I may never make a full-size cake again after styling and receiving my first copy of Candace Floyd’s “Little Everyday Cakes”. I immediately went to page 94 and baked the above two layer, 6 inch cake for no special reason except that I just wanted a slice. One slice. That’s all. This was the perfect cake…the perfect slice….very dark chocolate cake, not overly sweet, with a spicy cayenne bite, plenty of cinnamon and fluffy coffee liqueur-chocolate ganache frosting. Thanks Candace.
This photo is the one from the book that I styled, shot by photographer extraordinaire, Danielle Atkins. I love this image. Just looking at it tells a story. Isn’t that what a good photograph should do? Of all the cakes in the book that are lovely and delicious, this photo inspired me to bake this particular cake.
The holiday season is just around the corner and you will no doubt be looking for just the right gift for the dessert lover on your list? This is it. A book full of “50+ perfectly proportioned confections to enjoy any day of the week” to eat and share. Ask for it at your favorite local bookstore, or purchase from the publisher Springhouse Press, or online at Amazon.
There are one layer cakes, square cakes and round cakes, layered cakes and cakes you cut up to serve…cakes that only take one egg, loaf cakes, seasonal cakes and easy cakes that are for breakfast and brunch. All the kinds of cakes we love to eat and bake shrunk down to serve 4 to 8 people. Elegant cakes and simple old-fashioned cakes along with a whole section on glazes and sauces and frostings.
Life can be complicated and hard. Some days you need to do something nice for yourself such as baking a cake just because you want a slice! Then pass it on.
mexican chocolate cake
Ingredients for cake:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (150g)
- 7 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa (53g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I think I added 1/4 teaspoon!)
- 2/3 cup water (156g)
- 1/4 cup whole milk, room temp (56g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened (84g)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (106g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (99g)
- 2 eggs room temp
Ingredients for ganache frosting:
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur such as Kahlua
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash of cayenne pepper
Directions for cake and frosting:
- Preheat oven to 325F (165C). Grease two 6 inch round cake pans. Line pans with parchment paper. Grease parchment paper. Dust pans with flour. Set aside.
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cayenne.
- Combine water, milk and vanilla.
- Place butter in a mixing bowl. Using an electric stand or hand mixer on medium-high, beat until creamy.
- Add the sugars and beat until fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture and milk mixture a little at a time, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until smooth. Scrape batter into the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake cakes for 30-35 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Place pans on wire rack and let cakes cook 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cook, top sides up, completely.
- While cake is baking place the chocolate chips in a mixing bowl along with the coffee liqueur, ground cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
- Heat the cream in a saucepan just until bubbles begin to form around the edges.
- Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let stand 10 minutes. Stir mixture until the chips are completely melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool completely. (Refrigerate to speed up cooling process if you like.)
- When mixture is cool, beat with an electric mixer on high-speed until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla.
- To frost the cake place one layer on cake stand or plate. Spread one-third of the frosting on top. Place second cake layer on top and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.
(for my photo I added some sanding/decorative sugar just for the crunch.)
Recipe by: Candace Floyd for “Little Everyday Cakes” published by Springhouse Press 2018
teresablackburnfoodstyling.com
Very cute! Big or small, I don’t bake cakes, but I envy people who do!
These cakes are so easy and not so much leftover to dry out and get tossed out! Thanks for stopping by.
I want some.
Former Everyman
Everyman I shall make you a cake from this book soon…very soon….
“Oink!” 🐷🐷😊
Oink indeed and thank you for stopping by. T
That is a beautiful cake! Those photos really caught my attention too!
This cake is just one of the many fabulous and easy to make cakes in this book…I love the size…not such a responsibility to eat more!! Happy October
Thanks so much, Teresa—for liking my cakes, for styling my book, for buying my book, for being a super supporter. Mexican Chocolate Cake is one of my favorites, too. Love you, Candace
Oh Candace I am your biggest fan. I have to make a special request from your book for Everyman! I gave her a copy today just in case she gets the baking urge. I think the book turned out so great. Much love to you as well my friend. T
I’ve had some 6″ cake pans for years and have always been too lazy to figure out how to use them. This is perfect!
Oh how wonderful Michelle….I had to purchase mine as it never occurred to me to make a wee cake…I would never have figured out the amounts…Thanks much. T
I just found your blog…where have you been all my life! YUM!
Thanks Ella so very much. I’ll come over for a visit to The Wacky Spoon. T
I am going into the kitchen and making this almost as I type (Just leaving out the pepper). We’re excited to be excerpting Candace’s book in our Nov/Dec issue!!!!! Love you both! Jill
I know it is so exciting Jill…It is just the sweetest little cake book ever and I’m very please with it. Love to you as always. T
Ay e I’d have better luck with little cakes than I do with big ones!
Little cakes are perfect for two people as you never have too much tempting cake to eat. Thank you for sharing this delicious chocolate cake, Teresa.
Thanks Karen…this one came through just fine and dandy. Happy November.
Hahaha love the caption and the cake
Thanks….in these trying times I felt the need to add a bit of humor to this blog post…appreciate your kind words. Happy November.
You’re most welcome. Wishing you more joy and happiness x
Thanks so much.
When the new edition of “edible” magazine came out I was so inspired by the picture of THAT Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Buttercream and the article by Candace Floyd and her cookbook, “Everyday Little Cakes” I knew I had to bake one! I went right out and bought the ingredients and the cake pans. The next morning rising early to make 2 for 2 friends I was meeting for lunch, I was ready to begin, or so I thought….I couldn’t find the recipe so, I drove all around Nashville looking for one and finally after 6 stops and running out of time, success. They were so beautiful and I’m not a baker. I gently inserted them into a 8″ Wilton cake box with the see through top and wrapped them in beautiful holiday ribbon. I was so proud I took photos of them in all their glory. So, it’s raining and I’m running late with a handful of cake boxes, purse, umbrella and keys and dropped one completely upside down right by the car door! I stood there looking at it as if I was having an out of body experience. I made it to the restaurant late of course but I had a great cake story to share.
What a story Judy! I was both horrified for you and laughing at the same time. Thank you for sharing this funny, sweet moment with me. This book is just the best isn’t it? Happy Holidays. Teresa