TWD: Dark-Chocolate Mini Heart Cake Filled with Chocolate Covered Raspberries

 
 

I was really excited to see that Kristin of I'm Right About Everything chose Milk Chocolate Mini-Bundt Cakes for this week's TWD mainly for one reason: it gave me an excuse to by a new cake pan. 

Unfortunately, I am never able to stick to the plan when it comes to shopping for food, cooking, or baking supplies. 

I often beg Jack to come to the supermarket with me whenever I need to go food shopping.  But Jack, who often works 70-80 hour weeks, could think of a million other things he'd rather do with his free time.  I try to explain that I need someone to reign me in. Someone to tell me that I don't need to buy the guava flavored panda bears that I will never eat because I don't eat candy but feel that I HAVE to have because they interesting, and really, who wouldn't eat guava flavored panda bear gummies (besides me because, you guessed it... I don't eat candy)? 

I go in with a list of four things, I come out spending over $100.

So when I went down to the Baker's Supply store on 6th Avenue and 23rd Street, I had two things in mind:  heart shaped cookie cutters for Valentine's Day and a mini-bundt pan.  One hour and much-more-money-than-I-wanted-to-spend later, I walked out with 3 different sparkling sugars, colored gels, a mini-heart-shaped springform pan, fleur de lis and horseshoe cookie cutters (for the Super Bowl) and a football cake pan (again for the super-bowl).  What was missing?

Heart shaped cookie cutters and a mini-bundt pan. 

This is why, my friends, you see this mini-cake before you.  I made some slight changes to the recipe.  The original cake recipe called for milk chocolate as opposed to dark (I'm a chocolate snob and milk chocolate tastes like nothing to me) and cocoa-covered walnuts swirled throughout the batter. I hate nuts in cakes and brownies so that is a double no for me. Instead, I dropped chocolate covered raspberries in the batter and baked away. 

I then frosted the cake with a raspberry buttercream frosting, covered it with my fondant and rolled the cake in a bit of sanding sugar.

The cake was good, but I think it was because of my changes (toot, toot to my own horn). I liked the deep chocolate flavor that the other TWDers said the cake was lacking because of the milk chocolate, and the bits of gooey chocolate covered raspberries added a nice surprise and definitely played a part in the moistness of the cake which, otherwise, was a tad dry. The raspberry buttercream added a nice sweetness and smooth texture, while the marshmallowy fondant (which I love) and the sanding sugar added some playful textural contrast. 

Overall, it was a fun cake to make, although I probably won't use this recipe again.  And for some reason, I must be cursed because none of my other photos will upload!  I shake my fist at you, Typepad blogging platform! 

 Check out the rest of TWD and check out Kristin's site for the recipe! 

Comments

[Jennifer]

Oh good heavens....*SWOON*

[Tracey]

Wow, you really outdid yourself with this one Teanna. You should have saved this cute little cake to serve to Jack on Valentine's Day :)

I avoid baking stores for exactly the reasons you mentioned!

[sarah]

I am definitely the same when shopping. sigh. your "bundt" cakes look lovely!

[Carol Peterman]

Adorable! It seems like the consensus is that this recipe is a bit dry, but if it looks like yours who would care! Sounds like a successful shopping trip to me.

[Marthe]

I love how you always manage to tweak each recipe for TWD and create something unique!

[Kelly D]

The baking store is such temptation. You can spend a fortune without trying anything on. love it. Love the idea of raspberries, too.

[Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)]

I have the SAME problem.. I always go to the store with a very little amount of money in my hand, and no cards, EVER!! The cake looks really cute, great choice with thte raspberries!

[Kristen]

I have the same problem--walk in needing 1 thing and come out with 10. Your tweaks are all really great. Thanks for baking with me this week!

[Mansi]

OMG!! that's heaven in every bite! lovely recipe, and beautiful pic!!:)

This would be perfect for the Valentine special giveaway I'm hosting on my blog, if you'd be kind enough to participate!:)

http://www.funandfoodcafe.com/2010/02/valentine-super-bowl-recipe-carnival.html

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So cute cake it looks so delicious to eat,i love it. Keep posting guys!

vee

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Two favorites, chocolate and raspberries! It shocks me when I hear some People do not like cake. They need a nice slice.
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