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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Earth Cakes


Want to green up your wedding with earthy cakes? Check out this idea I found on Martha Stewart's site today! Once you've eaten your treat, wash 'em out and get out those herbs or seeds and do some planting!
Each cake is topped with a creamy layer of chocolate
frosting, a smattering of crushed cookies and candy "rocks," and a fresh sprig of mint.

I loved this idea for a wedding reception or even an Earthy Bridal Shower!


You could include a little burlap sack filled with some sort of seeds or a tree sapling as your wedding favor with instructions to plant it in your little pot to get it started! :)

  • Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil, plus more for pots
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract



Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush the inside of each flowerpot with oil, and line with parchment paper or foil. Brush lining with oil, and lightly dust with cocoa.

  2. Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda and powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add egg and yolk, 3/4 cup warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix on low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
  3. Divide batter among prepared pots, filling each about two-thirds full. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, rotating sheet about halfway through, until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cakes cool completely on sheet on a wire rack.

  4. Frost cakes with an offset spatula; sprinkle with crushed cookies. Top with candies; "plant" 1 mint sprig in each cake.

Makes about 3 cups

  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup milk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Sift sugar and cocoa together in a medium bowl. Whisk in butter, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Use immediately.

1 comment:

So, what do ya think?