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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Reine de Saba avec Glaçage au Chocolat | Chocolate Almond Cake (Julia Child's Birthday)

Today,15th Aug 2012 is Julia child's 100th birthday.Julia child was an American chef,author and Television personality.She is most recognised for bringing the French cuisine to the American public with her debut cook book,Mastering the Art  of French Cooking.The most notable television programme was 'The French Chef' premiered in 1963.As a tribute to her,we @ Baking Partners decided to make the favorite cake of many-Chocolate Almond Cake.A very special cake of almond ,butter & chocolate that is some what moist in the center,it literally melts in mouth.This is my first French cake tried & tasted ever,a very light cake.In this cake there are is no enhancing agents like baking powder,baking soda;eggs are separated with yolks & whites and the beaten egg whites are folder in the batter.Enjoy making this cake at home for your dear ones:-)


Ingredients 
For 9 inch round pan  
 cake flour /all purpose flour (scooped and leveled, turned into a sifter) 2/3 cup /64g 
 pulverized ground almonds  73.12g (slightly lesser than 3/4th cup)
 semi-sweet chocolate melted with 2 ¼ teaspoon of rum or coffee 4 .5ounce/ 1bar +1/2squares/127.57 g
 softened butter + 1tablespoon/ 127g  (¼ lb. or 1 stick & 1tbsp)
 granulated sugar/ 150.8g (3/4 cup) REFER NOTES
 eggs 3 ( Yolk and white separated)
 Pinch of salt
 granulated sugar (1 ½ tbsp)
 almond extract   1/2 tsp(refer notes)

 For chocolate icing
 semisweet baking chocolate 2 .25ounces (7 small squares)/ 63.7 g

 rum or coffee 7tsp
 unsalted butter 6 to 7 Tablespoon



Method
Preheat oven to 350F/ 180 C.Butter and flour the cake pan.Pat the excess flour out.
- Set the chocolate and rum or coffee in a small pan(I used coffee), cover, and place (off heat) in a larger pan of almost simmering water( In a steel bowl mix chocolate and rum/ coffee and place it over another bowl with  boiling water, chocolate will melt after 5 minutes) ; let melt while you proceed with the recipe. Measure out the rest of the ingredients.
Cream the butter and sugar together for several minutes until they form a pale yellow, fluffy mixture. Beat in the egg yolks until well blended.
-Beat the egg whites and salt in a separate bowl until soft peaks are formed (gradually increase the speed of your mixer and for about 5 minutes); sprinkle on the sugar and beat until stiff peaks are formed (make use it should have peaks not deflate ones).PLEASE REFER THIS LINK FOR REFERENCE OF PEAKS
-With a rubber spatula, blend the melted chocolate into the butter and sugar mixture, then stir in the ground almonds, and almond extract. Immediately stir in one-fourth ( ¼) of the beaten egg whites to lighten the batter. Delicately fold in a third  (1/3rd) of the remaining whites and when partially blended, sift on one-third  ( 1/3rd) of the flour and continue folding. Alternate rapidly with more egg whites and more flour until all egg whites and flour are incorporated.( Fold in remaining whites alternately with flour in 2 more additions each until you finish the  egg whites and flour)
Turn the batter into the cake pan, pushing the batter up to its rim with a rubber spatula. Bake in middle level of preheated oven for 25minutes. Cake is done when it has puffed, and 2 1/2 to 3 inches around the circumference are set so that a needle plunged  into that area comes out clean; the centre should move slightly if the pan is shaken, and a needle  comes out oily(Bake cake until it puffed andgently set in center and tooth pick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 20-25minutes. (My cake took 25 minutes to cook  started checking from 15th minute,then 20 and finally cooked only by 25th.)Cool cake in pan 10 minutes.).
-Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and reverse cake on the rack. Allow it to cool for an hour or two (about 2 hours); it must be thoroughly cold if it is to be iced.
-To serve, use the chocolate-butter icing recipe below, and then press a design of almonds over the icing.



TO PREPARE  ICING-
-A bowl filled with a tray of ice cubes and water to cover them and set aside.
-Place the chocolate and rum or coffee in a small pan, cover, and set in a larger pan of almost simmering water.  Remove pans from heat and let chocolate melt for 5 minutes or so, until perfectly smooth. Lift chocolate pan out of the hot water, and beat in the butter a tablespoon at a time. Then beat over the ice and water until chocolate mixture has cooled to spreading consistency. At once spread it over your cake with spatula or knife.(Combine chocolate and rum/coffee in small metal/steel bowl. Set bowl over small saucepan/pot of barely simmering water and stir until melted and smooth. Remove steel bowl from over water. Using wooden spoon, mix and incorporate 1 tablespoon of butter, use only 1 tablespoon at a time, until icing is smooth. Place the chocolate bowl over the bowl filled with ice water. Continue to beat until icing is cool and thickened to spreading consistency)
-Place cake on platter. Scrape icing onto top center. Using small offset spatula, spread icing evenly and thinly over top and sides of cake. The cake can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and store at room temperature.
  


Servings~ 1 round cake of 9"
NOTES
* You can use almond extract as the original recipe,my family doesn't like the flavor much.So I have added vanilla extract.
* The sugar mentioned is 3/4th cup but my friends who finished baking early told that it was mildly sweet so increased sugar to another 1/4 cup i.e used 1 cup instead of 3/4 th cup.And so probably the cake took 25 minutes to cook.
* Substitute for cake flour While measuring the cake flour,add a tbsp of corn flour and fill the rest of the cup with all purpose flour.I used this way.
* The egg whites should be beaten in a clean bowl with no greasy,oily touch and not even any part of egg yolk should be mixed.Otherwise the peaks will not be formed.You can add a tsp of vinegar and salt in the bowl using for beating ,wipe it with a paper towel.Don't wash,this helps to stabilise the egg whites.
* You can use a double boiling method to melt the chocolate.  Or you strictly follow Juila’s method.
* Cake won’t set at the center, it is shaky, sides will set, and tooth pick comes out clean, where as in the center it will be oily.
* You can make this cake without any stand mixer.
* The original Julia child recipe calls for a 8" cake pan for which the ingredients listed are as follows-
    cake flour (scooped and leveled, turned into a sifter) ½ cup/ 57g(refer notes)
    pulverized ground almonds 1/3 cup/ 65g
    semi-sweet chocolate melted with 2  tablespoon  of rum or coffee 4 ounce/1 bar /113.4 grams   of
    softened butter 113g(¼  lb. or 1 stick)
    granulated sugar 134g(2/3 cup )
    Eggs  3 ( Yolks and White Separated)
    Pinch of salt
    granulated sugar 1 Tbsp
    almond extract 1/2 tsp  or vanilla extract
 
Chocolate Icing
For Icing
   semisweet baking chocolate 2 ounces (1/2 bar)/ 56.7 g 
   rum or coffee 2 tbsp
   unsalted butter 5-6 tbsp
rest of the method remains the same like 9" cake.
*Even though recipe says about 25 minutes, start checking the cake from 20 minutes if you are using 8 inch cake pan,   9 inch cake pan then from 15 minutes.(Mine was done only by 25 minutes since I increased the sugar to 25 minutes)
* You can make this cake without any flour using entire almond meal.
* Butter can be substituted with butter + oil combo.



If u wish to be part of our team and would love to develop your baking skills,then this group is the right one for you-Baking Partners an effort by Swathi @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen :-)

 


56 comments:

Swathi said... Best Blogger Tips

Beautiful and delicious cake. Great tribute to Master chef. Juila. Please link this reicpe to linky tool

Sanoli Ghosh said... Best Blogger Tips

Amazing! Perfectly made Julie, a real tribute to Julia Child. Nice clicks too.

Ganga Sreekanth said... Best Blogger Tips

ithu kollam julie. . . . . . .choco lawa cake pole undu:-)bookmarked:-!

Kavitha said... Best Blogger Tips

cake looks yummy and mouthwatering....

http://eezy-kitchen.blogspot.com/

Roshni said... Best Blogger Tips

awesome cake... all of u have done a great job

Torviewtoronto said... Best Blogger Tips

cake looks delicious

radha said... Best Blogger Tips

That looks rich! A deserving tribute to Julia!

Reva said... Best Blogger Tips

Cake looks absolutely beautiful... loved it..
Reva

simran said... Best Blogger Tips

difficult to pronounce........but look decadent and divine!

Archana said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow Julie what a delicious cake. Wish I can have a slice, a big one.
I am hosting WTML All through August’12. Do send me your entries

Square Meals said... Best Blogger Tips

Julie and Julia...nice :-)

Tisa Jacob said... Best Blogger Tips

Good looking cake Julie- you'd make Ms. Julia proud :))

Suja Manoj said... Best Blogger Tips

Loving the texture,perfectly baked and so yum.love the way you wrote Julia on the cake,great tribute dear.

Divya A said... Best Blogger Tips

Delicious cake..Has come out so perfectly :)
Today's Recipe - Aatu Thala Curry / Lamb Head Curry
You Too Can Cook Indian Food Recipes

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

simple and lovely cake Julie...

FewMinute Wonders said... Best Blogger Tips

Julie made a cake of Julia. HAaa! Looks pretty good.

Reshmi Mahesh said... Best Blogger Tips

Adipoli...Perfectly baked and delicious looking cake...

divyagcp said... Best Blogger Tips

Awesome Julie.. Such a detailed post.. Loved it.

Priya Suresh said... Best Blogger Tips

Such a damn cute and gorgeous cake Julie, well done.

Shabbu said... Best Blogger Tips

yummy and nice cake dear...
Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen

Az said... Best Blogger Tips

Done to perfection!!! Great work Julie!

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Perfectly baked good decoration, lovely clicks

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

beautiful cake.love it.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Love the presentation and cake looks delicious

great-secret-of-life said... Best Blogger Tips

Yummy looking cake... Nice frosting

Great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

jasna varcakovic said... Best Blogger Tips

Looks delicious...

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

cake looks yummy and the decoration is very nice.

Mélange said... Best Blogger Tips

Terrific presentation Julie..And the way you written Julia there,Hats off...It's more than a tribute !

Vimitha Durai said... Best Blogger Tips

Cake looks so fudgy n gorgeous

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Aww that JULIA on top is really cute! This recipe is really great for all chocolate lovers!

nayana said... Best Blogger Tips

Hi Julie,

A very new recipe and your cake is gorgeous....

http://nayanas-kitchen-kreations.blogspot.in

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

love the decoration.. cake looks very delicious..

Rekha said... Best Blogger Tips

wow so yummy and creamy cake.. perfectly made..
http://www.indiantastyfoodrecipes.com

Sowmya Karthy said... Best Blogger Tips

Interesting - u thought to write Julia's name on it.. Good idea!!
Cake looks very inviting.. Nice decoration..


Sowmya

http://nivedhanams.blogspot.in/

Kusum said... Best Blogger Tips

Ha ha ... interesting. Cakes looks yummy!

Shilpakiran said... Best Blogger Tips

cake look so inviting .. thanks for sharing

Beena said... Best Blogger Tips

Yummy cake

Jeyashris Kitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

Very nicely done

PrathibhaSreejith said... Best Blogger Tips

delicious cake n well decorated Julie, the JULIA made is so nice :)

Spice up the Curry said... Best Blogger Tips

:) cake looks awesome

virunthu unna vaanga said... Best Blogger Tips

wow Julie, great work and delicious...
VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

Kaveri Venkatesh said... Best Blogger Tips

Beautifully baked cake...looks very yum and delicious...am sure missing out on some fun

Priyanka Verma said... Best Blogger Tips

very delicious cake with nice dressing .

Nupur said... Best Blogger Tips

Have you seen the movie " Julie and Julia".. I loved it and this cake reminded me of that movie.. I guess every food blogger should watch it once, such an inspiring movie it was..

Love your cake and that glossy appearance is just too tempting

Jaleela Kamal said... Best Blogger Tips

Amazing cake julie
Jaleela

farah saleem said... Best Blogger Tips

wow! looks amazing julie!! way to go!

farah saleem said... Best Blogger Tips

wow! looks amazing julie!! way to go!

Ambreen (Simply Sweet n Savory) said... Best Blogger Tips

Wonderful looking cake, great job! I want a big slice of it :)

PinayinTexas said... Best Blogger Tips

Great job, Julie! Your cake looks perfectly baked and decorated!

foodgalleri said... Best Blogger Tips

Beautiful and Delicious Cake!!

You have an awesome space here.. Happy to follow you :)

MySpicyKitchen said... Best Blogger Tips

Delicious cake and we totally loved it!

Myvegfare said... Best Blogger Tips

Beautifully done, I love the way you have written julia on it., lovely decoration.

Faseela said... Best Blogger Tips

great job Julie......lovely n yummy cake...

Teena said... Best Blogger Tips

YUMMY YUMMY!!! Good effort Julie :)

Sangeetha M said... Best Blogger Tips

wow...delicious cake n very beautifully made dear...loved your decoration....good work Julie!!

Payal Singhal said... Best Blogger Tips

Cake looks too yum! A marvelous tribute to Julia Child.