A Chocolate Lovers Dream

A time to celebrate!

When it comes time for a special birthday, I often scour cookbooks, studying what culinary guru, Dori Greenspan would make and searching old recipe files. My notebook has many sweet, wonderful desserts collected through the years. Many are old-school cakes and desserts that are as storied as they are delicious. Some of them are older than the heirloom china upon which the slices are served.

Each recipe, dog-eared and splattered, and yellowed with age is often a cherished keepsake that links us to our grandmother or a dear friend. They are not just desserts but become part of our family traditions and rich history. My mother’s recipe files were filled with recipes written on the back of church bulletins, grocery store receipts, and bank deposit slips. The memory of these dishes still brings me back to her kitchen and the aroma of freshly baked cakes.

This one got my attention a few months ago when its creator, Loretta Gorman, talked to us about it and demonstrated it at an event in downtown Beaufort. She had featured this cake in her book, Nurture, and now shared it with our class.

The group was composed of ladies who loved crafting recipes and tinkering with techniques and ingredients. Personally, I love recipes made for home bakers and I have enjoyed sharing whatever I bake with friends and co-workers. I find it a joy to be in the kitchen knowing from the start that whoever made these recipes, whoever will bake and share them in the future, will find the same joy in their kitchens.

After all, the most important part of cooking is the joy that comes from making something and sharing it. But you all know that!

This cake has a chocolate ganache topping that makes it especially decadent. It just looks like a celebration cake made for someone very special. I have never had anything like it - memorable and one of the most delicious cakes you will ever enjoy.