cake plate addiction

not only am I addicted to cake, I'm also addicted to buying the adorable little stands on which they're displayed. I've had a crush on cake plates for many years & have slowly added to my collection. I honestly did not realize the amount of cake plates I actually owned until I unpacked them all after moving a few weeks ago. and I found 3 more cakes plates after I took this shot. I need an intervention. 

ombré cake pops

a few weekends ago we celebrated my dear friend heather's second baby, due next month. for the shower, her friends decided to make all of her favorite foods that she's been craving during her pregnancy. and one of them is cake pops (which I happen to crave every day of my life). so I was stoked about making them. I decided to go with the ever-popular ombré motif. it's really easy to do. you just make cake pops the normal way (see bakerella's post on that) but just add a drop or two of food coloring to the melted chocolate, dip a few pops, add more color, dip a few more. you get the picture. I stuck mine into styrofoam that I had covered with kraft paper. they look like art & are such a pretty display (although they don't last long!).

chocolate guinness cake

when I heard nigella lawson on npr describing her chocolate guinness cake, I knew I had to try it out for st. patty's day.  it was surprisingly delicious, with a hint of guinness flavor. I iced the top only so that it would resemble a pint of guinness. I might just make this a tradition every st. patrick's day.                                                                                                                    

chocolate guinness cake by nigella lawson

ingredients for the cake:

1 cup guinness
1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

ingredients for the frosting:

8 oz  cream cheese
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar (sifted)
1/2 cup heavy cream

preheat the over to 350 F, and butter and line a 9 inch springform pan.

pour the guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter and heat until the butter's melted. next, whisk in the cocoa and sugar. beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the pan. after that is mixed, whisk in the flour and baking soda. make sure all the lumps are out.

pour the cake batter into the greased and lined pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.

to make the frosting, lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sift the confectioner's sugar and then beat them both together.

add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. ice the top of the cake so that it resembles the frothy top of a pint of guinness.

Makes about 12 slices