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| Coconut, Chocolate, and Toasted Pecans! |
This is the first of three cakes I’ll be baking for John’s birthday this year – which is tomorrow. We’d never had Italian Cream Cake before, but love coconut and toasted pecans, so we decided to try it. This recipe comes from Julie Richardson’s Vintage Cakes. Julie elevates this sponge cake filled with coconut and pecans to the next level by substituting the traditional cream cheese frosting with pecan-studded chocolate ganache! John said it was like a chocolate macaroon cake. I think it’s like a reverse German Chocolate Cake. Either way, it’s light and delicious!
I decorated the top with chocolate chips between plain and chocolate-dipped pecans then dusted the sides with powdered sugar, according to the recipe. To make the chocolate-dipped pecans, place a sheet of wax paper on a firm flat surface (I used a small cutting board). Dip one end of the pecan into the Chocolate Ganache before you put it in the refrigerator. Then place the pecans on the wax paper and them in the freezer to set while the ganache cools.
As elegant as this cake is, it comes together very easily. Julie’s directions are really well-written and easy to follow. With a little time and confidence, you can’t go wrong with this cookbook.
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| El Encanto Hotel, Santa Barbara |
Happy Birthday, John!
Happy Birthday, indeed!!! That is such a beautiful cake! Can’t wait to see the other two cakes!! Lucky, husband! 🙂
Your husband is so lucky to have you bake 3 cakes for him! This looks irresistible!
How can it not be a happy birthday for John with a cake like that!??! Holy cow, it looks fantabulous! Would like a slice right now! Btw, my husband proposed to me at El Encanto! 🙂
What a gorgeous cake to celebrate Susan! I was thinking german chocolate too. Happy birthday John!
Was the “first of three” a teaser – where are the other two? This cake is gorgeous and, yes, it does look difficult. The picture of the inside of the cake is a work of art in itself. Susan, you are baking beautiful pastries, cakes and pies, becoming a master of it all.