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There is no reason on earth why this, adapted from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, has to be a birthday cake, but since the first two times I made it were for my sister-in-law's and a friend's birthdays in late October and early November, that's how I think of it. In both cases, I put just one (gold) candle on top: better on any number of counts. I know that adorning plates with autumn leaves is not my usual aesthetic, but that's another benefit of using this as a birthday cake: you can allow yourself a little ironic leeway.
If you like it sweet (and usually I don't) this is the cake for you! However, if like me your tooth tends to the more savoury, there is still something here to be enjoyed, albeit in smaller doses than your sugar-junky countereparts! I made this for my boyfriends birthday and although he's not big on cake either, he liked it too. My icing was a bit of a disaster as I think I overwhipped and lost the stiffness out of the whites, so it kind of became a delicious glaze instead! But its still worked! I took the leftovers in to work, where my sugar-fiend colleagues snaffled it up in minutes and asked for seconds! I would def make it again, however in Australia (not sure about elsewhere) the real Maple syrup is expensive, so this cake does sit on the pricier side. All in all, sugariffic!
Posted by MiniWhiskMad on 21st Oct 2011 at 7.49
I've baked this cake for the project me and two friends have started this year in which we bake all the cakes from How to be a Domestic Goddes. We share our thoughts and results and on our website www.goddelijkehuisvrouw.nl, but this is in Dutch only. Anyway, when I was doing the cake chapter, I made this cake and it was sensational! It was for my mothers birthday in the spring, but that was no problem, everyone loved it. Margot
Posted by goddelijke huisvrouw on 13th Oct 2011 at 18.05
I made this for my Dad's birthday and took to a restaurant to have after our meal, as I wanted to make him a 'grown up' birthday cake. I was so pleased with the end result, it looks gorgeous and it goes a very long way... I think about 10 of us had a generous slice. Everyone had a smile on their face :) I will definately be making this again one day!
Posted by RudieFoodie on 13th Oct 2011 at 12.57
I have had a trial run, it is lovely! I am going to make another one for 5th of November, family will be round for the usual Bonfire night supper. I have bought cake sparklers to put in the top, should look spectacular!
Posted by jackskitchen on 12th Oct 2011 at 16.59
I've made this cake a number of times and it is just unbeatable. Highly recomend it. Regads.
Posted by Rodrigo-Andrés on 1st Oct 2011 at 15.53