Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Checkerboard Cake with Chocolate Ganache ~ Yet another monthly b'day bake

Whoever said that time flies like in the blink of an eye, they were so right. It was just as if yesterday we were blessed with a baby boy and now its been a quick 11 months. These 11 months has been a journey to die for. I still remember those pinky winky toes and just before memories start fading slowly, he has stood up by self and started taking those first baby steps and not to forget that million dollar 2-teeth smile.

I still remember the days when he sleep-laughed, that cute little black eyes blinking with pure innocence recognizing only his mom ~ the life of a mother is a blessed one. Never did I know that someone laughing would make you cry. That innocent look and sugar-coated laugh sends me to happy tears.

He is one curious kid, the sound of mixie makes him crawl at full speed and he has to see the way dosas are being cooked, he even reminds us when the dosa needs to be turned. He loves playing with onions and oranges rather than balls and ben10s and investigating whats inside the refrigerator is one of the many he enjoys. On the whole, he loves being in the kitchen.

I took a week off from office just to have a break and so thought of trying something different. That is when this checkered cake struck me. I enjoyed baking the cake and putting the pieces together, just like a jigsaw puzzle. Needs some math but once u get the hang of it, you will be hooked to it. It takes you back to school days, using the scale, compass and then comes calculating the radius and diameter ~it was a great experience altogether.

~*What U Need*~
For the Vanilla Cake
Adapted from BakingBites
All purpose flour - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Butter - 1/4 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup + 2tbsp
Egg - 1
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp(skip if using salted butter)

For the Chocolate Cake
Adapted form FoodandWine
Alll purpose flour - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp(skip if using salted butter)
Sugar - 1 cup
Bittersweet chocolate - 2 oz/56 gms
Butter - 3 tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
Egg - 1

Vanilla buttercream frosting
Butter - 1/4 cup
Icing sugar/confectioner's sugar - 1 cup
Milk - 1/2 tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp

Chocolate ganache:
Dark chocolate - 1/2 cup
Cream - 1/4 cup

How I Made it:
Vanilla cake:

Preheat oven to 175C. Grease and flour a round cake tin. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in egg and then add the vanilla extract. Stir in half of the flour mixture, followed by the milk. Fold in gently the remaining flour mixture.

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate cake:
Preheat the oven to 175°C. Grease and and flour a round cake tin. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a saucepan, combine the sugar with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Add the chocolate and butter and let sit for 5 mins. Whisk till chocolate has melted and evenly combined. Stir in the vanilla, allow to cool slightly.

Beat the egg into the chocolate mixture at medium speed until combined. Whisk this mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk till evenly incorporated or beat at medium speed. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 25-30 mins until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for 5 mins and then invert onto a rack to cool completely.

Vanilla Buttercream frosting:
Bring the butter to room temperature. Beat till smooth. Add the vanilla extract and beat. Add the sugar and beat till combined smoothly. Add the milk and bring to desired consistency. Use to frost.

Chocolate ganache:
Heat cream. Remove from flame, pour over the chopped chocolate. Let stand for 5 mins. Then whisk till smooth and shiny. Reserve and set aside.

Assembling the cake:
It needs some math. So first measure the width of ur pan right in the middle. Divide such that u get 4 circles and as many cake layers you need of equal radius. Now cut the paper by the outer circle. Trim the top of the cake. Place the circle on the cake aligning the paper with the cake. Slice the inner circle. Repeat for the other cake. Now cut off the next circle in the paper. Place it on the cake and slice. Repeat the same process for other cake till you get 3x2 flavored cakes. Apply butter cream on the inner sides. Place alternate flavoured rings and arrange as shown. Once the base layer is done, apply a layer of butter cream on top and place the second layer on it. Give a coating of chocolate ganache and then decorate as desired.

Slice and serve!!!

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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41 comments:

  1. Wow, wow, just too good, a perfect cake for the celebration, appreciate your illustrative clicks.

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  2. OMG ! super cake.... Perfectly done with self explanatory clicks....
    http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

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  3. So delicious and chocolaty cake!! Happy celebration!
    http://www.rita-bose-cooking.com/

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  4. Cake looks so delicious..loved the post!!

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  5. That is a lengthy effort...but the end result is simply awsome:)

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  6. Best wishes to your baby! Cake looks well done!

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  7. looks really awesome, vinitha... kids do grow up really fast... :)

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  8. Splendid work.. u shd hv invited me home for this cake.. too good..

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  9. Pretty cake and good instructions. Congratulations to you and your son on his first birthday :)

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  10. it awesome to see squares when you cut the cake.looks so good.

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  11. Totally agree with u vimitha on how little angels bring glory to our lives. Am a mother of 3,but still feels as excited as a first time mom at times watching them. The cake luks awesomed and very well explained.

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  12. wow.. thats an interesting cake.. :)

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  13. Even i remember, my daughter did almost the same as ur lil dumpling,she loves being in kitchen too..Enjoy thoroughly these moments Vimi..Cake looks fantabulous, love to have a huge slice anytime.

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  14. The cake looks wonderful...Happy 11th month birthday to your lil one..soon he will complete a year..:)

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  15. Your monthly celebrations remind me of my sweet day on the blog,where every 24 of the month I post something sweet to celebrate the spirit of the day my angel was born. Loved the impeccable icing on the amazing checker board .

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  16. my god now this is lot of work
    need to learn to make this

    too good

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  17. Wow!! cake looks so perfect n well explained...

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  18. awesome cake with beautiful decoration...i dont how you manage this blog with your 11 mon old kid..you deserve a big applause...

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  19. The cake looks awesome and I like the decoration, very elegant..

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  20. At first glance i thought its store bought,but i'm so wrong.. This is homemade,wow,you rock :)
    Enjoy your break :)

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  21. wow superb cake dear.. like the decoration..

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  22. Beautifully done Vimitha, appreciate your step by step clicks.

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  23. Awesome cake. You have lot of patience.

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  24. Yummy cake..perfectly made:-) yep,my 19 months old is doing the samething..she is happy when she is in kitchen..she loves to be with me when I prepare dosa..

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  25. It looks so perfect sister,well explained ..

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  26. Baby's 11th month cake! And a beauty it is, particularly the way you frosted it. I'm going to "pin" this post in my cake favorites, Vimitha, so I can easily find it in the future. Happy 11 months to the little guy.

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  27. Wow perfect cake dear,great job,wish I could have a slice too :)

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  28. Lovely cake.. this reminds me it's been ages since I made this checkered cake.

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  29. Cake looks beautiful.. Checkerboard pattern has come out wonderfully..

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  30. beautiful cake and kids do grow up fast.

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  31. gorgeous cake, and gorgeous story of motherhood Vimitha! May you be blessed with many more months and years of happy tears and laughter:-)

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  32. You did an excellent job creating this checkerboard cake. Irresistible!

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  33. Wow..perfectly done cake...Loved it..

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  34. wow it makes me hungry now.. delicious cake..

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  35. wow it looks so gorgeous dear... hope ur lil master too enjoyed it...

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  36. sooper cake... :)Brilliant job behind.. :)
    http://enelm.blogspot.de/

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