{"id":17385,"date":"2013-11-26T10:27:04","date_gmt":"2013-11-26T15:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecakeblog.com\/?p=17385"},"modified":"2017-03-28T07:43:23","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T11:43:23","slug":"martha-stewart-cakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecakeblog.com\/2013\/11\/martha-stewart-cakes.html","title":{"rendered":"Talking Cakes With Martha Stewart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s intro might be the hardest one I’ve ever written.\u00a0 I’ve written it, rewritten it, scrapped it completely and started again.\u00a0 How do you write an introduction for someone who’s inspired so many?\u00a0 Do I reminisce about watching Martha Stewart Living<\/em> in for the first time in high school?\u00a0 Or how I used to consider it a good work day, straight out of college, if I was home in time to catch From Martha’s Kitchen<\/em> at 5:30?\u00a0 (Yes, I’m showing my age and admitting that DVR’s were not a reality back then.)\u00a0 Do I recap my 2012 trip to the Martha Stewart headquarters in NYC and tell you how it’s a land of inspiration that I did not want to leave?\u00a0 Perhaps the most relative point is that my own wedding cake, back in 2001, was inspired by a design pulled from the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings<\/em>.\u00a0 It was that very cake which first sparked my love of beautiful cakes and inspired me to try my hand at cake design.\u00a0 And now here we are, almost 13 years later.<\/p>\n

But that’s the thing.\u00a0 We all have our stories, our Martha moments, our favorite projects and recipes inspired by Martha Stewart and her talented team at MSLO.\u00a0 Which is exactly why it’s such a honor to welcome Martha Stewart to the blog!\u00a0 Yes, today we’re Talking Cakes with Martha Stewart<\/strong>!\u00a0 She’s here for an exclusive interview,\u00a0 answering all of our cake questions (plus a few of the questions you asked<\/em> on our Facebook page<\/a> back in September) while sharing tips, tricks and advice for baking the perfect cake.\u00a0 Plus she dishes on a few personal questions like her favorite type of icing and must-have baking tools.\u00a0 And to top it all off, Martha is sharing a fabulous recipe for a Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake<\/strong>, pulled from the pages of her new book, Martha Stewart’s Cakes<\/a><\/strong>\"\"!\u00a0 Whew, let’s start with the interview…<\/p>\n

\"Talking<\/a><\/p>\n

Your new book, Martha Stewart’s Cakes<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, is your first book devoted solely to cakes and is filled tempting recipes and mouthwatering images.\u00a0 What all can we expect from this new book?<\/b><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve worked on 81 books over the years, and this is the first book we\u2019ve done devoted entirely to every occasion cake-making.\u00a0 This book really covers the gamut and includes everything from bundts and loaves to cheesecakes and iceboxes.\u00a0 A homemade, home-baked, and handcrafted cake makes any occasion feel even more joyful, but you don\u2019t even need to wait for a special celebration to bake a cake.\u00a0 Whether you want a good coffee cake to serve with your afternoon tea, or an impressive cake for a friend\u2019s brunch, these recipes will help you make every moment in life special.<\/p>\n

\"Talking<\/a><\/p>\n

Frosting can be personal.\u00a0 From sweet Buttercream to smooth Swiss Meringue Buttercream, tangy cream-cheese icings, glazes and ganaches – everyone has a preference.\u00a0 What is your personal favorite? <\/b><\/p>\n

My personal favorite is the Swiss meringue buttercream icing.\u00a0 It\u2019s anyone\u2019s go-to icing.\u00a0 In addition to piping like a dream, it\u2019s ultra-rich and delicious and is suited to a variety of cake flavors.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

You offer tips, techniques and advice in the book.\u00a0 What is your one golden rule of baking a delicious cake?<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s very important to choose your ingredients wisely.\u00a0 Using the freshest, best-quality butter, eggs, chocolate, vanilla, and spices makes all the difference.\u00a0 It\u2019s also crucial to read the recipe all the way through before you even begin, and to have all of your ingredients pre-measured and ready.\u00a0\u00a0 Always plan ahead.<\/p>\n

\"Choose<\/a><\/p>\n

Which recipe is the best no-fail cake for a beginner?<\/b><\/p>\n

Loaves, like the basic pound cake, are very light on effort but very satisfying.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great thing to whip up and leave on your kitchen counter for your family and guests to have for breakfast, slice for snacks, or have in the afternoon with tea or coffee.<\/p>\n

\"Talking<\/a><\/p>\n

The book includes delectable recipes for layer cakes, bundt cakes, loaves, cheesecakes and more.\u00a0 If you had to pick just one recipe as your favorite, which would it be?<\/b><\/p>\n

If I had to pick just one cake recipe, it would be the Lemon Meringue cake.\u00a0\u00a0 I love anything lemon and anything meringue and it works for so many different types of celebrations and parties.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are the top three tools in your baking toolkit?\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n

Mixing bowls are important.\u00a0 You need to have a place to combine all of your ingredients, so they’re the starting point to a successful cake.\u00a0 Glass or stainless steel is best.\u00a0 An oven thermometer may not seem critical, but it is.\u00a0 Always adjust the temperature of your oven accordingly.\u00a0 Another essential is pastry bags and tips to make your cake an eye-catcher.\u00a0 The book has a section devoted to piping techniques and terms for those who have never tried it before. \u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Martha<\/a><\/p>\n

As if we weren’t already thrilled to have Martha share her advice and guidance, she’s also sharing the recipe for this fabulous Flourless Chocolate-Espresso Cake<\/strong>!\u00a0\u00a0 It comes to us (along with the other incredible cakes shown in this post) from the gorgeous pages of her new book, Martha Stewart’s Cakes<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 If you’ve caught yourself drooling, you should seriously see the rest of the book.\u00a0 This little slice of chocolate heaven is just one of the many tempting recipes you’ll find inside the cover.\u00a0 From baking basics to creative flavor combinations and decorative garnishes,\u00a0Cakes<\/a><\/strong><\/em> has something for everyone to crave.\u00a0 It’s definitely a new staple in my kitchen library.\u00a0 We’ll pause here for just a moment while you add it to your holiday wish list…. okay, now let’s get to the recipe!<\/p>\n

\"Flourless<\/a><\/p>\n

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO CAKE<\/strong>
\na recipe from Martha Stewart’s Cakes<\/a><\/strong>
\n(serves 8)<\/p>\n

For the cake<\/em><\/p>\n