Koko Black asked to make a winter treat. I squealed, and then Michael Buble’s “chestnuts roasting over an open fire” played in my head. When the generous care package was delivered to my door, I had a list of ideas that was bursting with creativity.
Here are two recipes to make a Wonderful Winter. Just add Koko. Which winter treat is your favorite?
Bright & Spicy
I enjoy bright, crisp winter days. Wrapping up in colorful scarves helps to keep the cold at bay. The combination of tart Rhubarb, caramelized White Chocolate, and a hint of cardamom in this spicy recipe was just right. The layers of brown butter cake infused with cardamom are hidden beneath the Rhubarb Compote, with a caramelized frosting made from white chocolate and caramelized white butter. Vanilla buttercream is then smothered over it.
Dark & Decadent
There’s also the comfort and decadence of long days and short nights. Enjoying your favorite shows while snuggled up under blankets, enjoying treats and a few sweets. This indulgent treat has layers of dark chocolate almond cake smothered with toffee cream and filled with salty milk chocolate crunch and pretzels.
I CONFESS
It was so much fun to play with chocolate! Koko Black was so kind to invite me to take part in this collaboration. You can find the Behind-the-Scenes videos for making this cake in my Instagram highlights. It’s nestled under Collabs.
Recipes & Techniques
- Check out This Post by ThePost Byant Baker for instructions on how you can caramelize chocolate. It worked perfectly when I followed the instructions. Be prepared to spend some time on the process.
- I was inspired to pair cardamom with Rhubarb using this recipe from Tassy Bakes. I followed the recipe for the Rhubarb Filling but substituted lemon juice for orange and added extra sugar to balance it. I would recommend trying all recipes and breaking the rules as your palate demands.
- Brown Butter Cardamom Cake – I used yogurt in place of sour cream, sour cream, and crushed cardamom. I used half the amount for this 4-inch cake and added 1 tsp freshly ground cardamom. Do let your palette guide you.
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