Avant Garde Cake

Every third sunday of the month of January, Filipinos celebrate the Sinulog festival to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus. It is essentially a dance ritual which remembers the Filipino people's pagan and their acceptance of Christianity. This is one of the grandest and colorful festivals in the Philippines particularly in Cebu City.

Another grand event that is happening today is hubby's birthday celebration! We are also having our grand event here at home and as usual a busy day for me in the kitchen. I made him an avant garde style cake and for his lunch viand is beef steak ala pobre. Isa lang nagawa ko because we attended the morning sunday mass.

chocolate cake and muffins with cream cheese frosting and strawberries

the strawberry is a little sour but it complements well with the sweet cream cheese frosting

little boy can't wait to blow the candle!

his best wacky shot daw!

Here's my version of the chocolate cake avant garde style:

Ingredients

2½ cups A.P Flour

2 teaspoon premium baking powder (aluminum free)

1 teaspoon premium baking soda (aluminum free)

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon coffee powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1½ cups warm water

1 cup unsalted butter

2¼ cups sugar

4 premium whole eggs

1. preheat oven to 350℃. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, coffee powder, and vanilla into the warm water.

3. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

4. Add eggs one at a time then alternately add the dry and liquid ingredients.

5. Bake for 30-90 minutes depending on the baking pan you're using or until toothpick comes out clean.

for the cream cheese frosting

1 cup cream cheese, softened

½ cup softened unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

optional : food coloring

In a mixing bowl, cream the softened cream cheese and butter. Blend in the vanilla and sifted confectioner's sugar, whisk until fluffy. Blend in food coloring, if desired.