Devil's food cake.

Monday 30 April 2012





Before I begin my melliferous dwellings on how gorgeously decadent this cake is, please allow me to apologise. As you may be aware, this blog was supposed to be a medium to document my relentless love of not only fashion but also baking and at its inception, I had envisioned that I would bake a weekly array of delicious goods and capture whimsical images of them whilst simultaneously managing not to outgrow my wardrobe. But somehow, the natural evolution of my blog began to emphasise the 'frocks' and less so, 'the other frivolities' and despite my valiant attempt to bake more regularly, life (that is, final year of med school and all its concomitant paperwork) rudely intercepted me at every step. This week, I finally had an excuse to triage baking to the top of my priorities because it was my dear father's birthday ... which was such a relief for my recent baking withdrawals!

But moreover, the cake

I have been an avid fan of David Lebovitz for aeons (his tiramisu and panna cotta recipes are regulars in my repertoire) so when I needed a reliable resolution to my dad's fastidious tastes ("please, not too much sugar Mandy and you know I hate icing!"), I remembered this recipe of his that I had bookmarked a few months ago. The cake itself is technically quite simple (I did have majestic plans to create chocolate lace to embroider the margins but in the end I went for a more minimalist aesthetic) but it is the moist chocolate base swimming in the rich ganache frosting that makes it transcendent. I wish I took a picture of the interiors because it was one of my neatest layering works to date! Definitely a recipe that is kind to any baking skill level and will most certainly please every chocoholic's palate. 

...And my fussy dad's verdict? Well, I think the fact that he ate it for breakfast the next morning is irrefutable proof that it was a raging success. ;) 

Recipe link here

Much love, Mandy. xx

39 comments:

  1. nice!!

    www.live-style20.blogspot.com

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  2. Looks delicious! Have a great week.

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  3. Looks heavenly good...!!!!!!!!!! Too cute to eat :-)

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  4. oh that cake looks amazing! :)

    xx, Hanna
    http://whoishanna.blogspot.com/

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  5. I can only say WOW!! because this is one absolutely wonderful statement cake. I share the love for cooking, btw. unfortunately I have quite few time to bake but when I have the possibility, I always enjoy creating something yummy :) oh, and I would totally love to have a piece of your beautiful masterpiece. raspberries and chocolate are oh so delicious!

    Maiken
    Maikeni blogi - part of me

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  6. Oh Mandy, this looks unbearably delicious. Your photographs are always so stunning! Also, I find it hilarious that your dad ate some for breakfast. Hee. <3

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  7. This is seriously impressive. You did a really wonderful job on this cake and captured it beautifully in pictures. Your dad is a lucky man!

    Loulou

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  8. You are seriously amazing, oh em gee, I was truly lost for words when I first saw this and am speechless once again! This is utter chocolate heaven and finished off to perfection! The small but timely details astound me and you really deserve a pat on the back for icing this so evenly. You could give any 5 star pastry chef a run for their money...

    AMAZEBALLS!
    SDMxx
    http://daringcoco.blogspot.com.au/

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  9. Wow this cake looks delicious! :) Hope your Dad had a happy birthday :)

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  10. That cake looks absolutely, sinfully delicious. :) Yum..

    Hehe I've had plans to show all the things I bake / cook / eat, but often forget to take photos.. or when I do it (the baking or eating + photographing) there's not often any good natural light, and photos end up being somewhat ugly. So I stash them and publish all together some day heh. I completely understand that med school takes huge amount of your days, I can't elieve how you have time to take so lovely outfit photos and blog and comment all of us in such a thoughtful way. You might be a superwoman.


    Thank you for the comment sweetheart. I fell in love with those heels instantly and gave up on them at first, but then I went to the page again to show the pretty pair to my cousin; and they had re-stock ! Woohoo for me, not so much for my wallet ..and wardrobe. But it's ok to have something you dream of every once in a while. :)

    The sun has definitely been shining here today.
    Thank you for the wishes.
    Have a happy May Day ( if you celebrate it :)

    Satu
    Indie by heart

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  11. mmmm yummy cake .....can yougive me a piece of cake
    http://indiaftrends.blogspot.in/

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  12. WHY ARE YOU SO TALENTED. Looks amazingly delish!
    So cute that he ate it for brekkie :)

    x Stace
    tee+fame

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  13. OOOMMMMGGGG!!! This cake looks delicious!! Happy Bday for you Dad ;))

    xoxo from München
    La Vie Quotidienne
    www.laviequo.com

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  14. YUM!!! Need to try some of this!! xx

    www.rachelsfashionpatch.blogspot.com

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  15. This looks absolutely delicious Mandy and happy birthday to your dad! Would definitely also love to see the 'other frivolities' posts in the future! xxx

    http://aurelieandangelo.com/

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  16. This looks só delicious.

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  17. I think this is what they refer to food porn. My goodness that cake looks AMAZING!

    xo Rachel

    www.glamhampton.com

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  18. This looks scrumptious! Your dad must be so happy :)

    xx
    Amanda
    MyCowlick.blogspot.com

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  19. This cake...needs to be in my belly.

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  20. This cake looks very tempting. lol

    I love your blog posts. You have a nice chic sophisticated style. I added your blog to follow :)

    <3 Emi

    www.silverandlemon.com

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  21. OMG..after seeing this cake I'm really hungry. I need a piece of this cake!!

    http://itsnotjustanotherfashionblog.blogspot.it/

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  22. Oh wow! That looks absolutely delicious! I really like your blog, it would be nice if you could stop by my blog sometime too :) :)

    www.raindropsofsapphire.com

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  23. This cake looks AMAZING! I am craving cake right now! Delicious!! xx

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  24. Oh my goodness that looks soo delicious.

    http://www.menacherieblog.com/

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  25. Oh my this looks so pretty and yummy.


    xoxo
    http://www.qhuleque.blogspot.com

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  26. Oh my! I have to stop ogling this cake! It's making my mouth water! Delish! x

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  27. Wow!! That looks delicious!!! Great job! I'm going to have to try the recipe!

    xx
    Giovanna
    www.oliveandanarrow.com

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  28. That's some real talent right there! If you didn't mention that you baked it yourself, I probably would've thought that it was bought from a shop! It looks so so good. You put my baking skills to shame! Though I think if I ever manage to produce something that is anywhere near this materpiece, I'll probably just admire it and wouldn't want to eat it. Haha.
    chimericalperfection.blogspot.com

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  29. Wow!!!! That Looks AMAZING!!! I want eat now!!! :)

    http://estilohedonico.blogspot.pt/

    xoxo

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  30. that cake looks to die for! such perfection too :)
    (just quietly i'm so envious of how perfectly eloquent your writing is - if that doesn't sound too strange! haha )
    jessie x
    the weekend project.

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  31. Oh, I've looked everywhere for the perfect recipe of this cake.. and I'll definitely try this one! :)

    - Victoria
    www.Vickkitas.blogspot.se

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  32. Amazing cake!!!

    yummy!!!

    x0x0

    BarcelonaBrunettes
    www.barcelonabrunettes.com

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  33. Haha, you are missing ED aren't you!
    The idea of you "triaging baking" cracked me up.
    Love Caito x

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  34. looks yummy....
    http://aprettylife13.blogspot.com/

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  35. OMG! you did that cake? Daammnnnn guurrrll you are good! XD
    xoxo

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  36. mhmmmm this cake look so yummy. I think I try this :) Love dark chocolate and rasperry :)
    xoxo. Petra

    http://www.sweetsoflife86.blogspot.com

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