Chestnut Chocolate Cake

Today is my dad's birthday! Ever since I started baking, he's been asking for a chestnut and chocolate cake. He's an excellent, excellent chef and really knows his flavors. This year, I knew that a simple chocolate or vanilla layer cake would definitely not be enough; I wanted something interesting, multi-dimensional, and delicious. My mind turned back to that chestnut and chocolate cake he's been craving, and I decided to surprise him with it.

Caramel Apple Génoise

It's funny how things work out sometimes. Like the fact that my friend P's mom's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, and that we happened to be having the holiday meal with their family. P and I made this surprise birthday cake for her and served it as a Thanksgiving dessert. It felt great to make my first fondant cake, but it felt even better presenting it after dinner and seeing her mom's look of surprise and happiness.

Marhsmallow Fondant Tutorial

Hooray! I said I would do it and here it is. Let's get right down to it, then.

Sonya's Cake: Angel Food Cake with "Lobster Tail" Cream and Sautéed Apples

So, this is not the prettiest cake I've ever made. Admitted. But it does have a story behind it, and it is one of the tastiest cakes I've ever turned out. And that alone makes it worth posting about.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

The whoopie pie trend has been calling my name for a while now, and I've caved. I made this pumpkin version of the cookies for a party at a friend's house last night, and if I hadn't been counting on bringing them along, I'd have eaten the whole batch. They're that good.

THE CAKE IS A LIE!

My friend, cool guy to end all cool guys, recently had a birthday party. After seeing the Pokémon cupcakes I made for another friend's birthday, he requested that I make his birthday cake. The order was very specific: it had to be chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, and it had to be the cake from a video game called Portal. Long story short? My friends are dorks.

Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Picture this: a quiet fall morning, fresh pumpkin gently simmering away on the stove, jugs of milk and cream on the counter, the smell of nutmeg, cinnamon, and home-ground cloves filling the kitchen. Farm-fresh eggs resting on the table and the scent of brown sugar warming the air.