2011-01-03

Happy New Year - Chocolate Caramel Cake

HAPPY NEW YEAR ...Oh was that too loud being late since we are already in the new year? it doesn't matter isn't it? Hope you all partied hard, had fun and very warmly embraced new year.

Myself and mum had a great new year eve. We were in fun filled Desi party, with enormous amount of food, fire crackers and gallons of fun. I made vindaloo chicken, spicy enough for the cold night and chocolate caramel cake for cake cutting ceremony. It was one of the longest parties (12 hrs) we talked, discussed, laughed, played games....and big hangover after that...:p

After a day full of sleep I recovered. This year for the first time in my life I took a resolution, that was by hook or by crook I have to complete my PhD.....God are you listening? Fingers crossed.

Another unforeseen surprise was I bagged DMBLGiT's originality award for my picture. It gave me a great motivation to start the year and brought the feel good atmosphere around me :D. With all goody goody thoughts around me one thing that struck my mind was "reflection". I reflect the deeds I do, my soul reflect the thoughts I think and my reaction reflects the action I do. I'm going to keep a constant check of all these within myself to get a clear reflection of self and there by put a foot forward for a clear world. Possibly you will see that in my pictures in this post.

With the end of "just my thoughts" I wish you lovely people a blessed, glorious, successful, wealthy, healthy and cheerful happy new year.














I adapted the recipe from here. Made some mild modification. My addition was caramel cream layers to the cake.


Caramel Cream
35gram Castor sugar sifted
25gram Brown sugar
2tbsp Butter
3tbsp Milk
1/2tsp Vanilla extract

Method
In a saucepan, melt the butter, add in milk and brown sugar. When they start to melt take them away from heat. Very slowly whisk in sifted caster sugar until it is uniformly mixed. Let them cool for about 2 to three hours. It will become like a thick creamy texture.

(I made two batch of caramel cream)


Chocolate Ganache
250ml Fresh cream
250gram Dark chocolate chopped (But I used milk chocolate)
30gram Butter

Bring the cream to boil in a sauce pan. Remove from heat and throw in the chocolate and let them rest for 2 minutes then add butter and let aside for about 5 to 10 minutes and very gently mix the chocolate till they become glossy let them rest for about two hours they will gradually thicken up. 

Ingredients
Chocolate Cake.
5 eggs
75gram Sugar
70gram All purpose flour
30gram Cocoa Powder ( I used organic)
40gram Cooking Dark Chocolate
50gram Butter
1/2 tsp of Baking powder (due to coldness I preferred to add some baking powder)
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

Method
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler till they are melted and let them aside to cool down.
Separate yolk and white part of the eggs.
Sieve cocoa powder, all purpose flour and baking powder
Beat butter and sugar until light and airy. Add egg yolk and beat until they become creamy and fluffy. Now add dry ingredients by three parts and very gently fold into the mixture. Now add the melted chocolate and fold in gently. Next beat the white egg until single peak is formed. Now fold in the egg white to the cake batter. Pour the cake batter into the 18cm prepared cake pan. Bake them in to preheated oven at 170C to about 25 to 30 minutes.

(I made two batches so that i could get four layers)

Assemble
I baked the cake the previous day so that they would cool down to room temperature. 
Very carefully halve the cakes. Select one good bottom part of the cake and let them aside to use it as a top layer.
Place one halve of the cake, then pour in one batch of caramel cake and spread uniformly. Then place next half (upper part) of the cake pour in chocolate ganache spread uniformly. Then again place next upper halve of the cake. Pour in next batch of caramel cream spread uniformly. Now place the good bottom part of cake. (Make sure bottom part of the cake is facing upwards this helps to get the uniform spread of ganache.)  Now generously spread the ganache and do any kind of decoration of your choice :)

For caramel basket check this dam good video :) 

52 comments:

Unknown January 3, 2011 at 11:46 PM  

just love and love the decoration on the cake...but does it matter noooo cos its caramel...I will caramel anyways....looks so beautiful and yummy!!

Foodie Ann January 4, 2011 at 12:12 AM  

What a fabulous looking cake .....

Torviewtoronto January 4, 2011 at 1:52 AM  

beautiful presentation looks wonderful happy new year to you and family

Unknown January 4, 2011 at 4:25 AM  

The best cake..looks yummy

Yours Truly January 4, 2011 at 4:49 AM  

wow another wonderful looking cake! this looks beautiful and delicious!

Pushpa January 4, 2011 at 7:48 AM  

Beautiful clicks,cake looks mouthwatering

Tanvi@Sinfully Spicy January 4, 2011 at 9:10 AM  

Happy New Year Ananada..and congrats for the prestigious food porn award :) I love the neat caramel work you have done..and it has coffee..one of my favorite flavors..on the whole I m trying to say I can eat all of it! Have a nice time with your mom!

Daisy Roshan January 4, 2011 at 9:14 AM  

my dear Ananda...what can I say after seeing such a beautiful and perfect cake..the photographs are breathtaking....

Wish you a Happy & Prosperous New Year!!

May you complete your Ph.D. this year.

cheers

roshan

Priya Sreeram January 4, 2011 at 9:32 AM  

OMG--the cake looks sooooooooooooo delectable and kudos to this wonderful labour of love

Padhu Sankar January 4, 2011 at 10:56 AM  

Cake looks fabulous .Happy New Year

Sanjeeta kk January 4, 2011 at 11:30 AM  

Congrats for the award and WOW for the cake :) Lovely frosting and deco for the beautiful cake!

Priya Suresh January 4, 2011 at 12:37 PM  

Omg, wat a damn pretty and gorgeous cake,feel like having a slice rite now..Happy 2011 to u and ur family dear..

Treat and Trick January 4, 2011 at 12:47 PM  

Another great creation of yours! Splendid decor and congrats on your award dear, as usual your pix is always outstanding!

Rachana January 4, 2011 at 3:05 PM  

Wow!!! This cake look stunning!!!

Happy New Year!

Suji January 4, 2011 at 4:47 PM  

what a treat dear...How do you even find time for all the elaborate baking and cooking when you are a researcher??Truly amazing...Very impressive....

? January 4, 2011 at 5:12 PM  

Ananda a very happy new year to you and your mom and family!
Best Wishes for the successful compeltion of your phd too.
Congratulations for the award.
Love the sugar work on the cake.

Nandinis food January 4, 2011 at 5:59 PM  

The cake looks very nice! Very pretty! Happy New Year!

Suja Manoj January 4, 2011 at 8:48 PM  

Fabulous cake..extremely beautiful and perfect caramel cake..stunning

Namitha January 4, 2011 at 9:07 PM  

Congrats on dmblgit win !Good luck with your PhD :-) Such a fantastic cake...Happy New year !!

Flavia Galasso January 4, 2011 at 9:39 PM  

I wish you and your family a wonderful happy 2011.... your cake is a beautyful way to start the new year with positive thoughts!!!!Hugs, Flavia

Smitha January 4, 2011 at 9:56 PM  

Happy new year Ananda !!!Cake looks fabulous !!!

Swathi January 4, 2011 at 10:51 PM  

Chocolate caramel cake looks awesome. I am glad that you had a wonderful time. congrats on Dmblgit win. Good luck with your PhD.

Sharon January 4, 2011 at 11:37 PM  

Your cake looks fabulous! Love the decorations, especially the caramel in the center. I tried making those caramel web type things once and it was far from successful because they all broke. But yours is amazing!

Have a fantastic New Year! Your photos are great as always!

Anna Johnston January 5, 2011 at 1:38 AM  

What fabulous pictures you take Ananda, I just love the way you've made that already mouthwateringly wonderful tempting cake look like it wants to jump right out of the screen at me.
Good luck with your resolutions, may the PhD gods shine on you this year too :)
Happy New Year :)

Angie's Recipes January 5, 2011 at 7:06 AM  

What a gorgeous cake! Caramel web ... mmm...that's awesome!

chow and chatter January 5, 2011 at 7:16 AM  

wow amazing cake simple beautiful happy new year so pleased you enjoyed the party
Rebecca

Kulsum@JourneyKitchen January 5, 2011 at 8:10 AM  

Oh lady! this is so pretty! I would probably never eat the cake if I could dress it up like this. Looks so special and I can only imagine the time and patience with which u made it. I made a chocolate cake on new year eve, with just a quick sexy frosting and sprinkling of walnut. So bad right?!

Anonymous January 5, 2011 at 8:23 AM  

What a delicious start to the New Year!! I hope 2011 is as sweet as all your creations!

MaryMoh January 5, 2011 at 1:06 PM  

Lovely post, lovely flowers and lovely cake! It brings such a feeling of love and beauty right at the start of the year. Congrats on the award! Really happy for you. I always love your pictures. I'm confident that you will complete your PhD this year...more cooking and baking will help :D

Santosh Bangar January 5, 2011 at 9:50 PM  

amazing marvellous fantastic decoration. i am speechless there are not words to describe its beauti'
how u will do it give some tip to me
happy and prosperous new year

AJ January 5, 2011 at 10:14 PM  

Beautiful cake!! Best wishes for the New Year and the PhD to you!!

Alessandra January 5, 2011 at 10:25 PM  

Wow, this is splendid! Look at that caramel!!

Brava!

ciao
Alessandra

aipi January 6, 2011 at 2:50 AM  

looks very festive,stunning and extremely droolworthy...beautiful work !!!

Have a great n prosperous 2011

US Masala

Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen January 6, 2011 at 3:01 AM  

What a really beautifully decorated cake and fabulous photos as well. I think that caramel and chocolate are a brilliant combination.

Unknown January 6, 2011 at 7:48 AM  

WoW!
This really is a fantastic cake! Congratulations for the award.
I wish you a great 2011!

Barbara

Joyti January 6, 2011 at 10:32 AM  

Sounds like a very nice New Years. And congratulations on the food photography award!
O, and happy New Year. The cake looks like a marvelous way to ring in 2011!

Pavithra Elangovan January 6, 2011 at 7:35 PM  

Wow Ananda Gorgeous cake and the spun sugar decor on the top of the cake is absolutely marvellous.. I love making spun sugar designs its fun right :) but we have to be very careful.. Hope ur mom is enjoying ur lovely cakes.. How is she ??? Regds to her.

Devaki January 6, 2011 at 11:02 PM  

You are some kind of cake Queen, girl! I mean look at you, you make any cake look like a million bucks. Not that I am saying this isn't worth a million bucks, now :) Seriously, you rocked New years! Fab cake, fab pics!

And on the subject a very happy New Year to you! :)


Chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

arthi January 7, 2011 at 8:04 AM  

Happy new year..fabulous recipe.Thanks for sharing!!

M D January 7, 2011 at 10:49 AM  

Hey Ananda, ur cake looks sinfully gorgeous! I am tempted to grab that whole stuff and break into it.

Cheah January 7, 2011 at 11:59 AM  

Ananda, your cake is just stunning.

C&G January 7, 2011 at 10:24 PM  

Magnificient cake. Happy new year and all the best for a wonderful 2011 by Giorgia & Cyril

Soma January 8, 2011 at 12:38 AM  

Splendid! The little nests/baskets to top are fabulous :-)

Happy New Year to u!

Couscous & Consciousness January 8, 2011 at 1:21 AM  

OMG Ananda - that cake looks absolutely incredible - I wish I could be at your place right now so that I could get a slice of this cake :-)

Congratulations on your award - you have such an amazing talent - it is very well deserved.

Sue xo

Ameya January 8, 2011 at 2:26 AM  

Chocolate and caramel is a simply fabulous combination!! Your cake looks elegant and soo tasty!! Happy new year to you!

Dimah January 8, 2011 at 7:03 PM  

Wow that cake is gorgeous!
Happy new year to you :)

Catherine January 8, 2011 at 7:49 PM  

Sounds like you had a fabulous Hogmanay :D as always, your pictures are beautiful and you fully deserve your award! Good Luck completing your PHD, I have every confidence in you.

Tahemeem January 11, 2011 at 6:42 AM  

Beautiful cake and clicks... i dont believe i missed it before :)
love the cake ... i am torturing my friends with my trials of cakes... will make this and i am sure they will love it :)

Unknown January 11, 2011 at 10:11 AM  

Thanks all for your kind words of appreciation overwhelmed :D

Choclette January 13, 2011 at 10:07 PM  

What an absolutely fantastic cake - now wonder you won an award for it. I do so admire your decorative skills.

Good Luck with the PhD. I'm hoping CT will finish his this year too - cross fingers!

Unknown January 24, 2011 at 10:13 AM  

Good luck to your husband tooo Choclette ...Hopefully we defend at the same time :) and Thanks!

Ashwini Nishil September 3, 2011 at 4:53 AM  

yummmmm!!!!

 
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