TWD - Berry Surprise Cake

I wouldn't say I had the best cooking weekend I've ever had. Friends came Friday night for dinner and I served chicken spaghetti. It was delicious except it was not warm enough from the oven. Everyone was very gracious about it, but being the perfectionist that I am, I was frustrated with myself. I'm sure you have all been there, right?

Then came Saturday and more friends were coming for dinner. I decided to make this week's TWD cake to serve them as dessert. I got all my ingredients together. Thankfully, my good friend Cathy of The Tortefeasor had given me some Chambord last summer to use in another recipe so I was prepared liquorically speaking for this one.
I had heard horror stories about how this cake was turning out or not turning out and I was determined to have mine work. The first mishap of the day was discovering I needed an eight inch pan and all I had was a nine inch one. So it was off to the store to find the right pan. Found one at T.J. Maxx. You gotta love that store!

I ended up making this cake TWICE.

The first time I proceeded to follow Dorie's instructions as closely as I could. I put the eggs in the hot water, timed them three minutes, then transferred them to a nice cold mixing bowl where I proceeded to whip them at a low speed. After five minutes, they had not tripled in size, nor did I have a ribbon that would hold for ten seconds. Finally my brain kicked into gear and I cranked up the beater to medium speed (where it should have been in the first place) and pretty soon the eggs looked okay. So I cooked CAKE NUMBER ONE.


The cake did not rise much and when I took it out of the pan I knew it was too dense and too shallow to try and cut a pocket out of it. Determined, I proceeded to wash all the dishes and start again.
This time I heated the eggs in the same mixing bowl I would use to whip them. I whipped them on medium speed for five minutes and they fluffed up perfectly and held a nice ribbon for at least ten seconds. I carefully added the dry ingredients and barely folded them in. I baked the cake and it looked great. I used strawberries for the berries because they did not have any fresh looking raspberries (which is what I really wanted to use).


My friends came, we ate, and everyone could not wait to taste the cake. I must say, the cake was beautiful. As I was cutting it, I explained to them that it was not normal cake. It was diva egg cake. We all took our first bite, and the silence in the room was deafening. It had a coarse consistency and was flavorless for the most part. Again, I'm thankful for gracious friends who ate without complaining and even asked for a second piece. I personally could not even taste the filling that much. I'm curious to hear how everyone else's turned out.


The next day, the yankee and I sat down to watch a movie and decided to try another piece with a cup of joe. I will admit we both liked it better the second day.


I'm glad I made it, loved the challenge, and thanks to Mary Ann of Meet Me in the Kitchen for choosing it. Get on over to her blog and check out the recipe. Don't take my word for it - try it for yourself. maresfoodandfun.blogspot.com


But for me, I would give it a C+ and probably never make this cake again. If I am going to put time and effort into it, I prefer something with a bit richer flavor.

Comments

Cathy said…
"As I was cutting it, I explained to them that it was not normal cake. It was diva egg cake."

Hopefully that cleared it up for everyone, Peggy. You are my hero for trying this twice. I'm still reeling from my one failed attempt. I still have the nail marks from my cat fight with those bitc . . . eggs.

Your cake looks really beautiful! You did a GREAT JOB!! And I bet that your friends really did want that second piece!!
Jules Someone said…
Wow! Not once but twice you baked this. Sorry it wasn't better.
Sabrina said…
Your is gorgeous!! Way to prevail!
Mine was a total flop! Better luck next time... or better yet, there will not be a next time! :)
Engineer Baker said…
No good! I hate it when things don't turn out right, and I'm totally with you - those were diva eggs. On to the next recipe!
Anonymous said…
Too bad it didn't work out, twice! It looks great, though.
Sara said…
Too bad it didn't work out, it sure looks pretty!
Megan said…
You get bonus points for trying it twice. But what a bummer for it being tasteless! I mean, if you are going to that much work, it should be spectacular, right?
Sihan said…
haha. I think it works better here in asia since keeping them at 'room temperature' would already mean that they were warm. haha. But then again.. great two attempts you had there. having them on the 2nd day is reallie a much better idea. The flavors seem to have melded.
Marthe said…
Although it looks amazing, I chickened out after reading the P&Q
Nancy/n.o.e said…
Well, Peggy, I knew you'd make this cake work. Sorry it took two tries, though, and really sorry it was tasteless. I can see how that could be the case. I ate two pieces of the trifle but it needed something.
Nancy
Shelby said…
Sometimes that is what friends are for! To be there for you even when you have a flop! Its too bad it didn't turn out for you...in any case, it looks beautiful!
Your cake looks fabulous! It definately tastes better after it has been sitting for a little a while.
Jessica said…
It was so hard for me to read about you washing the dishes and trying again. That's my least favorite part of a redo -- washing the dishes to use them again right away. You definitely get an A for effort! I'm glad you liked it more the next day. And the cake was beautiful so I'm sure that everyone was super impressed.
Flourchild said…
Wow twice..your so good. I made do with my pancake flat cake. It was tasty and the kids ate it!
Jennifer said…
Maybe that's what I'll rename my cake "Diva egg cake" as it tasted rather eggy (eggs + vanilla was the flavor, ugh).
I've made it twice, too, and will try it again, just because I can't stand it that it didn't come out right!
Anonymous said…
It is so defined as the diva egg cake! The cake looks beautiful!
chocolatechic said…
I thought that mine was dense too.

I just thought that was the way it was supposed to be.
The Blonde Duck said…
This cake scares me. I'm glad for your warning! It looks fabulous though!
TeaLady said…
But your cake turned out beautifully. And to try it twice -- that's dedication to TWD. I didn't get to try it, but will one day.
Unknown said…
I made a over cheesy Mexican Chicken Spaghetti and gave it to my new neighbors. I tried the new recipe and saved a little side for us and gave them the bulk of it, nicely packaged. Well, I had already given it to them when we tasted it. They said they really liked it later. I hope so, cause even my hubby said, man this is too cheesy. I wanted to run over there and get it back. Your cake looks great. I am sure it tasted good. It is a different kind of cake for sure.
MacDuff said…
Oh my god, I KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!!!!!!!! I can't believe you had the patience to try this twice. After try number one, I was just like "This is stupid, and I would rather let someone throw darts at my head." Stupid eggs.

It's so tough, because sometimes her stuff is just so different. I feel like it comes from a place in Dorie's head that has to be cultivated with warm memories, and not much practicality/real life experience.

But you are a STAR for making the full cake. Really. I'm totally kow-towing to you electronically. Bonk bonk.
Unknown said…
Hi, thanks for the compliments. I used meringue powder to help it rise.
natalia said…
Ciao Peggy ! I love your cake it looks great ! As for taste I added real vanilla and some more sugar to the filling ! Baci
I am glad to know I'm not alone that this weekend was a wash.

I had two baking issues with two different recipes. I felt like I messed up everything I touched!

Your cake looks great! You would never know that the egg divas threw a hissyfit!
LyB said…
Oh, my, that is really too bad. And I absolutely understand, I'm too much of a perfectionist sometimes, it does get frustrating when things don't work out. Hopefully, next week will be better for you. :)
You may not give it an A for taste, but YOU get an A++++ for effort! Great job!
Liz said…
I feel your pain with two cake attempts! Sorry that you and your guests didn't love the second cake, but three cheers for polite guests who pretend!
Unknown said…
Now that's dedication...and those are some good friends! Sorry this one didn't wow you - from the picture, it looks gorgeous.
Di said…
Good for you for trying it twice. I'm lucky that mine turned out the first time. I'll have to try looking at TJ Maxx for baking stuff. I don't go in there very often.

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