Tuesday, March 31, 2009

For those of you trying to lick my sidebar



CAKE.

The moment has come. THE ONE. That you've all been waiting for. It's true.

RECIPES.

All Brazilians can make cake. All Brazilians can make GOOD cake. All Brazilians rock.

Because of their rocky-ness, I also need to say that Brazilians don't usually put oven temperatures or cooking times on their recipes. It's this genetic Brazilian thing where they all know when cakes are done. Actually, I don't think I've EVER seen a recipe with cooking instructions. So I've put guesstimates on everything - just keep checking to see if it's done. You usually know it's ready when you can smell the cake.

I'd say the most common cake layer (including the one shown above in that mouth-watering display of refined sugar) is Pao de Lo (with a ~ over the "a" and an accent over the "o.") It is very moist and sweet. This recipe makes ONE layer - but it's usually used in a 2-4 layer cake.

PAO DE LO

  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • pinch of salt

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time with the salt. Then stir in flour carefully. Bake in a 350 degree oven until done - about 20 minutes? (Add 1/2 cup of baking cocoa or chocolate drink mix like Nesquick to make it a chocolate layer.)

Make a filling and/or topping with either chocolate custard, mousse, whipped cream, or cook a can of sweetened condensed milk with 4 Tbsp. of Nesquick, stirring constantly, until it begins to come away from the pan. (The above picture has two layers - one custard, another mousse. And the topping is just chocolate whipped cream.)


CREAMY COCONUT CAKE

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups freshly grated coconut
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla


In a blender, blend everything but the flour and baking powder for five minutes. Add flour and baking powder slowly. Pour in a greased, floured pan and microwave on high for ten minutes. Let rest five minutes before turning out of the pan.


For a topping, cook 1 cup of toasted coconut with 1 cup of water and 4 Tbsp. of sugar. Pour on top of the cake.

CRAZY CHOCOLATE CAKE ("Negra Maluca")


Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup chocolate milk mix (like Nesquik)

When done, poke top of cake with a fork all over the place. Pour a full glass of chocolate milk over it and make sure the cake soaks it all up. Refrigerate for a few hours. Don't forget to make a filling or topping! Brazilians NEVER leave their cakes dry.


STRAWBERRY TEMPTATION

  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup chocolate drink mix like Nesquick
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups oil


Beat the egg whites and reserve. Beat sugar and yolks well and then add the rest. Fold in egg whites. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Once cooled, slice the cake into two layers. (The layers should be thin.)

FILLING:

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 liter of milk
  • 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup whipped cream
  • 1 box of strawberries

Beat in a blender the gelatin and water, then add everything but the whipped cream. Fold in the whipped cream. Top cake with chocolate and strawberries.

Let me know if you make something - I want to hear your results!

30 comments:

Deb said...

I fully and freely admit that I am pretty domestically challenged, but I may try one. I'll let you know.

Kazzy said...

Wow, this is the second "food" post I have read this morning. These sound really really good. I am going to try one over the weekend. Thanks!

Julie Beddoes said...

I am SO hungry now!

NatalieHemingway said...

Guilty sidebar licker here. I'm gonna take these recipes and hope for the best. I'm not such a great baker. THANKS!

Brittany Ann said...

Yum! Thanks for sharing, I've been wondering about recipes ever since I read a few posts back about the cake there. I will try...hmmm....maybe I'll just make them all. :)

Brooke said...

I really want to try the first one. Which one is your favorite? They all look delicious!

rad6 said...

not exactly on my things to eat list, but oh, how do you resist????
So is one of the recipes the one in the picture??? Yes, licking my computer screen.... it leaves marks btw!

gina said...

Oh, thank you! I love to bake (my hips can attest) and these look soooooooooo good. I think I will print your whole post and try them all. Would having them all in one sitting be glutonous?

J. Baxter said...

Um, I think a warning to all dieters would have been in order here. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME???!!!

At the moment, your new name is Cruella Brazil. I'll let you know when I decide to forgive you...

gigi said...

Oh, I can't wait to try these especially the coconut! It's my all time favorite! YUM!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oh.

My.

I just ate breakfast but I'm suddenly STARVING.

Randi said...

Oh, my, yummy-ness!
I've never been a big cake person, but honestly, those look amazing. It kinda looks like the secret is in the fillings. Do you think that's right?

jess said...

I was thinking about it- I am pretty sure Brazilians NEVER use recipes!! I am super impressed that you could conjure up all of these yummy cakes to make... I can't wait to try them all ;)

MNM: Mangum Family said...

Thank you for these fabulous recipes...you've seen my cakes, you must have done this post just for me! Yay me! Mu husband will love you too, not only does he love cake, but he also says Brazilians make them best!

Can't wait to try them!

Lori - Blondie in Brazil said...

We have an amazing cake shop here in town. Some of the best I've ever had. Since they opened I've decided I shouldn't even attempt a Brazilian cake. :) It is just to easy to order one and it turns out perfect every time.

Debbie said...

And it isn't even my birthday, yet you give me this! Thank you.

Head Nurse or Patient- you be the judge said...

OOOOH! Thank you sooo much for these! I will most definitely make some of these for our family and most especially for my son when he comes home.

Melanie Jacobson said...

Dear Becky,

You are evil.

Love,

Melanie J

Unknown said...

Pardon me while I wipe the drool from my keyboard...

Kristi said...

Yay! Thx for posting these - I always hear from y darling hubby how wonderful the cakes are... so now I can try them and see! Thanks!!

Rachel Sue said...

I need less reasons to make cake! Not more! Oh, the willpower it is going to take. . .

Jennie said...

MMMMMM! Sounds great. I will have to give this a try! Thanks!

Adrienne said...

Is one of these brigadeiro cake? I LOVED that stuff! Can't wait to get cooking!

Elisa said...

I licked my computer screen and it tasted sort of dusty... is that normal?

Shelley said...

YUUUMMMM!!!

Kellie said...

Um.....if I was on a diet, I would break it.

Tobi said...

Mouth is drooling. Sentences are harder to compose. Must Eat Cake!!

J. Baxter said...

My diet hates you.

elesa said...

Thank you! That side bar was giving me nothin'.

holley family said...

uhm becky, dumb request, but uh, can uhm, get a good uhm, yeah, recipe for just uh, (you're gonna think i'm crazy) beans and rice?
i figure lots of people live on it, so it can't be too bad, right? i'm so just curious... please?