I was all prepared to write a whiny, negative post about how disappointed I was with this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe. This after steering some of my fellow TWDers astray by complaining on Twitter that it was boring, dry, blah, blah, blah.
But you know what happened? My coworkers took me to task for dissing these cute little cakes. They loved them, LOVED them, and they questioned the fine tuning of my palate because I didn't like them, too. I guess I was wrong.
It all started with the name: Milk Chocolate Mini Bundt Cakes with Chocolate Glaze. I took exception to the milk chocolate (not a fan) mini bundt (don't own the pan) and glaze (I glaze about as well as I pipe--terribly). I was prepared to love this with a few changes. I substituted bittersweet chocolate for the milk chocolate and baked them in mini brioche molds. I decided to replace the problematic chocolate glaze with caramel ganache from Rose Levy Berenbaum's Heavenly Cakes, to which I added fleur de sel.
This was so much better than I thought it would be. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but I feel good about this one. My coworkers, a discriminating bunch, loved it. They gave it a chance after I dismissed it, and in that I learned a valuable lesson: taste is subjective, and it's a judgment each person makes independently.
Many thanks to Kristin of I'm Right About Everything for picking this recipe for us. I never would have made this one otherwise, and that would have been my loss.
Salted Caramel Ganache? That sounds amazing!!!!!! Looks so good too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting me going early on baking these, they were a big hit here, and it was fun baking with you, as always. Yours look so pretty from that pan, and the glaze is amazing! No wonder your co-workers loved them.
ReplyDeleteMy family liked them more than I did too! Your ganache looks fantastic! I made caramel sauce for mine.
ReplyDeleteWOW! If decadence has a mini bundt, it is surely this one! How gooey and shiny! ...totaly inviting and mouthwatering!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at salted caramel ganache. Your cake looks great! We really enjoyed this one, although I didn't think it tasted like chocolate. Glad these were a big hit with your CWs!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how you can get so critical of your own baked goods? I love that everyone else loved them. Your changes sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteI would just like to bathe in the salted caramel ganache. That looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have issues with milk chocolate too. :) Your little cakes are adorable! Great idea to use caramel.
ReplyDeleteSalted. Caramel. Ganache!
ReplyDeleteOh. my. goodness.
Your my hero.
You can send me a gallon of that salted caramel ganache, thank you! :D While I have had richer chocolate cakes, I really liked this. Could have been the addition of walnuts...I love nuts in baked goods!
ReplyDeleteYour little cakes sound wonderful. You had me at salted caramel ganache. I'm now drooling.
ReplyDeleteWe really liked these little cakes. My kids complained because they only got one cake each, we should have a smaller family!
ReplyDeleteThey would be delicious with a caramel ganache.
Mimi
You had me at caramel ganache! You know, my family agrees with your co-workers - our tastebuds have become jaded. We - me, for sure - are now longing for that better recipe just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteLove that your used the brioche molds!
Yay! for co-workers. Sometimes the co-workers like things I think are a failure...you never know I guess.
ReplyDeleteThey look good. Great idea to use the brioche molds.
Please share your recipe for salted caramel ganache. It sounds wonderful. I thought these cakes were yummy.
ReplyDeletemmm, that ganache sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteand your cakes are adorable.
Salted caramel ganache sounds wonderful! I like the little brioche pans, so cute.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the caramel ganache with fleur de sal addition. I bet that made this recipe a winner! I wish I had stepped out on this one. Great cakes!
ReplyDeleteI liked this recipe better than I expected, too, but so far I'm the only one to taste this recipe. Your ganache sounds like the perfect complement to your dark chocolate substitution. Sometimes I think we're our own worst critics!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at salted caramel ganache. Yum!! I would have loved these with that topping!
ReplyDeleteLovely little cakes! Lovely little photos too! Yumm wish I had a bite of yours, definitely dark chocolate is my favorite but my hubs likes milk, ugh. Anyway, it takes all kinds and I'm glad your CO's liked them. They are a lucky bunch.
ReplyDeleteAmyRuth
PS Corbin thanks you! :-)
ooooh, caramel ganache - count me in! I'm with you - these cakes didn't do it for me tastewise (they were just OK); not sure what the co-workers thought, but they all disappeared!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I think bittersweet and caramel actually sounds better with these. They were a little dry and not too exciting, but my boys ate them all up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip about the bleach pen.
Ciao ! I'd love to try your ganche !! I was suspicious to but loved the recipe !
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it after changing the recipe to your liking. I have Rose's book but haven't tried that glaze yet. Sounds delicious. I'm assuming you own her new book. Would you be interested in joining the Heavenly Cake Bakers? We bake through her book, once a week. You can find all "the rules" on http://heavenlycakeplace.blogspot.com. Would be nice to have you be part of the baking club :o)
ReplyDeleteI definitely find that I'm often much tougher on my baked goods than others are so it's always good to get a second opinion. Love your little cakes baked in the brioche pans! Your ganache is without a doubt the one I'll be using next time I make these - yum!!
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar experience - I was also prepared to not love these cakes (too much), and it turned out that I adore them! I used the milk chocolate even though I don't like it a lot usually, and it turned out pretty fine in this combination. So I additionally learned, that it is always worth to give things a try :o]
ReplyDeleteI actually liked these a lot with the milk chocolate, which surprised me. Your ganache sounds fabulous, and I'm going to have to try it. Rose's book is on my wishlist already.
ReplyDeleteThe caramel ganache sounds heavenly! Thanks so much for baking with me this week!
ReplyDelete