One of the things I love the most about the food blog world is feeling that you get that that glimpse into someone else’s kitchen when you read one of their posts. As an editor for tastespotting.com that moment happens multiple, multiple times a day. Just this morning, I found myself craving Chocolate Cloud Cake, Maple Bacon Pancakes and Lamingtons before the clock hit noon. This weekend, I published a Apple Praline Cake recipe from Passionate About Baking to Tastespotting and knew, immediately, that that cake was calling my name. I love that reading someone’s take on a recipe can make you want to get in the kitchen, at the other side of the world, and try it for yourself.
The recipe was initially from La Tartine Gourmande which further shows how much sharing is a part of the blog community. After going through both recipes, I tweaked it to suit my mood of the day and the result was delicious! It was easy to make, not to sweet, fruity and moist. For me, cooking has always been about sharing and passing on recipe ideas and food bloggers make it that much easier for that process to take place. So.. here it is!
Apple, Raisin, Cranberry and Hazelnut-Chocolate Cake
(Serves 6)
2 large apples
2 oz dried cranberries (soaked in hot water for 20 min)
3 eggs
7 Tbsp butter, melted (1/2 cup)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
75 grams of plain flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons of golden raisins
1/4 cup Hazelnut-Chocolate spread (I used “Crema alle Nocciole“, from Barratti & Milano but any chocolate-hazelnut spread will work here)
Sift the flour with the baking powder and set aside.
Soak the cranberries in hot water for 20 min, then drain.
In the meantime, peel your apples, remove the core and slice them thinly.
Preheat your oven to 350F.
Beat the eggs with the sugar and salt until the the mixture is homogeneous, about 2 minutes. Add the cooled melted butter, hazelnut-chocolate spread and raisins and mix. Fold in the flour mixture. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in the apple slices.
Butter a round 9.5″ mold and pour in the apple batter.
Evenly top with the cranberries.
Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 min. Remove and let cool for a few min before unmolding. The cake is delicious warm and at room temperature. Enjoy!
Tip: I made the cake in smaller molds. In that case, the cakes cook for about 15 minutes (depending on the size of the mold) or until they are just set in the center.
Enjoy the read!
lostpastremembered
January 12, 2010 at 3:03 pm (14 years ago)So many good things in one cake… and I have all the ingredients in my fridge! Great recipe… and photo!
Alejandra
January 12, 2010 at 3:08 pm (14 years ago)oh i absolutely agree that is one of the amazing parts about being in the food blog world; I love sharing and learning and exchanging. Most of us probably cook solo in our various kitchens in random corners of the world, but this is a way of bringing us all together.
Vanillastrawberryspringfields
January 12, 2010 at 3:17 pm (14 years ago)Love ur moist very delcious looking version…lovely with fantastic pics….
Rebecca
January 12, 2010 at 3:19 pm (14 years ago)This looks WONDERFUL! I, too, am so thankful for the world of blogging because I’ve discovered so many great recipes!
Marie-Annick
January 12, 2010 at 3:35 pm (14 years ago)Hello,
I vist your blog ounce and a while and I particularly like this recipe.
But I was wondering what is praline spread exactly?
Thanks!
Mary
January 12, 2010 at 3:43 pm (14 years ago)What a lovely cake. It really sounds delicious. It is definitely tempting :-).
Chocolate Shavings
January 12, 2010 at 3:48 pm (14 years ago)Marie-Annick: I changed the name to ‘chocolate-hazelnut’ so it would be more clear. I used “Crema alle Nocciole” which is an Italian version of Nutella – but any chocolate-hazelnut spread will do here!
Chocolate Shavings
January 12, 2010 at 3:49 pm (14 years ago)Marie-Annick: Here is the link to the product I used – it’s absolutely delicious!
http://www.agferrari.com/index.php/item/department/All%20Other%20Chocolate/item/5931.html
Choclette
January 12, 2010 at 4:02 pm (14 years ago)I agree, it’s great to see how bloggers take a recipe and adapt it in many different ways. This certainly sounds tasty.
Nina Timm
January 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm (14 years ago)I can think of nothing better to have with my late night cup of java!!!
Ravenous Couple
January 12, 2010 at 4:21 pm (14 years ago)tastespotting has given us so many recipes–some we’ve tried and many yet to be tried. This looks great!
Marie-Annick
January 12, 2010 at 4:44 pm (14 years ago)Thanks! It’s on my list of recipes to try!
Trissa
January 12, 2010 at 5:26 pm (14 years ago)You are in an enviable position! You get to browse through tons of food porn a day and get paid for it? How lucky is that! Anyway, thanks for sharing this one – i must have missed it! It looks wicked!
msmeanie
January 12, 2010 at 5:34 pm (14 years ago)Hah! The same things happens to me when I browse tastespotting. I want to eat basically everything I see. This cake sounds great. I love the combination of raisins and chocolate but I never thought of apples and chocolate. Great idea!
Junglefrog
January 12, 2010 at 6:16 pm (14 years ago)Gorgeous combination of ingredients in this cake! What’s not to love?
Asha @ FSK
January 12, 2010 at 7:35 pm (14 years ago)Agree with you on how much food bloggers share with and inspire each other.. Lovely cake!
MaryBeth
January 12, 2010 at 11:03 pm (14 years ago)WOW…this truly is an amazing cake. Such wonderful flavor and texture.
Megan
January 13, 2010 at 12:06 am (14 years ago)love all ingredients in this cake! looks delish! great photo as well as the recipe!
Deeba PAB
January 13, 2010 at 3:31 am (14 years ago)Amazing & I’m craving it all over again. Bee-yoo-ti-ful pictures & a great post. This is what I call a celebration of food bogging. Thank you for linking it all so well.
PS Just wondering which stage the hazelnut spresd is to be added. Love the idea!
Valérie
January 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm (14 years ago)It looks wonderful, such a lovely texture and combination of ingredients!
Deborah
January 13, 2010 at 11:19 pm (14 years ago)I think it would be dangerous to go through all of those pictures. I’d have SO many recipes bookmarked! Your cake looks absolutely perfect.
Foodie with Little Thyme!
January 13, 2010 at 11:25 pm (14 years ago)All I can say is YUM!
Sara Tea
January 14, 2010 at 2:04 am (14 years ago)what great flavor combo!! such a beautiful cake!
Megan
January 14, 2010 at 3:09 pm (14 years ago)Oh my, this cake looks so delicious-so many great tastes all rolled into one! I’m definitely bookmarking this recipe. I also browsed through your archives and love your blog, I will definitely be back! Thanks for visiting mine as well 🙂
Chocolate Shavings
January 14, 2010 at 3:44 pm (14 years ago)Megan: Thank you so much! Let me know if you get to try any of my recipes, I’m always looking for feedback!
pigpigscorner
January 14, 2010 at 5:30 pm (14 years ago)wow this cake is loaded with goodies! Looks great!
Lisa
January 15, 2010 at 6:44 am (14 years ago)This cake looks amazing! Apple’s in cake really float my boat.
You are so right about bloggers being a community. I have only been a part of it a short time, but an admirer from afar for a long time, discovering so many talented people in the world makes me feel very humble.
Patricia Scarpin
January 15, 2010 at 11:36 am (14 years ago)Jen, you have said it all – it is amazing how many wonderful recipes are shared on a daily basis, I love that! And when something is beautiful and delicious like this cake it gets spread really fast.
I’m bookmarking the recipe, too – your cake is fabulous and I adore each and every flavor you combined.
El
January 15, 2010 at 1:49 pm (14 years ago)This looks incredibly tempting. I so agree–I love seeing what other people bake. Thank goodness for blogs…and this incredible dessert!
Barbara
January 15, 2010 at 3:48 pm (14 years ago)Yummy! That is one moist and delicious looking cake! Lots of good fruits….imagine the apples made this so moist.
Maria
January 16, 2010 at 11:25 pm (14 years ago)Fabulous cake!
lisa
January 17, 2010 at 8:42 pm (14 years ago)Your cake looks incredible moist and delicious! The cranberries that end up on top look great too.
zested
January 17, 2010 at 9:17 pm (14 years ago)I don’t know how you can work for tastespotting and not be hungry all day long!
Memória
January 17, 2010 at 11:53 pm (14 years ago)I, too, enjoy being part of the blogging community for the same reasons you mentioned. I especially like foodie sites like tastespotting. Thanks for doing what you do!
What a delicious-looking cake!! Wow! The photos are amazing.
Mowie @ Mowielicious
January 19, 2010 at 5:36 pm (14 years ago)Fab pictures and a great recipe too, love the combination!
Kelly
January 24, 2010 at 11:10 pm (14 years ago)Made this the other day, it was delicious!! I’m sure to make it again!
Chocolate Shavings
January 24, 2010 at 11:33 pm (14 years ago)Kelly: I’m glad you liked it!
Sari
February 4, 2010 at 9:12 pm (14 years ago)Yummy yummy yummy! This cake looks divine! All my favourite flavours in one cake. This is a must try! It goes straight to my bookmarks! 🙂
Chocolate Gifts
February 9, 2010 at 10:05 pm (14 years ago)I love the combination of this recipe coz it has many flavors and the photo was great too. I would definitely try this and I’ll give you feedback on what the result is.
Thanks you for sharing this recipe…
🙂
sewa mobil
April 16, 2010 at 11:41 pm (14 years ago)Thanks! It’s on my list of recipes to try!
sewa mobil di surabaya
May 24, 2010 at 5:12 am (14 years ago)wow this cake is loaded with goodies! Looks great!
Melita
June 8, 2010 at 8:36 am (14 years ago)This has my name written all over it! I am enjoying your blog so much! Great work!
anna.drops
September 10, 2010 at 6:17 am (14 years ago)This cake is amazing! I baked it last night and it was supposed to be for guests coming over for dinner, but I could not wait to try it. So I’m making another one today!
I’ve altered the recipe slightly – instead of cranberries I added fresh blackberries which have this sweet-sour taste, too! It came out delicious! Thank you for the recipe, in fact, I am putting a link on my blog, hope that’s ok!
Foodelf
January 2, 2011 at 10:20 am (13 years ago)What would you think about using fresh cranberries instead of dried?
the cake looks gorgeous!
anna.drops
January 3, 2011 at 7:52 pm (13 years ago)Thanks! I don’t have much experience with cranberries as here in Britain they are not as popular and widely available as in America.
If you think they’d be nice, I would just risk it! Good luck.
Have a happy new year!