Tuesday 19 March 2013

Varun's 21st Birthday Cake

As the name suggests, we made this cake for Varun's 21st birthday. Both of us are born in February, the month of strawberries! We went to the Aundh Fruit Market in Pune; and the first thing I saw was a large basket full of juicy, luscious strawberries! In Ahmedabad; I have only ever seen strawberries in tiny little boxes with huge price tags. This was a lovely surprise.

This cake is incredibly chocolaty, but it doesn't feel very heavy because the chocolate is countered by the tang of the strawberries. Chocolate and strawberries have always gone together; this is yet another way to reach that sweet heaven!


Ingredients –
·         200g Sugar
·         5 Eggs
·         300g Flour
·         150g Cocoa
·         2 tsp Baking Powder
·         ½ tsp Baking Soda
·         200g Butter
·         ½ cup Water, recently boiled
·         300g Dark Cooking Chocolate
·         2 tsp Icing Sugar

Beat 150g butter and the sugar in a bowl until it is pale and fluffy (do not melt the butter over the stove). Whisk the eggs in one at a time.

Sieve the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda a couple of times on a piece of newspaper or a bowl. This will help your cake to be light and airy.

Gently fold the flour and cocoa mixture into the eggs mixture. Once it is almost mixed through; add the water and stir to get a smooth batter. Pour the batter into a greased baking dish and bake in an oven pre-heated to 170C for about 40 minutes; or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack.

Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once the chocolate has melted, take the bowl out of the water and allow it to cool slightly.

Beat the remaining 50g of butter until it is light and pale. Pour the melted, cooled chocolate over the butter and vigorously beat until you have a smooth, glossy icing.

Keep a few strawberries aside for garnishing, and chop the remaining into small cubes. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of icing sugar on top.

Slice the cake in two horizontally (the easiest way is to tie a piece of thread around the cake and pull it through). Spread one-third of the chocolate icing all over one part, and cover it with the chopped strawberries. Place the other part of the cake on top and gently push down. Spread the remaining icing all over the top and sides of the cake. You can arrange a few slices of strawberries on top for garnishing. 





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