White Layer Cake with Strawberry Buttercream

If I could, I would bake a cake at least once every two weeks.  This has nothing to do with my sweet tooth either, it has more to do with the process of creating something beautiful.  I always say that my four favorite passions all phonetically begin with the same sound - fashion, food, flowers and photography.  When I can pair a few of these things together it makes me impossibly happy.  To relish in the end of summer, I decided to create a white layer cake with strawberry buttercream and decorate it with soft pink lisianthus flowers.  This recipe is unique because it incorporates two different types of frosting - a buttercream and an Italian meringue.  The latter takes a bit of time to make but it is definitely worth it.  It takes on the consistency of fluff and melts in your mouth.

Mother's Day Brunch:: Blueberry Crumble Cake (SELF Magazine Feature)

Are you looking for a delicious and easy recipe to prepare for your Mother's Day brunch Sunday? I recently collaborated with Self.com to create a recipe that was inspired by a recipe my mom used to make growing up, so I settled on a Blueberry Crumble Cake.  This cake is incredibly moist and it has an addictive layer of crumb topping that makes it irresistible when paired with coffee.  You can find the recipe here. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Devils' Food Cake with Hazelnut Crunch

The delicious combination of chocolate and hazelnut is the Italians answer to peanut butter and jelly, except I'll be honest, I like their pairing better.  Luckily this dynamic duo comes in the form of Nutella, an addicting spread that I cannot trust to have my house for fear that it will be my topping du jour on nearly everything.  I recently wanted to make a cake, to thank the family in the area for all that they did for me while I was in the hospital.  My thankfulness translated into a Devil's Food cake with Hazelnut Crunch, a definite labor of love that was quite possibly the best cake I have ever made.  It combines an incredibly moist chocolate cake that has hints of rich coffee (the recipe calls for it), a hazelnut crunch that is addicting and incorporates rice cereal, nutella and freshly toasted hazelnuts and is topped with a mousse-like frosting that is out of this world. In other words it is death-by-chocolate.  While this cake took a while to bake and put together, it was well-worth it, after all my fiancé and his wonderful family deserve it. If I could have sent this cake to my friends that sent me flowers,  brought me macarons and loads of magazines to my sisters that drove from Boston and all of the people that were praying for me -  I would have made that many cakes.  This cake is for you too, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  Now, let's eat some cake!

Upside-Down Pear Cake

Growing up, I was very lucky because my mom decided to stay at home to raise her growing brood (I am one of seven children).  One fond memory that I have is when she would get together for coffee with her friends there would always be a delicious assortment of breakfast pastries and coffee cake piled high with crumb topping, this cake is a homage to those memories.  This cake is a hybrid though really, it combines a wonderfully moist white cake that is topped with Bosc pears that have been smothered in caramelized brown sugar.This cake is the perfect answer for either a delicious pastry to serve along brunch or for dessert, just add a dollop of whipped cream.  

Angel Food Cake with White Chocolate Ganache Frosting

I have a recipe for you today that is like eating a sugar coated cloud kissed with white chocolate.  I typically make angel food cake during the summer -  it is the perfect summer dessert since it is light and a great way to incorporate fresh berries.  This version here I am dubbing the 'winter version' - Angel Food Cake with White Chocolate Ganache Frosting. If served slightly chilled the frosting takes on an almost ice cream like effect (cue the sugar and cream) while the cake inside is moist and incredibly fluffy.  Generally speaking I am not a white chocolate lover, but when incorporate into a ganache frosting it is unbelievably delicious.  If you are looking for a cake that can transition you to spring (only 29 days left, but who is counting?) this just might be it!  Continue for more...

Winter White Cake with Blood Orange Curd & Buttercream

I believe that everyone should have a no-fail chocolate and white cake recipe that they can turn to whenever they have the desire or need to bake a cake. I luckily have my go to for decadently rich dark chocolate cake from  Bon Appétit, but until recently I was always on the lookout for a white cake that completely blew me away (and let me say this is no easy task, since I am a chocolate girl through and through).  Luckily, my search has ended and my favorite chocolate recipe has met it's match - meet this white cake that I layered in Blood Orange Curd and topped with buttercream and coconut.  This cake is like eating a slice of heaven. It is incredibly light and moist while the blood orange curd gives it a sort of creamsicle taste and  the coconut transports you somewhere warm - very, very warm, but to bring it back to reality (sigh), I topped with a gilded pine cone.   Continue for recipe...

Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Cake

I could not be happier that it is Meyer lemon season.  The Meyer lemon is the friendlier version of it's traditional lemon counterpart that lingers on store shelves throughout the year, until each winter, it's slightly sweeter and less bitter cousin greets us with its sunny presence.  I love this variety because it is a cross between an orange and a lemon and it is the perfect compliment to your water or better yet an addition to a dessert.  As you might have noticed, I have an affinity for traditional Italian food, which is why I decided to make a Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Cake, the perfect post-holiday indulgence.  This cake is incredibly light and fluffy and has a slightly salty/sweet crunchy top, thanks to the sprinkling of turbinado sugar and sea salt just before baking.  This cake serves perfectly alongside an afternoon cup of tea or a demitasse of espresso.  Continue for recipe...