Oh cake.
These last two weeks have basically been one great big cake binge. Not such a bad thing. I really like cake. Not as much as I like say, cookies, but you have to admit that cake is pretty doggone great.
I’m not particular about my cake either except that is has to has to has to be almost stick-to-your-fingers moist. Chocolate cake and white cake and omg funfetti cake and CARROT CAKE are all basically equals in my book (well… carrot cake might have a slight advantage; I flipping looooove carrot cake). I like to smoosh the cake crumbs with the back of my fork making sure to pick up every itsy bitsy bit. Because I need that, right? Huh.
I mentioned these particularly tasty little cakes on Monday and I have to say that I was surprised at how much I really really loved them.
Because there is black pepper in the cake.
And WAIT!!! Before you get all freaked out about pepper in the cake (because I’ll admit I almost did), just hear me out.
This recipe was an attempt at copycatting the Chocolate Spliff Cake at Nine Mile in Asheville, NC. My sister grabbed a bite there, had it, and was all a rave. We tend to mostly like all the same things plus it was meant to be her birthday cake, so she sold me on the idea. I looked up the reviews and couldn’t find a single one that was bad which surprised me because this cake has one more weird thing (don’t get mad at me, okay? Just roll with it) –
I was sooooo skeptical about lemon and chocolate being friends in my cake. Also wondered about the black pepper taking up residence in cake batter. Annnd let’s not forget the thyme. But they all work together to make something complex and interesting and rich but still light and sweet.
It was a dessert I wanted to take my time with (unlike the birthday cake with cotton candy frosting which pretty much just got INHALED). I savored every single bite.
If you’re not feeling up to the lemon thyme pastry cream challenge (it’s actually very simple to make but it does require lots of stirring like risotto) or if you just think I’m crayzee for pairing lemon and chocolate (I promise I am definitely not that creative and would never have thunk that one up all by myself), then do me one little favor:
Make this Chocolate Cake. Forreal.
(my kids even liked it.)
- 1 cup fat free buttermilk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup canola oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- Pre-heat the oven to 350. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners OR butter a 9 X 13 baking dish.
- In a large bowl, Whisk together the buttermilk, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix well.
- Stir in the black pepper.
- Divide the batter between the 12 prepared muffin cups OR scrape it all into the buttered 9 X 13 pan. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and gently stir the batter while dividing it so that the pepper is distributed evenly.
- Bake the cupcakes for 12-14 minutes, turning the pan halfway through baking, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean. If you made the 9 X 13 cake, bake for 10 minutes, turn the pan, and then bake for 10 more minutes. Check with a toothpick inserted into the center.
- Cool the cakes completely.
- See notes for frosting, serving, and assembly.
I adapted the chocolate cake recipe just slightly from THIS recipe at The New Vegan Table. You might have guessed that her recipe is vegan and while mine is also sans the eggs, it does include fat free buttermilk. Hers includes a recipe for Basil Mousse though– definitely worth a look.
If you are feeling adventurous, the lemon thyme pastry cream recipe can be found HERE. You’ll need the first 10 ingredients (nothing crazy- just lemons and milk and flour etc) and will follow steps 1-8.
Happy Birthday Littlest Sister!! Hugs. ~H
Yum!! I could eat a lot of those right now! My hubby is limiting our sweet intake. All I can think about is chocolate!!
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork recently posted…February Recipe Round-Up
I pretty much WISH Chad would exercise some self-control in the sweets department. His freaky metabolism kinda pisses me off. I’m all working hard and counting calories and he’s all, “Hey! Let’s go get ice cream!”
Anyway… these cakes were weird and good and DARK CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU.
Heather recently posted…Chocolate Spice Cakes
That is a weird and fascinating combination of flavors you have going there! But I know if you say it’s good, it’s got to be good! I like the idea of the lemon thyme cream–would be yummy!
Deanna recently posted…10 Great Books About Food
The lemon thyme cream was soooooooo delicious. You could use it in lots of places. Or you could just eat it. I did that too. I was surprised that I a. pulled this off and b. it was really good! Put pepper in the cake
I said it before, and now I’m even more convinced – these look delicious! (and you are clearly insane, because everyone knows the cake ranking is chocolate WAY before carrot!)
I am so glad you are on board with the weird cake. Chocolate might come before carrot… it definitely depends on the caliber of the cake!
Nice pictures! You had me at pastry cream lol Although I’m still skeptical about the pepper…very interesting!
I was weirded out too. Don’t worry. I’d never steer you wrong with chocolate.
It looks absolutely amazing! Who would’ve thought black pepper would spice up a Chocolate cake?! Willing to try it since you can’t go wrong with anything chocolatey, right?! The lemon thyme combo really sounds good. Such satisfaction when you recreate a restaurant dessert, nice job!
The Foodie Affair recently posted…Protein Bites, Gluten-Free Snack
Thanks! I was really into the lemon/thyme combo. I think it would translate well into lots of things. Cheesecake. Frosting. Ice cream. Yum.
The original cake actually gets dusted with a cocoa cayenne powder at the finish. I left that off but I’d bet it’s delicious! Think about how good mole’ is and then translate it to dessert. Yeah. Good, right?
I had this black pepper chocolate from Trader Joe’s the other day…it wasn’t my favorite thing. Not going to lie! I’m intrigued by this in cake form…these certainly look delicious Heather.
Ameena recently posted…i feel guilty. all the time.
I was pretty undecided about what I’d think of this finished cake, But I tasted the batter and then I was sold. My sister said it is not as spicy as the one at Nine Mile. I think the trick is to balance the spice with REALLY good dark chocolate. And I only used 2 teaspoons in the whole cake so for me it just gave it a new sort of kick. I was glad I tried it!
The chocolate on top of these is just out of control! If I had these around there would a total binge fest taking place!
Elizabeth recently posted…Brown Butter Cookie Dough Rice Krispie Treats
I’m a big fan of out-of-control chocolate.
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Um, this chocolate is def. out of control. I LOVE IT.
Ohhh ganache. So simple. So out-of-control amazing.
Oh, those look so pretty and I bet so good. That glossy ganache is to die for!
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