As the holiday season is upon us, it’s time for Chocolate Shaving’s very first Christmas giveaway! Growing up in Paris, I used to visit London a lot. It was there, as a young teenager that I discovered Wagamama. If you’ve never been, you must! It’s a fun, low-key restaurant with tasty noodles dishes and other Asian-inspired treats. While I was working at the BBC this summer, I made my way back to Wagamama. I sadly found that the food wasn’t as carefully executed as it once was (it has become a real mega-chain now so that may come with the territory) but I’ve always adored their cookbook.
It’s a beautiful book with most of the restaurant’s staples and will make you want to make all the dishes at home. For those of you who aren’t used to cooking with Asian ingredients, it’s really a great way to start. Now, for the giveaway rules. You have 2 ways to enter the contest. One by writing a comment on this blog post, and a second chance by writing a comment on Chocolate Shaving’s facebook page. You can write a comment on both and your name will be entered in the contest twice! Simply let me know what your favourite holiday sweet treat is. The contest ends December 18th, at midnight and you must be a Canadian or American resident to enter. I will draw the winner at random. Good luck!
As for today’s recipe: this is another easy recipe to entertain with. It’s the perfect option for a Christmas or new year’s party. The ganache and pistachio topping on top of the cake gives this dessert that extra special holiday feel.
Lemon Bundt Cake with Chocolatey Topping
Fits a 10 cup bundt cake
3 cups of cake flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of kosher salt
1 cup of sour cream
1 tsp of vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tbl of lemon juice
4 eggs
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
2 cups of sugar
For the Ganache:
6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate (70%)
2/3 cup of heavy cream
1 tablespoon of corn syrup
1/4 cup of shelled pistachios, cut into small pieces
Preheat your oven to 350F. In a bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, add the sour cream, lemon juice, zest and vanilla extract. Mix until the mixture just comes together. In another bowl, beat the eggs. Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Whisk in the oil. Add in the sour cream mixture being careful not to over-mix.
Fold in the flour mixture and mix until just homogeneous. Grease a 10 cup bundt pan and carefully pour the mixture inside, making sure it’s evenly distributed. Bake for 50 min to 1 hour or until the cake just pulls away from the sides of the pan. Unmold and leave to rest on a cooling rack. In the meantime, make the ganache.
Finely chop the chocolate and place in a bowl. Add the cream to a small saucepan on medium heat. Bring the cream to a boil and immediately remove from the heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate and whisk until the cream and chocolate are completely smooth. Add the corn syrup and whisk again. Using a small bowl with a beak, gently pour the ganache over the cake. Top with the chopped pistachios. Set on a serving platter and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Enjoy the read!
Jessica @ How Sweet
December 9, 2010 at 7:23 pm (14 years ago)This cake is so beautiful. What a perfect treat for the holidays!
Jessica @ How Sweet
December 9, 2010 at 7:23 pm (14 years ago)This cake is so beautiful. What a perfect treat for the holidays!
Leanne
December 9, 2010 at 8:02 pm (14 years ago)A gorgeous cake!
My favourite holiday dessert is probably gingerbread cookies… or chocolate pie… or chocolate bark… or fudge. it’s way too hard to pick one.
JuLo
December 9, 2010 at 8:05 pm (14 years ago)It’s so hard to choose! I’d say anything with gingerbread is my fav. 🙂
nancy@skinnykitchen.com
December 9, 2010 at 8:16 pm (14 years ago)What a beautiful looking lemon bundt cake. I make a skinny lemon poppy seed cake but yours sounds really yummy!
Jas.
December 9, 2010 at 8:35 pm (14 years ago)oh yum – love wagamama’s even tho I can no longer eat half of it, I can adapt the recipes! I love buttery soft, melt in the mouth shortbread. Just one every now and then with a cuppa. Divine!
PS that little bundt is super adorable!
Angèle
December 9, 2010 at 8:44 pm (14 years ago)Ever since Audrey sent me the link to your blog, I’ve been coming here all the time!
As for my favorite holiday treat, I would have to say that it’s Christmas ice cream log!
Soma
December 9, 2010 at 9:37 pm (14 years ago)This is the prettiest bundt cake i have seen in a long time. I have a thing for bundt cakes.
Hmmm holiday dessert – some good nutty fruit cake or any spiced/ginger cake.
Emily
December 9, 2010 at 10:15 pm (14 years ago)My favourite holiday desserts…
Gumdrop cake (pound cake with gumdrops) and shortbread cookies (with a little bit of icing and half of a marachino cherry)!
Caroline
December 9, 2010 at 10:45 pm (14 years ago)the cake is gorgeous! and I’m sure it tasted even better!
somethingsavory
December 9, 2010 at 11:40 pm (14 years ago)My favorite holiday treat is peppermint ice cream. They only release it during the holidays so I eat it like a fiend when it actually comes out. I just love it!
Laura Keller
December 10, 2010 at 12:10 am (14 years ago)Mmmm looks delicious – especially with the chocolate drizzle and chopped pistachios on top! Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’ll be sure to try it out soon!
TBC
December 10, 2010 at 12:26 am (14 years ago)My favorite holiday sweet treat would be chocolate & peppermint bark.
Thanks for the giveaway!
thebuddingcook(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Taz
December 10, 2010 at 1:47 am (14 years ago)oh wow, that cake looks delicious! I adore lemon flavoured sweets so I can’t wait to try this!
Carrie
December 10, 2010 at 2:00 am (14 years ago)My favorite holiday treat is chocolate fondue (Christmas Eve tradition). Well, that and Peppermint ice cream…I should really mix the two together.
Alma
December 10, 2010 at 2:59 am (14 years ago)My favourite holiday dessert is… mince pies!! I come from Spain and I only discovered them last Christmas when visiting my fiancé in London… He was shocked to learn that in Spain we don’t bake anything similar. In any case, I’ve spent the whole year dreaming of eating them again this Christmas! haha 🙂
Terri.
December 10, 2010 at 3:06 am (14 years ago)My favorite holiday dessert is red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
tshaw6580@yahoo.com
Caroline
December 10, 2010 at 9:27 am (14 years ago)My favorite holiday treat is my grandmother’s holiday fudge: http://chocolateandcarrots.com/2010/12/12-decadent-days-of-christmas-4-holiday-fudge
warmvanillasugar
December 10, 2010 at 10:51 am (14 years ago)This cake looks so good! My favorite holiday treat would be gingerbread cookies. Yum!
elizabeth
December 10, 2010 at 10:58 am (14 years ago)This looks beyond amazing! I am ready to eat it right through this computer!!
Anonymous
December 10, 2010 at 11:03 am (14 years ago)My favorite holiday sweet treat are those simple peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kiss on top…but only when the cookie is puffy, not flat!
Tricia
December 10, 2010 at 3:15 pm (14 years ago)I loved the picture of the little boy’s face planted in the bowl…too true.
adb6
December 10, 2010 at 5:49 pm (14 years ago)Your Bundt Cake is absolutely gorgeous! That would look beautiful on any Christmas table.
kimberleyblue
December 10, 2010 at 7:49 pm (14 years ago)I love a lemon and chocolate combo, but have actually never made a cake combining the two. I think I’ve been convinced to go for it!
I love fruitcake. I’m one of those few people who honestly appreciate a boozy fruitcake during the holidays.
A Canadian Foodie
December 10, 2010 at 9:00 pm (14 years ago)Beautiful Recipe and gorgeous photo of your cake… I hope you have your own copy of that cookbook as your story of visiting the restaurant from Paris when you were young – though short – was compelling. My favourite Christmas treat would have to be the Canadian Butter Tart. They are NOT all the same. The recipe on my site is my grandmother’s and the best I have ever found!
🙂
Valerie
new York City Girl Expat in Tokyo
December 11, 2010 at 3:14 am (14 years ago)Incredible photo, the toppings just pop… love it. Let’s see… my favorite holiday dessert is Shortbread cookies, and mont blanc, christmas pudding…
smalltownoven
December 11, 2010 at 9:05 pm (14 years ago)Mmm cookbooks are on my wish list this year!
Karen
December 13, 2010 at 8:57 pm (14 years ago)My favorite holiday treat is those pecan wedding cake snowball cookie things!
karenreichmann@hotmail.com
morgan
December 13, 2010 at 9:01 pm (14 years ago)i think im going to make that cake for christmas dinner!
my favorite holiday treat is really anything pumpkin flavored. i go a little overboard around the holidays.
ladydi115
December 13, 2010 at 9:18 pm (14 years ago)what a lovely cake. I love lemon and I’m sure the sour cream adds a wonderful tartness. The book looks amazing.
Anonymous
December 13, 2010 at 10:17 pm (14 years ago)I’m a big wagamama fan! I was so excited when they opened up shop in the states!
catharine.ellie [at] gmail.com
Sara
December 13, 2010 at 10:18 pm (14 years ago)Great giveaway! My favorite holiday sweet is my mom’s scandanavian almond bars.
siobomb
December 13, 2010 at 10:39 pm (14 years ago)finnish pulla
siobomb
December 13, 2010 at 10:40 pm (14 years ago)finnish pulla
Jun
December 14, 2010 at 6:07 am (14 years ago)Beautiful cake! I like the topping the most 🙂
Ashlie and Alfred
December 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm (14 years ago)I really love the combination of chocolate and mint around the holidays – so all treats featuring that combo are my favs!
Deborah
December 14, 2010 at 12:44 pm (14 years ago)I am a sucker for anything with lemon, so this is totally calling my name!
Clutie-girl
December 14, 2010 at 12:50 pm (14 years ago)My favorite Holiday Sweet is definitely beautifully decorated sugar cookies. My boys and I have a bake fest every year and package them for gifts to all the peeps we love!
Jan
December 14, 2010 at 11:47 pm (14 years ago)homemade caramel… delish!
moonsword
December 15, 2010 at 3:16 am (14 years ago)My favorite treat is my grandma’s brandied fig cookies.
Lulu's Sweet Secrets
December 17, 2010 at 8:09 pm (14 years ago)My favorite holiday dessert is panettone.
Lisa S
December 18, 2010 at 9:08 pm (14 years ago)Pumpkin bundt cake with chocolate chips
lisastassforth at sbcglobal dot net
S.Roy
December 20, 2011 at 10:57 am (13 years ago)I love both chocolate crackle cookies, and pistachio shortbread from the first Ottolenghi cookbook.
Your post reminded me that I own this Wagamama book, and it’s one of the first cookbooks I had! Now I must look for it! It used to be fantastic, it’s true. Too bad it’s not as good! If you’re in Toronto you can go to Kenzo ramen and be assured a nice treat. Happy holidays!
Michael J. McCoy
December 4, 2012 at 12:44 am (12 years ago)Gotta try this Bundt cake looks super!!