STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

making/transporting a chocolate cake?

dot · Marc Jacobs

go to the baking store on 22nd street b/t 6th & 5th ave (closer to 6th). they sell boxes and all that good stuff. i would get one of those cardboard discs and assemble/decorate the cake on that. that makes it easy to transfer to a box. also they will have cute stuff if you want to decorate the cake.

also i bought this cake holder tupperware thing at target (they may also sell it at kmart), but i make alot cakes. it may be a waste of space if you're not making cakes often.

pm me if you have any other baking needs questions!

make a chocolate cake with buttermilk. those are the tastiest! i have a modified version of the magnolia bakery recipe that i use. i think the whole cake ends up using like 2lbs of butter. ridiculous! but tasty.

-- Edited by dot at 14:43, 2005-06-16

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

yum, two lbs of butter! now that sounds good. i work in that area but didn't know there was a baking shop! thanks so much, i'll go there tomorrow.

edit: yes, please post that recipe!

-- Edited by scarlett at 15:33, 2005-06-16

ILoveChoo · Hermes

dot wrote:

i have a modified version of the magnolia bakery recipe that i use. i think the whole cake ends up using like 2lbs of butter. ridiculous! but tasty

um, you need to post this recipe. (and no, that is not a question

)

dot · Marc Jacobs

ILoveChoo wrote:

dot wrote:
i have a modified version of the magnolia bakery recipe that i use. i think the whole cake ends up using like 2lbs of butter. ridiculous! but tasty
um, you need to post this recipe. (and no, that is not a question )

hahaha, okay i will definitely post as soon as i get home. it's good.......
it also ages well. it's very moist and gets softer and more delicious on the second day. weird to say that about a cake.

cc · Marc Jacobs

I have transported tons of cakes around NYC, but I usually wind up taking a cab. As long as it isn't too big you should be ok on the subway.

Definitely check out that baking store - it's such a great place - but you could also just hunt around for a good piece of corrugated cardboard and an appropriately sized box.

In terms of keeping it safe, I generally try to wait to assemble the layers and ice the cake until I've reached my destination but that might not be a good option in your case.

I have had success with putting the cake on a round of cardboard or on a big piece of wax paper over a rectangular piece of cardboard (makes it easy to life and move the cake when you need to) and then after the icing has set gently wrapping a piece of wax paper around the sides to protect them. Then I carefully take the cake and lower it into a box by holding onto the cardboard or wax paper underneath it. Finally I surround the sides of the cake with something to prevent it from sliding - bubble wrap or even smushed up plastic bags.

Oh also rather than trying to lift the cake back out of the box when you get there, it is much easier to simply cut the sides of the box and flatten them so you can just slide the cake right out.

You can always bring a bit of extra icing and your spatula to do any touch-ups once you arrive.

HTH!

-- Edited by cc at 16:22, 2005-06-16

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

Buy the cake container dot suggested. You will use it tons over the years, and it is great as a huge tupperware container when turned upside down. I use mine for pasta salad and such for family reunions. They also make a lift so that you can stack cupcakes for transport. And, I have found mine especially useful to keep my holiday cookies fresh (but I do make about 7 kinds, so I need a big container for the ones I don't give away.)

Anyway, they are cheap and very useful, and would solve your transport problem.

-gd

I had another thought. You may want to frost the whole thing there, at the party. That way if it is warm, the frosting wont sweat and look icky.

-- Edited by greendiamond at 17:39, 2005-06-16

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I have a killer choco pecan pie recipe but no killer choco cake recipes. I third or fourth that tupperware container. You can use it for a lot of things besides cakes.

dot · Marc Jacobs

Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks unsalted butter softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed l. brown sug.
4 large eggs (room temp or not just straight out of the fridge... it works better at room temp with the butter)
6 oz unsweetened chocolated melted
1 cup buttermilk (you can reduce the butter to 3/4 and add about 1/2 to 3/4 cup sour cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla

mix flour, baking soda in bowl set aside

cream butter & sugars, then add eggs one at a time, then add melted chocolate (make sure it's cooled) Then add dry ingredients in 3 parts alternating withbuttermilk, sour cream if you chose, and then finally vanilla.

Divde batter into to parts. Place into 2 9" round pans lined with parchment and well greased. (I usually wipe the pans with the wax paper the butter is wrapped with). Place in a preheated 350 oven. Bake for 25-35 minutes (until cake tester comes out clean). Remove from oven and let completely cool before assembling.

This cake is SUPER DUPER moist so make sure it's cool.. otherwise it might break.

Chocolate Buttercream

2 sticks unsalted butter softened
buttermilk (to desired texture - you won't need more than 1/4 cup probably much less)
6 oz semisweet chocolate melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 small boxes of confectioner's sugar

I never know how much sugar I actually use.. but I definitely use at least one box.

Cream butter, add chocolate, add vanilla, add sugar and then add buttermilk.. keep switching between sugar and buttermilk until you reach the desired consistency!

Sorry girls it was only a 1lb of butter! :( Sorry to disappointment.

I swear I thought it was more because when I made this my friends were trying to figure out how many tablespoons were in a slice. It's still decadent I swear!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

you girls gave great advice -- thank you! i am off to the cake store and will get one of those tupperware containers. it sounds really useful.

dot, that cake sounds very delicious and decadent. i can't wait to try making it.

lsubatgirl, i love pecan pie, so if you ever want to post your recipe for chocolate pecan pie, i'd be psyched.

dot · Marc Jacobs

how did the transportation go?