The title of this post will strike a chord with those of you who watch Strictly, as I am quoting Craig Revel-Horwood! I was making a Russian Roulette Revels chocolate cake (made for the first time last year for my husband's birthday - see
here for my previous blog post on it) for my colleague Leanne's birthday and used a recipe I have used many times before. All was going well until it came to the turning out of the cake. Would it come out of the tin? No, it wouldn't. After loosening it with a knife and judicious amounts of banging around the side of the tin, I tried again, only to find the top half of the cake came out, leaving the bottom half still in the tin.
More loosening, scraping and banging ensued, only to find that a large portion of the remaining cake fell out onto the floor. This was picked up and donated to the bird food for the bird table the next morning. I decided to admit defeat and Chris suggested cutting the top piece in half, sandwiching it together with icing and having a half-cake cake. The photos above show the top half of the cake.
So, that is what I did and above shows the half-cake cake, with chocolate fudge icing in the middle. "Dis-aaaaarrr-ster" (sort of) averted!
Here it is with the remaining Revels chocolates left over from the second attempt.
Here is the second attempt, made with baking parchment lining the tin, which avoided all the unpleasantness of the first attempt. I am pleased to report that it was well received (even though I seemed to get more than my fair share of the coffee Revels and the raisin Revels, which I do not like at all).
Note to self:
ALWAYS use baking parchment!
Hi Ellie
ReplyDeleteI learned the lesson of baking parchment with victoria sponge.
The 2nd cake looks lovely. I always get stuck with the coffee sweets too.
Dear Cookie Jar
DeleteThank you for your comment. The second cake slightly redeemed me as a baker I think. The coffee Revels are truly horrible!
Best wishes
Ellie
Oh dear Ellie!!!
ReplyDeletebut you did make me smile because that is like something that would happen to me!
The second attempt does look scrumptious.
I have never heard of a revel cake but it looks amazing, bet it tastes good too.
Enjoy
Happy weekend.
x Fiona
Dear Fiona
DeleteThank you for commenting. It just goes to show that baking can always be a surprise, even if you are baking something you have done before!
Best wishes
Ellie
Have you got the recipe Ellie
ReplyDeleteI would love to try this.
x
Dear Fiona
DeleteThanks again for commenting. Yes, I will post the recipe which is really easy and keeps very well too. My colleagues at work all want the recipe too!
Best wishes
Ellie
My wife is the lovliest most thoughtful person in the whole world and that is why I love her... Also because she made me a half-cake cake with Revels on it. Yum...
ReplyDeleteDear Chris
DeleteThanks for commenting (and for all the compliments too!) We make a good team, don't we?!
Love and Best wishes
Ellie x
Oh Ellie I so sympathise! And this sort of thing always and only happens when one is intending to present the cake in a more public setting than just for home consumption! I think the half cake rescue plan is inspired and it can't all be bad if there's a cake like this in your tin at home as well as the second version to give away! But it's so vexing when one didn't actually want to make two cakes and indeed may not have the ingredients for a repeat. I hope the enjoyment of eating the results of both cakes compensated! E x
ReplyDeletePS Am loving wearing my macramé bracelet!
Dear E
DeleteThank you for commenting. You are so right, it only happens when you are making something for someone else! I think Chris' idea on rescuing the cake was a very good one and yesterday we enjoyed the cake as puddng/dessert with some cream for good measure. I am so pleased you like your bracelet.
Best wishes
Ellie
Oh no! This sort of thing always seems to happen to me when I am making a cake for an occasion - it never happens when I am making a random mid-week cake...typical. You second effort looks splendid, and your first "half" cake still looks pretty delicious to me.
ReplyDeleteGillian x
ps MASSIVE strictly fans in this house!
Dear Gillian
DeleteThank you for commenting. The half-cake cake has all gone now - it was delicious in spite of only being half. Strictly fan here too - as you may have guessed! I boycotted it when Arlene was replaced by Alesha (Boo!), but am back there now we have Darcey (Hurray!). I have really missed it!
Best wishes
Ellie
What a shame, but at least it wasn't wasted. Had you greased and floured the cake pan before putting the batter in the first time? The second one worked well, so glad for you. I used to love coffee filled chocolates but I don't think that Revels would do the trick for me.
ReplyDeleteDear Toffeeapple
DeleteThank you for your comment. Indeed I had greased and floured the tin, but for some reason, it wouldn't come out. in the past, greasing and flouring the tin had always been sufficient, but not this time. Lesson learnt!
I love the smell of coffee, but just don't like the taste at all, so anything tasting of coffee will not work for me.
Best wishes
Ellie