Chocolate Cake

When I asked my friend Daniela what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday party she said: "You know, what I like most of all is just a simple chocolate cake!" So I scanned my cookbooks for a good recipe and I stumbled upon one that I had marked with a post-it a long time ago. My friend over at Mainly Cake even declared this cake as "the best chocolate cake ever" so I finally had to give this one a try.

 

A word about the decoration: Daniela likes it kitschy and the duckies have something to do with her nickname so I thought this cake looked perfect for her birthday ;-)

And here comes the recipe (which is really easy by the way. A good one for baking beginners!)
(Original recipe in German at Annemarie Wildeisen's Kochen)

 

200g butter
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
200g ground almonds 
200g brown sugar
1 packet of vanilla sugar / 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 pinch of salt 
4 eggs
3 tablespoons flour 
0.5 packet baking powder

Line a springform pan (about 26cm diameter) with parchment paper and butter the side. Preheat the oven to 160°C.

Put chocolate and butter in a bowl and melt slowly over a hot water bath. 

Take away from the water bath and add sugar, vanilla sugar, salt and almonds. Mix well, then scramble the eggs together and add to the chocolate-mix as well. Finally, add flour and baking powder. Quickly mix everything and immediately pour into your springform pan and bake for about 45 - 50 minutes.

Check whether the cake is done with a skewer. It should come out clean, otherwise, bake for a few more minutes. The cake should be a little creamy on the inside even when cooled completely.

When the cake is cool, either sprinkle with icing sugar or glaze with chocolate and decorate as you wish. 

This cake keeps in the fridge for a few days. 

Winter Wonderland

First snow came down last week... I'm not a particular fan of winter but still, as a cake and cookie lover, you got to love this time of the year... I have already made a list of cookies I want to bake and I can't wait to bake "Grittibänz" and gingerbread!

Yesterday morning, while the sun was still shining, I went for a walk in the Irchelpark. Look how beautiful it was...

I know, I know, these photos don't have much to do with cake but I liked them so much that I wanted to share them with you!

And no worries guys, I baked an amazing chocolate cake this weekend and of course, I will not deprive you of the recipe! Soon to come...

Chocolate Chip Scones

I'm back!

This morning, after a night of muuuch too little sleep I got up and decided I had to do something to get my mind off my final paper for university... and then suddenly, I knew exactly what I was craving: Scones! It's not only that I just LOVE scones, but also they are so easy and quick to make. Perfect for me right now since I still have to take good care of my poor wrist.

Lucky me, the weather today is so stunning that I was able to take some nice pictures in the sunlight out on my balcony.

Chocolate Chip Scones
(from: Leila Lindholm - Piece of Cake)

450g plain flour
0.5 teaspoon salt
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
40g brown sugar
125g cold butter
100g dark chocolate, chopped
1 egg
200ml milk

plus
one more egg (lightly beaten) and a little brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 250°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Combine flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Cut butter into pieces and rub into the flour mixture with your fingers. Mix the egg and the milk and add this to the flour mixture. Also add chocolate chips and combine to a dough.

Place the dough onto a surface sprinkled with a little flour and flatten it until it's about 3cm thick. Cut it into triangle pieces (or you can also use a big round cookie cutter).

Place the scones onto your baking tray. Brush with the egg and sprinkle some brown sugar onto them. Bake for about 10 minutes (I usually have to give them a little more time).

World turned upside-down

What is going on?! Lately it seems that everyone is baking but me...

Yesterday, I was at a birthday party and our birthday girl and style expert Giorgia handed out homemade muffins as a give-away... (they were delicious by the way...)

Today, my friend Daniela happily announced that tonight, she's going to bake a cheesecake... Up until recently, all Daniela baked - if she baked at all - was convenience blend brownies from Migros...

Don't get me wrong, I am glad that my pals finally discovered the joy of baking but still... I am a little jealous :-)

Happy to report though that my wrist is getting better day by day. I hardly ever have to wear the brace anymore... and I am already thinking about what I could bake next weekend...