The Cake Merchant

Teeny Tiny Chocolate Cake for One

Tiny Chocolate Cake

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Las Vegas for Aaron’s birthday. I wanted to bake him a birthday cake before we left, but he had already had a day of indulgence with his coworkers followed by a pizza dinner with me, and we were about to leave for a gluttonous weekend, so I didn’t know when we were going to squeeze in the time or belly space for a cake. That’s when I decided to whip up the teeniest tiniest cake ever. It was just big enough to satisfy our sweet tooth before we headed off on our trip.

I made the entire batter for the cake in a measuring cup, and both the cake and the frosting without a mixer. I baked this is my trusty little 4-inch cake pan, which I have gotten way more use of out of than I ever expected when I bought it. I used cake strips to prevent the cake from doming up, since I didn’t want to lose any of this already tiny cake.

Tiny Chocolate Cake

I’ve always used an electric mixer or my Kitchen-Aid to make buttercream, but since this was such a small amount of frosting, I used the wooden spoon method. It takes a little bit longer without a mixer, but there’s less clean up involved. I recommend taking your butter out and cutting it into pieces before you even start making the cake. That way it will already be softened by the time the cake has cooled and you won’t have to wait to make the frosting.

Tiny Chocolate Cake

Tiny Chocolate Cake

This cake can easily made vegan. I’ve made it several times and just used whatever milk I have on hand- whole, 2 percent, soy, almond, etc. The butter in the frosting can be replaced with vegan butter, shortening, or a combo of the two. I used a chocolate frosting on this cake, but I’ve listed several flavor variations below.

For Vanilla Frosting- omit the cocoa powder
For Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting- add 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter
For Chocolate Almond Frosting- add 1/4 teaspoon of pure almond extract
For Mint Chocolate Frosting- add a drop or two of mint extract
For Mocha Frosting- add 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 teaspoon of water and omit the milk

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Double Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

One of my unofficial goals for January was to post recipes more regularly. I was going to blabber more frequently about being vegan and just stay on top of all things blog related. But then life happened, I tested out several cookie recipes and accidentally left some out on the counter, and my dog got a hold of them. A few sleepless nights, several trips to the vet, and a few gallons of carpet cleaner later, I’m happy to report that my dog is okay. Even though I’m failing on the posting regularly goal, at least I’m still vegan (which is the longest I’ve followed any diet ever!) and I came up with a pretty darn good cookie. Word of caution: keep far far away from dogs.

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I made you a skillet cookie just for two, because nothing says I love you like a gooey chocolate cookie. The texture is actually a cross between a brownie and a cookie that’s and filled with more melty chocolate chips. Essentially, it’s chocolate heaven. If you’re single, no worries. I could easily polish this off in one sitting by myself, and I won’t judge you if you do too.

This recipe is really simple to make – one bowl, dump and stir, and no mixer required! I tested the cookies with both tapioca flour and cornstarch, and liked the texture that the tapioca flour produced. However, I know it’s not as readily available, so you can sub cornstarch. Just know that it will have a slightly crispier exterior as it sets, but these are best served warm out of the oven anyway. Top with Triple Vanilla Ice Cream, grab two spoons, and dig in with your loved one.

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

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Birthday Cakes in a Jar

Birthday Cakes in a Jar

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, let’s get on to more important things. Like my birthday. Technically it’s not until Wednesday, but I like to make my birthday week filled with as many obnoxiously sprinkly posts as possible. Unfortunately, I’m going out of town tomorrow for work for my entire birthday week, so I went with a sprinkly portable cake that I plan to take with me on my trip. Don’t worry, though, my real birthday cakes (I always make two) will be coming, but just a little later than usual.

I totally meant to post these little jar cakes for Small Batch Saturday, but Saturday turned into Sunday, so Small Batch Sunday it is. I’m trying my best to stick with the schedule, but this every other week thing is way too complicated for me. Anyway, this recipe makes 2 little cakes which can be baked directly in mason jars.

I chose yellow cake with mocha frosting because when I was a kid, I only liked 2 kinds of cake- yellow cake with chocolate frosting, or mocha cake with mocha frosting. Both were from a cake mix, and I’m embarrassed to say that the frosting was usually from a can. By the way, whatever happened to mocha flavored cake mix? Does anyone else remember that? These little cakes are combination of my two favorite childhood flavors.

Birthday Cakes in a JarSprinklesBirthday Cakes in a JarBirthday Cakes in a Jar

Not pictured: Aaron trying to steal a jar of cake and me running after him with a squirt bottle screaming, “Drop the cake!” We are so mature.

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Birthday Cakes in a Jar

Yield: makes 2 half pint sized mason jar cakes

Ingredients

    For the Cake:
  • 3 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • Yolk of 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • For the frosting
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon good quality cocoa powder (I used Valrhona)
  • 1/2 teaspoon coffee extract
  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • sprinkles for topping

Instructions

    For the Cake:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
  2. Grease and flour 2 half pint sized mason jars (or use a baking spray such as Baker’s Joy or Cake Release).
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and baking soda until the baking soda is dissolved.
  4. Add the egg yolk, vanilla, and melted butter. Whisk to combine.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
  6. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined.
  7. Divide the batter equally between the prepared jars. Place the jars on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes, and turn them out onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
    9. For the frosting:
  9. With an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until it has become light and creamy.
  10. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and beat on low to combine.
  11. Turn the mixer up to medium and beat for an additional minute.
  12. Add the coffee extract and milk and beat to combine.
    13. Assembly:
  13. Place the frosting in a 12-inch piping bag fitted with a star tip
  14. If your cake has domed up on the top, slice it off to make the cake flat (the dome is perfect for taste testing).
  15. Slice the cake horizontally into 2 even layers.
  16. Place one layer of the cake in the bottom of the jar.
  17. Pipe a layer of frosting over the cake.
  18. Add an additional layer of cake and pipe an additional layer of frosting.
  19. Top with sprinkles.
https://cakemerchant.com/2014/02/16/birthday-cakes-jar/

Cake recipe adapted from Small-Batch Baking