I love Smitten Kitchen. The recipes are all so simple and the photography of the food just tempts you into giving the recipes a try for yourself.
The temptation was a little too much when I saw a recipe for her red wine chocolate cake. I caved and decided to give it a go on the weekend. It’s one of the best cakes I have ever made.
The recipe is easy. Here’s what I used:
I didn’t have Dutch cocoa powder and my large eggs were distinctly on the small side of things. But I went with it.
The baking took slightly longer for me. I had it on 180 degrees Celsius. That was my mum’s rough calculation of 325 degrees Fahrenheit (Take away 30 and divide by 2). After half an hour the toothpick I poked into the cake still came out with the cake mixture on it. Not clean at all. Another 5 minutes though and it was done.
My cake doesn’t look nearly as professionally done as the one on Smitten Kitchen’s site. But it was my first attempt and I need to get used to the recipe. I might tweak it in the future. Maybe put slightly less red wine in. Considering adding some orange juice. With the cinnamon and red wine it definitely felt like a bit of a Christmas-y cake. I can imagine eating that with a glass of mulled wine. Mmmmm.
That looks so yummy!
BTW, I saw you’re reading A Storm of Swords! I’ve just finished it, now I’m on A Feast for Crows. Gosh, that series really got me hooked up!
Tell me about it! I have never been so hooked into a series of books as I am with this one. I get the shakes if I don’t read a little bit every day.
That looks absolutely heavenly! Exactly how much is left, and what do I have to do to get me a slice?
It was gone quicker than even I thought it would go! Made on Saturday. All gone by Sunday evening. When I make it next time, I’ll bagsy you a slice before I start making!
I’m holding you to that!