Tuesday, March 3, 2009

TWD - Chocolate Brandy Cake


This week, Tuesday with Dorie is hosted by Lyb of And then I do the dishes. She has chosen a reicpe that I have wanted to make for a long time - Dorie's Chocolate Armagnac Cake or The Cake That Got Me Fired!

This cake is a rich, dark chocolate sensation, and is very grown-up tasting - it would be perfect for any dinner party. I made my cake with prunes flamed in brandy (in place of armagnac), and almond meal instead of pecan nut meal.

OMG - this cake is soooooooooooo good. I was a little scared of flaming the fruit, but I need not have worried - the alcohol only managed a low blue flame which was not anywhere near as exciting as I was afraid it would be, and it did not even show up in my photo:



There is a lot of chocolate in this cake, which is responsible with the alcohol for the dark, smoky flavour:


Here is my uniced cake:


And the finished product, decorated with chocolate glaze and piped treble clefs left over from another project:




This cake is a decadent sensation, and I would gladly make it again. To see how the other TWD members interpreted this recipe, check out the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll.
at

30 comments:

  1. nataliaMarch 3, 2009 at 7:38 AM

    Your cake is so beautiful ! I love the keys (?) I still haven't baked mine !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TammyMarch 3, 2009 at 7:48 AM

    I loved this cake too. Your trble clefs are very cute!

    ReplyDelete
  3. jesseMarch 3, 2009 at 7:56 AM

    That looks so rich and amazing!! And I love how you've decorated it... that is SO adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CathyMarch 3, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    "A decadent sensation" -- that about sums it up perfectly! I thought this was a really special cake -- no wonder it caused such a brouhaha when Dorie made it! Yours is gorgeous -- love those treble clefs! Oh, and I didn't get much of a pyrotechnic show, either.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 3, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    Your cake looks gorgeous. I love the way you decorated it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jules SomeoneMarch 3, 2009 at 9:22 AM

    Looks lovely! Ours was a bit boozy. I decided not to frost. I thought it was rich without it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMarch 3, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    Love the decoarations - and I agree. This is ONE dense and wonderful cake! Glad you had fun making it - I sure did. It looks fantastic - nice job!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 3, 2009 at 1:12 PM

    Cakelaw! I want this cake! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMarch 3, 2009 at 2:41 PM

    That sounds really good!

    ReplyDelete
  10. FinlaMarch 3, 2009 at 6:50 PM

    I want a huge slice, they looks so yummy yummy delicous.

    ReplyDelete
  11. CakelawMarch 3, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    Thanks Natalia. This cake is very yummy - I recommend it.

    Thanks Tammy - the treble clefs are refugees from the DB Opera Cake from yonks ago.

    Thanks Jesse - a big slice for you!

    Hi Cathy, I was almost disappointed at the lack of flames - I had geared myself up with heaps of adrenalin, and was thinking how to put out the flames. Dorie did a great job - yay for Dorie!


    Thanks Pinkstripes :)


    Hi Jules, agree this is very rich - one small slice is quite enough. Boozy sounds good!

    Thanks Mike - it was fun to make. Glad you enjoyed it too.

    Hi Maryann, a virtual slice winging your way!!

    Hi Duckie, it is amazing! (Very chocolatey.)

    Thanks Happy Cook - a big slice for you ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. AmandaMarch 4, 2009 at 12:26 AM

    Oh I love the treble clefs, what a great touch!

    ReplyDelete
  13. ♥Rosie♥March 4, 2009 at 12:41 AM

    This sounds really good and I love those clefs very clever! Oh I would love a slice right now *drool*

    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  14. JenniferMarch 4, 2009 at 1:26 AM

    WOW! Beautiful job!!! I love the decorations!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. PamelaMarch 4, 2009 at 1:41 AM

    It looks delicious! I loved this cake and I almost skipped it. I'm so glad I didn't. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  16. MariaMarch 4, 2009 at 1:43 AM

    The cake looks wonderful. I will have to give the prunes a chance!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 2:03 AM

    It looks so good with that frosting! I skipped that step, and it was STILL really good!

    ReplyDelete
  18. chocolatechicMarch 4, 2009 at 3:26 AM

    I was so bummed when my French Brandy didn't catch fire.

    But the cake was fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousMarch 4, 2009 at 4:44 AM

    That looks delicious Cakelaw and I absolutle love the musical notes! So gorgeous, I must take note of the idea for a music loving friend :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. SihanMarch 4, 2009 at 4:52 AM

    treble clef! haha. how very innovative. and I'm glad you enjoyed the cake. I did too. the flavor was awesome wasn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Valerie Harrison (bellini)March 4, 2009 at 5:47 AM

    I had wondered why Dorie was fired when she made it...

    ReplyDelete
  22. PeggyMarch 4, 2009 at 6:38 AM

    Love love love your treble clefs!! What a beautiful cake. It was so delicious too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. IvyMarch 4, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    The cake looks amazing. Do you have any leftover?

    ReplyDelete
  24. CakelawMarch 4, 2009 at 3:37 PM

    Thanks Amanda - this was "I had it there and thought why not" decorating technique.

    Hi Rosie, you'd love this cake - Lyb has the recipe.

    Thanks Jennifer - I loved this cake!

    Pamela, it's a good job you didn't - this cake is gorgeous.

    Hi Maria, do give the prunes a chance - you honestly can't taste them separately form the cake here.

    Hi Madamae Chow, I'd agree with you there - it was a melt-in-the-mouth indulgence all by itself.

    Hi Tanya, I have to confess to feeling a little underwhelmed about the flames - but I am a fraidy cat, so ultimately this was good.

    Hi Lorraine, I nabbed the notes as leftoevrs from an Opera Cake I made yonks ago.

    Hi Sihan, I so agree - this cake was marvellous.

    Hi Val, I think she should have got a promotion!

    Thanks Peggy - it was a truly awesome cake.

    LOL Ivy - I took it to work today to make sure I couldn't decide that the whole thing was my helping.

    ReplyDelete
  25. A_and_NMarch 5, 2009 at 1:17 AM

    That is one decadent cake! It looks sinfully tempting :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. ♥Rosie♥March 5, 2009 at 3:08 AM

    Hi Cakelaw, please pass by my blog and collect some awards ;o)

    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousMarch 5, 2009 at 5:01 AM

    Those treble clefs are impressive! Great job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. IvyMarch 5, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    I came over to check if you had some leftovers (lol).

    ReplyDelete
  29. Engineer BakerMarch 9, 2009 at 8:44 AM

    Beautiful job - I love the iced and uniced pics. I didn't ice mine, because I was afraid it would be too chocolatey!

    ReplyDelete
  30. CakelawMarch 9, 2009 at 4:32 PM

    Believe me A&N, it is - hide your eyes!

    Thanks Rosie!

    Thanks Teanna - borrowed from an opera cake.

    LOL Ivy - sure ;)

    Hi Caitlin, it certainly doesn't need the icing - but boy oh boy, is it good!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for dropping by!