, bicarb soda and salt.
6. Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth; be careful not to over-mix. Divide the batter evenly between the tins and bake for about 30 minutes.
7. Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 30 minutes then carefully turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely (they are delicate so be gentle). If you are making them a day in advance, wrap in clingfilm once cool.
8. To assemble the cake, place one of the layers on a serving plate/cake stand. The ganache should be thick but spreadable, if it is too runny still then return it to the fridge until it is firm, or pop it in the freezer for a bit to speed up the process. If it is too thick then gently warm it over a pan of hot water until it has softened.
9. Spread a third of the ganache over the first cake layer and place another cake on top, spread over another third of the ganache and repeat. Decorate as you see fit - with fresh berries, vegan chocolates, candied nuts etc. Because there is no sweetener added to the ganache, make sure that the chocolate that you use isn't too dark and bitter, otherwise the ganache will be inedible. Go for around 40% cocoa solids if you prefer a sweeter, less intense flavour; and 70% if you want a richer, less sweet ganache. You can also use half dark and half (dairy free) milk chocolate for a less rich flavour.

I agree about quality.
Best butter, really good eggs, proper vanilla. The better the ingredients, the better the cake.

Thank you onalongsabbatical

Does anyone have a recipe for coffee and walnut cake that doesn't require two baking tins. I only have one and don't want to buy another. I wouldn't mind putting it in a loaf tin if that works. Thank you, you've all given me a craving because I've never had it before.

Aldi - www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/primrose-bakerys-coffee-walnut-loaf-a-recipe-for-london-coffee-festival-10216788.html

My favourite cakes are:

Orange cake
Lemon drizzle
Lardy cake
Pineapple upside down
Galette des rois

and strangely, for I dislike both coffee and walnuts, the coffee and walnut that our butcher down the road sells.

Just to keep this thread alive, because it brings me joy... I’ve got blueberry muffins in the oven. My house smells lovely and the cold, ice, food shop, work etc can just do one!