Wednesday 7 January 2015

Steamed Chocolate Buttermilk Cake


I did say that I was going to blog about the steamed version of Chocolate Buttermilk Cake. But the problem was that I couldn't get buttermilk. I know I can make buttermilk on my own by mixing milk with lemon juice but I didn't want to do that. I like the one that I can buy from the supermarket. But it is quite hard to get as it is always out of stock. In fact I saw a few cartons on Saturday and I thought I would come back on Sunday to buy it. But on Sunday, there was not a carton in sight. Hmmm...so there are other people who like Paul's buttermilk too.



The last time I steamed a smaller version of this cake, I enjoyed the cake so much that I promised myself that I simply have to make a full blown 8" version. So here it is. Since I had some pecans in the fridge I decided to play with it by decorating the cake. I am not really into cake decorating but if I didn't pretty it up, all you will see is a blob of brown which does not do justice to the cake.


I did make a mistake while the cake was steaming. Madam itchy fingers decided to check the cake at the 30 minute mark. In the oven, this cake would have taken 35-40 minutes (from my previous experience) and I thought it might be the same in the steamer. Of course the cake was still raw and it was done only after 1 hour. And because I took it out of the steamer too early, my cake sank in the middle.


Due to the sinkhole, I ended up with a well in the middle of the cake which was filled with ganache :) Oh yes, decorating covers up the flaws hee..hee.. But I am such an amateur. Look at the lower right sector of the cake above. What a mess! 


I have seen how cakes are decorated on TV and the bakers place the cake on a wire rack and let the chocolate drip off. Once decorated, the cake is transferred onto a plate. I would not know how to do that and knowing how clumsy I am, there's the risk of me dropping the cake.


Anyway, that would have to wait for another day when I am feeling more adventurous than usual. Another challenge that I realize is that it is quite tricky to slice a decorated cake. For an unadorned cake, I can just slice into it without a second thought but with this one, I have to be careful not to mess up.


But it was fun and it made the cake look pretty don't you agree? The decoration I made was not a difficult one. I mean, anybody can line pecans around the cake and sprinkle chopped nuts in the centre. 


Decorations notwithstanding, the most important thing is the taste. I guess I don't have to tell you that because this cake has been tested so many times before. It was moist and chocolaty and with the addition of pecans, mmmmmm.....


OK, I promise I won't bombard you with anymore chocolate buttermilk cake. So, if you are interested, you can bake or steam this cake yourself and enjoy it with your family and friends. It is a moist and delicious cake and it will not disappoint you. I reckon buttermilk can be substituted with yoghurt.










Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcakes
Recipe source : Adapted from here

Ingredients :
- 113g unsalted butter, cut into small or thin pieces (can be straight from the fridge)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 125ml buttermilk
- 125ml grapeseed oil (or any neutral tasting vegetable oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 65g cocoa powder (sifted)
- 250g self-raising flour
- 180g caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method :
1. Line and grease an 8" cake pan.
2. In a saucepan, put butter and hot water and stir to melt the butter.
3. Sift cocoa powder into the melted butter mixture. Stir to mix.
4. Then add sugar, cinnamon powder, buttermilk, grapeseed oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine and to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
5. In a mixing bowl, sift flour.
6. Pour the wet mixture into the flour and whisk to combine. (The batter will be lumpy in the beginning and will smooth out)
7. Pour batter into prepared pan and cover pan with aluminium foil (to prevent water from getting into the cake)
8. Steam over medium heat for about 60 minutes or until cake is springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

Ganache frosting

Ingredients :

- 100g bittersweet chocolate
- 100 ml heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Method :

1.  Break chocolate to smaller pieces
2.  Put into a heatproof container together with butter
3.  Boil the heavy cream and pour onto the chocolate and butter. Wait for 5 minutes before stirring the mixture.


56 comments:

  1. Ooooooo !!! Your chocolate cake looks so so so good.. Rich, moist, full of chocolatey goodness.. Look at that ganache, that super thick and dark chocolate coating.. If you don't mention the word "steamed", I thought it's baked la, the normal baked chocolate cake.. And if you bring this to any parties or to my house *ahem*, I will think you buy from bakery la, wooott !! Same phrase, don't get tired of it - I can finish the whole cake by myself, serious...

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    1. Thank you, thank you! As usual, you can wallop the whole cake hah..hah...

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  2. Good morning, Phong Hong. I see a very beautifully decorated with all the pecans and nuts. Looks so yummy and good. If you didn't tell about the hole in centre, I won't even know about it. Can I have a piece, please?

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    1. Thank you, Nancy! Of course you can have a piece :)

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  3. Wowwwwww!!!! So pretty! You've got good hands! I can imagine the mess I would make if I try doing that. Hehehehehe!!!!!

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    1. Thank you! It was an easy decoration I doubt you will mess up :)

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  4. steam chocolate cake!! and this reminds me of your steam prune and chocolate cake last month, which is also featured in your blog header!! slurps slurps!!!

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  5. Hi Phong Hong,

    I can't see any flaws in your post... only a beautiful yummy chocolate cake!!! You are too modest!

    Zoe

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  6. aiyoyo, I have to give a word to this steam chocolate cake today: WOW!!! equally sinfully delicious like how the prune cake made me drool.. the rich chocolate and the moist texture, together with the nicely arranged pecan on top, this is heaven or hell, divine or evil may I ask?? muahahaha~~

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    Replies
    1. They are both good and bad hah..hah....

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  7. adoi....really early early wanna tempt me ah......later i call taxi zoom to your place ah...LOL


    Looks super delicious la

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  8. Hi Phong Hong, I like your simple and pretty decoration on top and the chocolate cake look moist and yummy!!!

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  9. Love the pix with the strawberries !!

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    Replies
    1. Yah, reminds you of your little princess :)

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  10. Look very nice & romantic feel.. Like .

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! Romantic pulak...hee..hee...

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  11. What a pretty cake, wish I can have a slice of it right now!

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    Replies
    1. Bake one or rather steam one, Jasline!

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  12. So nice, can't imagine what mine will turn out to be if i were to do it...

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    Replies
    1. Sharon, yours will be nice also lah...

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  13. The cake looks yummy, esp the topping!

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  14. That steamed chocolate cake is good enough already...and then you added pecans...double yumss!!

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    Replies
    1. Yup, the pecans were good with chocolate and everything went so well together :)

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  15. If I bake this cake, you will definitely only see a blob of brown and nothing else. Who cares about other people's viewing experience XD
    By the way ah, preheat the oven at 160C for what? Since you are steaming..

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    1. Ah! I see you read the recipe! Thanks for spotting the error. Already corrected hee..hee...

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  16. Phong Hong,
    Wow ! I really wow seeing these lovely pictures! An expensive cake as loaded with pecans. Yeah, you definitely deserved to enjoy this delicious and beautifully decorated Chocolate Buttermilk with ganache frosting, pecans and served with some strawberries !

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    1. Karen, hee..hee.. not bad lah, huh? I enjoyed the cake very much.

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  17. Replies
    1. Lina, you make me nervous hee..hee...

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  18. Hi Phong Hong,
    This is a hotel standard decorated cake la!
    I would be so happy if I can have a silica now !!
    mui

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    Replies
    1. Oops! Typo error.
      I mean 2 slices now..hahaha

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    2. mui mui, you are very excited hee..hee... paiseh, thanks for your generous compliments!

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  19. Hi PHong Hong, your cake does look very very nice and moist. Pretty decorations too. No flaws at all!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Veronica! You are very kind :)

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  20. PH, got online delivery or not???? Salivating here in Ipoh!!!

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    Replies
    1. Claire, this could be on my retirement plan :D

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  21. I am drooling badly now, looking at your delicious and yummy looking cake. I just found out that pecans are so expensive. No wonder they taste nice and heavenly.

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    Replies
    1. TM, pecans are indeed expensive! But so good to eat. That's why I seldom buy them.

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  22. it looks absolutly perfect and delicious!

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  23. Hi PH, beautiful cake. I like how u decor the cake - simple and nice,

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  24. You really can bake la! I love those nuts on top, yummy! Just wondering what is buttermilk?

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    1. Thanks, Hayley! Buttermilk is the liquid residue left from making butter. You can buy it from the supermarket.

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  25. I like the pecans! When are you opening your cake shop? I will buy cakes from you defnitely!

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    1. Mun, it is not so easy to run a cake shop. Don't think I will venture into this hah..hah...

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  26. Hi Phong Hong, you did so well and beautiful decoration with this cake.

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  27. Looks awesome. It must have incredible taste :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Emilia! It was chocolaty and good :)

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  28. You have done a great job. I will definitely dig it and personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this site. mcathome.org |

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