Making a "Chocolate Lovers Cake"

Today I made an anniversary cake for a customer whose wedding cake I also made a year ago. The wedding cake was actually a small 2 tier chocolate lovers cake with pink roses. The anniversary cake I did today was an 8 inch round chocolate lovers with pink roses. 

As I was decorating the cake today, I decided to take some pictures, so you could see how I put one of my chocolate lovers cakes together, so this blog post will be a tutorial...

My chocolate lovers cake consists of

• moist chocolate cake
• fudge filling
• chocolate buttercream frosting
• dark chocolate ganache

Bake the cake the night before so it is not too fresh to decorate. Remember, I never freeze my cakes because I believe it makes a difference in the way they taste.

Make the fudge filling and chocolate buttercream...

Fudge filling

Chocolate buttercream frosting

Remove parchment paper liner from one layer of cake and place on cake board the same size as the cake. Level off the cake and slice layer in half with a cake saw or large knife. Remove top half of layer and set aside.

Pipe an "icing dam" around bottom part of layer with chocolate buttercream. Do this using only a coupler in the decorating bag without attaching a tip. This will keep the filling intact. Also, it helps to keep your cake level. 

Fill inside the icing dam with fudge filling.

Position top half of layer, add icing dam, and fill with chocolate buttercream.

Level next layer, and position upside down on top of first layer. Remove parchment liner, and split layer in half.

Repeat same as for bottom layer, adding icing dam and fudge filling.

Replace top of layer over filling, which is actually the flat bottom of the cake. You should now have a nice flat cake, ready to be iced with chocolate buttercream.

Ice cake with chocolate buttercream and let set while making the ganache.

Position wire cooling rack over turntable, and place the cake on the rack. I like to use a turntable, so that you can turn the cake while applying the ganache to make sure all the sides are being covered. I like the Oxo turntable because it has sides on it that allows the ganache to settle under the cake without flowing over the edge. 

Chocolate ganache consists of heavy whipping cream and dark cocoa candy melts. Heat the cream until hot but not boiling. Add the candy melts and stir until smooth.

Pour ganache over cake and allow to drip through cooling rack. Carefully turn turntable to make sure all sides are being covered. Allow ganache to set up before moving to covered cake board.

After ganache has set, move to cake board and decorate as desired.

Whip up remaining ganache slightly as it cools, allowing it to firm up enough to put in a decorating bag with tip to pipe borders, flowers, etc. I usually do all of the decorations in the chocolate ganache.

Finished cake...serve with tall glass of ice cold milk...yum!

Mini wedding cake for special couple...

Our friends, Sheila and Kim Cope were celebrating their 35th anniversary today. When they got married, Sheila flew out to Germany to meet Kim without any family. They first got married in Germany, which was required by the German government, and then were sealed in the Swiss LDS temple the following day. They never had much of a reception, and definitely no wedding cake. So, when I heard their story, I felt that they needed a wedding cake, even though small, for their 35th. So here is the cake, along with a picture of the cute couple. Sheila's favorite color is red, and since I don't like to use red icing decorations on my wedding cakes, I added red ribbon and fresh red roses from my garden. Happy Anniversary, Sheila and Kim! May you have many more.

Anniversary cakes...and interesting story...this is a first!

I offer an anniversary cake option to my wedding cake customers. Normally, when they order a tiered wedding cake, I do not charge them for the top tier-it is just included in the cost. I also give them the option, however, to pay for the top tier, and then I include a coupon which entitles them to a free anniversary cake for their first anniversary. Many brides prefer this option so they can have a fresh cake for their anniversary. It also means they don't have to use up extra storage space in the freezer. Some more traditional brides still opt out for saving the top tier. So anyway, this next story that I'm about to relay is very interesting to say the least, and a definite first time for me. . .

About 2 weeks ago I received a call from a customer whose wedding cake I had designed a year ago. He said he was calling to order the anniversary cake that he received the coupon for. Then he informed me that he had filed for divorce, and that because his mother paid for the cake, that he would like to order the cake for his mother and himself. He also warned me that his "soon to be X-wife" would possibly call to order a cake also and I should just refuse because his mother was the one that paid for the cake. I let him know that I thought that would most likely not happen. So, then I could hear him having a discussion with his mother in the background about what flavor they wanted to order and when he would like to pick it up. It was agreed that he would pick the cake up last Thursday evening...I would call when the cake was ready. When the cake was finished, I called the customer, and he informed me that he would not be able to pick up the cake that night, but would have to wait until the following evening to pick up the cake. I told him it would not be as fresh, but I would put it in the refrigerator, and he could call before he came. So, here it is late Sunday night-or early Monday morning-and the cake is still sitting in the refrigerator. Bruce will take it to work to share with his co-workers this morning. They will love it, even though it is no longer fresh. And no, I will not do another cake for this inconsiderate customer. Hmm...I wonder why this marriage didn't last.