[kingfarvito]

Hey guys, I feel like an outsider posting here, I'm a poor baker at best. I do better with creme Brule ect as far as dessert. I need a chocolate cake to wow a woman for her birthday tonight, please don't make me go Betty crocker.

 

[brianshaw]

Do you live near a Costco? They'll even write her name on it. Really good cake too.

 

[brianshaw]

If you want to bake, however... Go to joyofbaking.com

Their recipes are foolproof.

 

[flipflopgirl]

That is sweet ;-)

My best advice for someone baking with chocolate for the first time is to remember that it can scorch pretty fast.

You should ignore the advice to bake until a toothpick comes back clean (should have some moist crumbs on the toothpick) or when you lightly touch the middle and the cake "springs" back.

By the time it reaches those points most likely the chocolate has scorched and the cake is dry.

You may have noticed that some posters throw the bakers into a tizzy (and make us twitch) when they ask for help and cannot understand why things don't work (well for starters they have substituted ingredients willy nilly with no regard for the science of baking).

I know you know better...right?

Find a recipe for beginners and then read thru a few times.

If it makes sense to you and there are not a bazillion ingredients go ahead and follow the instructions as written.

If you are unsure post a link and someone can look at it for mistakes and/or bad technique.

If in the end things look wonky just remember you made an effort and scoop the best parts into a dish and cover with whipped cream and sprinkles.

After all you made an effort!

Any girl would be lucky to have such a thoughtful date.

mimi

 

[cerise]

Hey guys, I feel like an outsider posting here, I'm a poor baker at best. I do better with creme Brule ect as far as dessert. I need a chocolate cake to wow a woman for her birthday tonight, please don't make me go Betty crocker.

Is it just the two of you, does it have to be cake?

How about poached pears in chocolate sauce, chocolate cream bruleè, truffles, black and white panna cotta, strawberry-filled crepes w chocolate drizzle or strawberries dipped in chocolate w champagne.

 

[brianshaw]

... Or chocolate lava cake with a rassburry puree

 

[cerise]

Or tartufo - chocolate-covered ice cream balls.