This is my first icing/frosting cake, technically (I've made a french chocolate pecan torte before). Though I bake cake often, its usually plain cakes and the reason…of the two of us, hubby & me, I love cakes. Hence the major chunk is consumed by me. Though the beautiful pictures of Icing cake on other blogs tempts me a lot, I refrain from the idea thinking about the additional calories :((
This time I've got a reason to make icing cake & don't feel guilty :) . It was my dear hubby's b'day a few days back. The special dish for the occasion varies according to his mood, he generally doesn't ask for cakes, but this time he said he wanted an icing cake. I was feeling so enthusiastic and started going through all my baking books and even bookmarked some, especially simpler ones, since I don't have much icing experience and didn't want the b'day cake to be a disaster :) . I became crazy with all the icing cake recipes flashing one after another in my mind (ya it happens at times, when I wanted to do something for a long time and finally when the time comes all the ideas will start dancing in my head ;) ). Around the same time one of our family friend's gave me two kutti (small) baking books ( chocolate cakes & cafe cakes) for reference and she said all the recipes in those two books were tried by their daughter and it came out very well. This helped me in taking one decision, that I will make a cake from one of those two books. Since it was a b'day cake I decided to go for chocolate.
Finally I found out the cake, hurrayyyyyyy :) The picture of this cake in that book looks awesome, it looks very moist and the recipe was a simple one, basic stuff, but looks extraordinary. And am happy that I selected that one, b'day boy enjoyed the cake so much and also the guests, that I packed some pieces for them too :)
Now, this cake is not only for my hubby dear, a number of people who are very dear to me are celebrating b'day this month. The list starts here: my dearest amma, my dearest sis in law, some of my close friends (if i say their name, the list will go on so..) my blogging friends Emi , Mona & Divya. Also my dearest cousin sis is celebrating her first wedding anniversary this month. If it's your b'day or any other special day in this month, this is for you too :). May god bless you all !!
Also, one of my readers, Sindhu asked for Icing cakes recipe sometime back. Sindhu, hope you find this interesting.
As the name suggests, its definitely a family cake, am sure that everyone in the family will love this cake.
Update: I am sending this cake for Sweet Celebrations event at Aparna's My Diverse Kitchen. Her blog is celebrating its first b'day and am sending this b'day cake for the event. Aparna, I wish you many more happy years of blogging.
Am so happy to take part in an event like this, I usually dont particiapte because, generally my cooking is not at all planned, it mainly depends on my mood. I visited her blog today and saw her reminder about the event and since I already have the cake post here, I thought I should participate :)
Hi Maria
Hope u r doing good
I have been a regular follower of your recipe. This is my go to page for any recipe. Especially the Christmas Cake. Have been making Christmas cakes with ur recipe since 2013.
Its my son s 1st bday on Aug 30th and I plan to make this chocolate cake. One doubt… Can we make two cakes and layer it one top of other and do icing outside?
Thanks
Mili
Hi Mili,
I’m good, thanks :) Great to know that you are a regular reader here! I’m sorry for the delayed reply though. Yes you can make two layers and do the icing.Belated birthday wishes to your son :)
Cheers
Maria
Today I made this cake…it came out well…my boys loved it….it was really a different baking experience
Super delicious
Thank you :)
Yes Sukriti, you can. But baking time will be less for cupcakes.
I tried this cake today. It came out very well. Since it was soft yet firm, i was able to layer it with the frosting. I wanted to know how i could improve the frosting. Mine was not thick enough to pipe/ decorate. I made the cake and frosting with half proportion of the ingredients.
Hi Melisha,
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe. I’m glad you liked it :)
If you want a stiffer icing, try chocolate buttercream icing here:
https://mariasmenu.wpcomstaging.com/desserts/moist-chocolate-cake-with-chocolate-buttercream-ganache
This icing is good for piping. Hope it helps..
Btw, I’m sorry for the delayed reply. I was away for vacation for more than a month..
Cheers
Maria
Hi Ambreen,
Yes, you can use plain flour. Substitution for self raising flour – to get 1 cup self-raising flour, add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder+ 1/4 tsp salt to 1 cup all purpose flour.
hey!
can we reduce the quantity of the butter without it affecting the texture?
Hi Roshni,
Usually the qty of butter is in proportion to the other ingredients. So I dont think it will be a good idea to reduce the qty of just the butter.
Cheers
Maria
Hi Roshni,
Usually the qty of butter is in proportion to the other ingredients. So I dont think it will be a good idea to reduce the qty of just the butter.
Cheers
Maria
hey!
can we reduce the quantity of the butter without it affecting the texture?
hey..dear..im not used vit icing cakes..lil tensed..need to use icing pipe..??:( can i use soda pd instead of soda bicarbonate..??
Hi Neethu,
Dont worry dear, its a simple icing. Using icing tips is not a must. You can spread the icing with a spatula or a knife.
For substitution of Baking powder, check out the below link:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodchemistryfaqs/f/powdersoda.htm
hi , Just one word for this cake , AMAZING….. it come out so well. Thanks a lot Maria. Today i will try citrus tea cake and i am confident that i will get success in that too…You know the best part your recipes is that i enjoy while trying them out.
Good work,
regards,
Hi Shamita,
Thank you so much! Its a pleasure to know that it came out well for you. Btw, did you try the citrus tea cake? How was it?
Its great to hear that you enjoy cooking with the recipes posted here, thanks a ton!
Take care…
Cheers
Maria
If you want a smaller cake, can one just use half the qty mentioned in your ingredients and make a smaller cake? Thanks
Hi Deepa,
Yes you can take half the qty for a smaller cake. I sometimes make a very small cake with 1/4 qty of the above mentioned ingredients just to satisfy a chocolate carving ;)
Hope your little one like the cake :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria, I baked this cake the other day and it has come out very well !!! The cake was really moist. Thanks for this great recipe.
Hi Mary
Thank you so much :) It’s one of my fav cake & I bake it very often. Its great to know that it came out well for you…
Cheers
Maria
Hi there,I think i may have boiled the mixture for too long,it started rising and almost overflowing.Will this be a problem?
Thanks
Hi Nicole,
I remember posting a reply for your query earlier. But we had a tech error in the site and I think it got deleted.
Anyways, its ok even if you boil the mixture a bit longer, it wont affect the cake in anyway. It happens to me also sometimes :)
Btw, did you bake the cake? Hope you liked it.
Wish you & your family a Happy new year!
Cheers
Maria
hi maria,
your blog z very interesting and tempting too….i found it almost 2 months bk…i have a doubt regarding this…you have written that “stand cake in baking dish 10 min,before turning onto wire rack; turn cake top side up to cool….”i didnt understand that part! can u explain what exactly is it??
anyway i hope you are fantastic in cooking…..
Hi Nithi,
Thank you :)
It means, once the cake is baked, take it out of the oven and leave it in the baking tin itself for 10 more minutes. After that remove it from baking tin and let it cool completely, while cooling keep the top side up.
Hope its clear now.
Regards
Maria
Hi Divya
I too made this cake for my hubby’s b’day :) Even I like watching Lakshmi Nair’s cooking show and collecting the recipes.
Anyways pls, let me know wtr you guys enjoyed the cake.
Hey Maria,I was just going through a few recipes for baking a cake for hubby’s bday.I had zeroed in on a similar recipe[from Lakshmi Nair’s show in Kairali],I remembered that you had made this a while back.The recipe looks almost similar.Will let you know how it turns out!!
Divs, I too checked in some website. In most of them they say add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder + 1/4 tsp salt to 1 cup of plain flour.
Also check these links, hope this helps:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_convert_all_purpose_flour_to_self_rising_flour
http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/recipe_display.php?id=13031
Maria,
Wanted to bake this cake for Dhannu’s b’day – Here we don’t get self raising flour – I checked in couple of sites and it says for i cup flour – add 1 1/4 tsp Baking powder…Do you have anny idea?
Divs
thanks Aparna :)
No one would believe that this is the first time you’ve frosted a cake. It looks delicious.
Thanks for celebrating with me. I love all things chocolate.
@ammu, thanks a lot dear.. hope u enjoyed the cake ;)
@happy cook, thankyou:) ya the cake was very moist & delicious too…
Beautiful cake and love the frosting too.
It looks so moist and delicious
Thanks a lot for dedicating this cake to me too dear!! And thats one beautiful yummy cake u got there!!
@Reena, thanks a lot for dropping in. Very happy to hear that you find the recipes encouraging :)Please do try the cake and yes, you can mail me anytime if you have any doubts. Please keep visiting & commenting…
All the best & happy cooking :)
Hi Maria,
This is Reena. I stay in Kuwait. I discovered your blog a few months back and I am so glad i did. It’s really cool and i like your new look. Your recipes really make me feel that I can do some nice cooking too (I am still finding my way around cooking). Especially this cake is very tempting. I did try a chocolate cake once but it cracked at the top and became hard inside..Let me try yours since I love choc..If i have any doubts, I will mail you.Thank you so much for your blog.Keep it up!
@Divya, thanks a lot dear. Wish you a very happy b’day & may god bless you!! and hey hope you have enjoyed your share :)
@Veena, thanks a ton dear for all the awards :)award ellam santhoshapoorvam collect cheythirikkunnu :)
Maria ..
plz collect ur awards
http://curryworld.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/rave-dosa/
love
veena
Yummy cake Maria..and I’ll take one piece for myself too..guess why..?Yup,its my birthday too..after few days..;-)
@Veena, thanks a lot dear…all the best for your baking, am sure your results will be amazing :)
@Rachel, thankyou :)ya, chocolate cake is the best :)
@Seeba, Wish you & your son a very happy b’day!! May God Bless you!! thanks a lot :) and yes it was very delicious and hey please don’t forget to take your share :)
wow! wot a wonderful looking caked, and im sure its tasted delicious!!!,me and my son celebrated our bday too,in this month….so i guess the cake is for us tooo… hihihi:))))
Frosted or not,,you hav some lovel cakes on your blog…this islovely as well..what could be better than a chocolate cake…
Hi Maria ..
The Cake looks simply great and yummy ..Great work da..
..I never tried cakes …satyam paranjal dairyam pora ..eni oru kai nokkanam ..!!
love
veena