Seriously, baking is beyond just mixing a batter and putting it in the oven.
I was bothered by a shared post in Facebook about a cancelled cake order. The baker got furious because of too much disrespect she got from a customer. The cake was very delicately made, it was actually beautifully decorated, yet the customer returned complaining it's not how they expected it to look like. I was like, seriously? She even lack sleep to finish that last minute orders following lots of their demands.
Earlier @Xzeon requested this Choco-Cherry Cake and I guess this is my chance to also share to you how complicated it is to make.
Some might say "ah, that's simple, you can just do it and this and that then that's it!" NO. It's never an easy peasy thing. Especially if there are a lot of elements on that cake.
Say for example this choco-cherry cake. You might find similar recipes from the Internet but seriously, guys, I didn't copy this from anywhere in the Web. My mind constructed it and a friend suggested me to do it for her son.
This cake has four different elements. The cake, whip frosting, cherry filling and the chocolate drip.
Beforehand, you have to plan a design. Drawing it in a piece of paper and writing labels on which ones to put where can actually help. This is what I always do every time customers would ask for something pretty complicated. This can give you a perspective of your cake.
List down the elements and their ingredients.
Now, we can start baking. 😋😋
This recipe is formulated by me. But if you're too lazy to mix ingredients, you can buy cake mixes in the supermarket. 😁
Choco-cherry cake:
Ingredients
🍰1 cup cherries (chopped)
🍰2 cups all purpose flour
🍰1 cup cocoa powder
🍰2 cups granulated sugar (you can always adjust to lessen the sweetness)
🍰2 tbsp baking powder
🍰 1/4 tsp baking soda
🍰2 pcs eggs
🍰1 cup milk
🍰1 cup vegetable oil
🍰1 cup very hot water
🍰2 tbsp cherry syrup
Procedure:
🍰Preheat oven at 150 C
🍰Sift all dry ingredients together and combine in a mixing bowl.
🍰Add the egg, vegetable oil, cherry syrup and milk. Mix until evenly combined.
🍰Pour hot water. This makes the chocolate cake moist so it is important that it's hot. Mix again until incorporated.
🍰Fold in chopped cherries.
🍰Transfer in a rectangular baking pan that measures about 8"x 12" or 10"x 14".
🍰Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Tip: The moment you place the cake in the oven, start working on the other elements to save your time.
Let's start with the cherry filling as it needs longer time to cool.
Ingredients:
🍒1 cup cherries (quartered)
🍒1/2 cup of its syrup
🍒1/4 cup granulated sugar
🍒1/4 cup corn starch
Procedure:
🍒Combine all ingredients in a saucepan
🍒Cook over low heat while constantly stirring mixture
🍒Continue stirring until color is translucent and thick (jam like) consistency is achieved
🍒Set aside to cool.
Chocolate Ganache Drip
🍫1 cup dark chocolate chips
🍫1/2 cup hot heavy cream or hot milk
🍩Pour hot cream/milk over chocolate and mix until combined and has a thick consistency. Add more chocolate if it's too runny. Allow to cool.
Whip Frosting
🧁1 cup Whip cream paste
🧁9 tbsp cold water
🥧Cream the paste for 3-5 minutes using your electric mixer.
🥧Add 3 tablespoons of cold water and continue beating on high until volume is doubled.
🥧Add 3 tablespoons of cold water every 3 minutes. The whipped cream will continue to double. You'll know it is done when it's stiff and doesn't fall off from your mixing bowl.
Tip : you can use any instant whipping cream for baking that doesn't need water. Do not use all purpose cream.
Assemble the cake 🎂
🎂Cut the cake in your desired shape. Remember that the cake must cool down before you start frosting them.
🎂I cut a shallow hole in the center of the cake but this is optional.
🎂Coat and neatly cover the cake with whipped cream frosting.
🎂Carefully and slowly pour chocolate ganache on top of the cake. Slightly push the ganache to the edges with small spatula or spoon to drip.
🎂Add cherry filling on the center top. The reason I cut a shallow hole is to make the filling form or follow the shape of the cake.
🎂Arrange whole cherries in the center.
🎂Follow the design on your drawing.
This is how a single cake can be time consuming. It needs time management and patience. There are many times that you will not exactly get the right consistency and so you have to do it all over again.
Some would say fondant decorated cakes, are so simple because you just need to mold it like clay yet it's too expensive. Truth is, it has the most exhausting procedure. You will have to prepare the fondant ahead of time. The kneading and molding is never as easy as molding a play doh.
So I hope people out there who thinks that cakes are simple. It is not. Skill and craftsmanship with full determination is the key to a good looking cake. Mine isn't even as presentable as the others. 😂😅
Hope you get the recipe @Xzeon 😉
Nice article