Ben, this was such a great post! I loved the details and you have me convinced: I need to make this. I wish there was a way for you to get a commission on my purchase. I googled her and found the book on Amazon. Thanks for the rec! And the details about the milk soak. Have you made anything from Christina Tosi? I loved her first Milk Bar Book; every recipe is a winner. But also So. Much. Work. But your milk soak reminded me of it bc she has these really interesting and unusual ideas that you can't skip. Like making cereal milk with real sugar cereal to use or how she puts powdered milk in like an equivalent of msg for umami/savory flavoring. Super cool.
I was thinking the exact same think about Christina's milk soaks. Was wondering who came up with the idea first??? I've actually taken one of her online web courses (waste of money, it's all pre-taped so there's no actual live feed back to offer help or suggestions) and have two of her books. I'm batting about .500 for making her cakes successfully. That Arnold Palmer one really tasted putrid. The one take away I did gleam from her recipes is the need for really good butter (Plugari when I can find it) and grape seed oil instead of vegetable oil. And I 100% endorse the cookie recipes!!! But Ben, I applaud you for the 8 hour commitment to make the cake. It looks delicious! If you ever want to change your mindset for the better, give up on American Buttercream and invest the time and know how into making Italian Merengue Buttercreams. You will breakup with American BC's forever!!
Ben, they must have read your mind because the recipe now calls for powdered sugar for the frosting! When applying the milk soak did you only soak the two bottom layers, leaving the top alone? I can't wait to make this!
Yes - half on the bottom later, half on the middle layer! And the granulated sugar frosting comes from the book - so just letting people who have it know that it’s not a typo :)
Postponing your health and wellness goals are what the holidays are all about! I have been using Emily Luchetti’s chocolate layer cake recipe since I found it on Tasting Table 5 years ago and it truly is a winner. In one of her steps, she makes a paste of the cocoa powder by mixing in water- but I always substitute coffee or Guinness for the water. The beer has similar bitter notes that coffee would add, but the bubbles do something “special” to the batter and in my GBBO fantasy I’m also making Pru Leith happy by adding booze to a really good cake!
That sounds like an excellent recipe!
Ben, this was such a great post! I loved the details and you have me convinced: I need to make this. I wish there was a way for you to get a commission on my purchase. I googled her and found the book on Amazon. Thanks for the rec! And the details about the milk soak. Have you made anything from Christina Tosi? I loved her first Milk Bar Book; every recipe is a winner. But also So. Much. Work. But your milk soak reminded me of it bc she has these really interesting and unusual ideas that you can't skip. Like making cereal milk with real sugar cereal to use or how she puts powdered milk in like an equivalent of msg for umami/savory flavoring. Super cool.
I was thinking the exact same think about Christina's milk soaks. Was wondering who came up with the idea first??? I've actually taken one of her online web courses (waste of money, it's all pre-taped so there's no actual live feed back to offer help or suggestions) and have two of her books. I'm batting about .500 for making her cakes successfully. That Arnold Palmer one really tasted putrid. The one take away I did gleam from her recipes is the need for really good butter (Plugari when I can find it) and grape seed oil instead of vegetable oil. And I 100% endorse the cookie recipes!!! But Ben, I applaud you for the 8 hour commitment to make the cake. It looks delicious! If you ever want to change your mindset for the better, give up on American Buttercream and invest the time and know how into making Italian Merengue Buttercreams. You will breakup with American BC's forever!!
Okay, I am going to plunge in and do this for an upcoming family event. Thank you for this, Ben! I can hear your voice as I read this!
Ordered the book, can’t wait to make the cake.
I’m not usually a chocolate cake fan, but I MUST MAKE THIS CAKE. Thank you for being a #cakeinfluencer❤️
I cannot wait to try this!!
Ben, they must have read your mind because the recipe now calls for powdered sugar for the frosting! When applying the milk soak did you only soak the two bottom layers, leaving the top alone? I can't wait to make this!
Yes - half on the bottom later, half on the middle layer! And the granulated sugar frosting comes from the book - so just letting people who have it know that it’s not a typo :)
Postponing your health and wellness goals are what the holidays are all about! I have been using Emily Luchetti’s chocolate layer cake recipe since I found it on Tasting Table 5 years ago and it truly is a winner. In one of her steps, she makes a paste of the cocoa powder by mixing in water- but I always substitute coffee or Guinness for the water. The beer has similar bitter notes that coffee would add, but the bubbles do something “special” to the batter and in my GBBO fantasy I’m also making Pru Leith happy by adding booze to a really good cake!