Er, something.
This is my, “Fake it till you can really make it cake.”
I was testing out an idea for my book, and whipped up this cake.
Its my favorite chocolate cake, covered in milk chocolate (not ganache, just melted chocolate) with chocolate covered donut balls on top.
Sprinkled with sugar and stuff.
I ‘faked’ the cake pops on top of the cake because I was too lazy to make another cake just to see how this would look. The donut balls are a convenient substitution, but as you can see are very lumpy and not as visually appealing as the real thing.
What I would do differently:
Taste wise, I really enjoyed the flavors. I mean, its chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate covered devils food donuts. Who wouldn’t like all the chocolate deliciousness?
Stying wise, I would not pour my remaining chocolate over the cake. And I would try to make the cake bigger, maybe an 8inch, so the cake and cake pops looks proportionate.
I would take the time to make real cake pops and make sure they were smooth and gorgeous.
Speaking of perfect cake pops, I will be heading out to Williams & Sonoma in the Galleria this Saturday to go support that fabulous Miss Bakerella! She will be there from 12-2 signing her best selling book Cake Pops.
Be sure to stop out and say hi if you want to join me and show her some Minnesota love!
And be sure to check out this adorable new site she launched!
I think that it is a neat cake idea, even if you want to change some things. It is fun and festive!
Oh my gosh, that is SO cute! I need to find an occasion to make that for!
Oh my gosh, that is SO cute! I need to find an occasion to make that for!
I love it. I thought the donut holes where cake balls at first. I think they look great! Can’t wait to see what else you do!
what a fun cake Amanda! It sounds delicious and really I could go for a slice of chocolate cake right now and I’d choose this.
Have fun at the book signing, I went when Angie was near me, she is really sweet!
I think it looks amazing! And I love the “fall” colors!
How you do it all, I will never know. You’re awesome!
XOXO
Aww, I like it! It looks like a croquemcake: http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/browned-butter-pumpkin-croquemcake-with-white-chocolate-chai-mousse-project-food-blog-round-8/ So it wins points with me <3
Also, donuuuuuuts. Yum.
Aww, I like it! It looks like a croquemcake: http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/browned-butter-pumpkin-croquemcake-with-white-chocolate-chai-mousse-project-food-blog-round-8/ So it wins points with me <3
Also, donuuuuuuts. Yum.
I love the mound of doughnut balls on the top, it looks so festive and elegant. I think this is a real showstopper already!
I love the mound of doughnut balls on the top, it looks so festive and elegant. I think this is a real showstopper already!
I love the colors and how it looks.
You have a fan in Barcelona
This looks delicious and extremely creative and unusual! I’m always impressed with your ideas and visions!
Stumbled!
Wonderful! I think all in white it’s perfect for a winter cake!
I save the recipe!
xo from Italy
Chiara
I think the cake looks cute! Maybe because I have some special memories eating munchkin donuts when I was little.
Wow, this cake is so awesome!!
Wow, this cake is so awesome!!
This cake looks A-mazing!
Chocolate cake, yum! Chocolate cake covered in melted chocolate, double YUM! Chocolate cake covered in melted chocolate topped with doughnut holes with chocolate sprinles, GENIUS!
Chocolate cake, yum! Chocolate cake covered in melted chocolate, double YUM! Chocolate cake covered in melted chocolate topped with doughnut holes with chocolate sprinles, GENIUS!
I can’t wait till your book comes out!
Love the chocolate poured all over the top…looks so yummy!!
I love it. I believe it looks great and would be a great addition to any occasion.
Wow this looks amazing!
I love this idea! Totally adorable and easily adaptable to any holiday/theme!
I love this idea! Totally adorable and easily adaptable to any holiday/theme!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I wouldn’t change a THING!!!
Have so much fun meeting Angie!!! I can’t imagine that much sweetness and talent in one room!
OOh I think the chocolate cake with an spiced “orange coloured” buttercream frosting with the ganache drizzled on top would go perfect with a pumpkin spice style cake ball (some with a dark chocolate coating and others in a pumpkin orange). I may have to try it out for our Thanksgiving dinner dessert on Saturday.
personally, I love it the way it is and think you should ship it to me
The uneven size of the doughnuts lean toward a more rustic look that I find very appealing. Not sure that the allure of your cake would be improved by “perfect” cake balls. It looks delicious just as it is! I can almost hear it calling out to me to grab a fork. Perhaps your plan to make the cake larger will put the doughnuts in perspective. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cake with doughnuts on it. So the big question is, “Does original, easy and appealing outweigh perfect, trendy and more effort?”
We trust you’ll make the right decision when the time comes. How could there be a bad choice with all that chocolate! Love it!
I am also going to see Bakerella this Saturday at Williams Sonoma! I just now realized that you live in MN!
Oh yum! Great cake for Halloween!
Donuts AND cake. It’s a [Halloween] masterpiece! I’m impressed.
I think it’s awesome and wouldn’t change a thing!
I think this looks incredible! I bet you are having so much fun experimenting. You didn’t make those donut holes too did you?
I love this! It’s fantastic!!!
I love this! It’s fantastic!!!
So pretty! Love the abundance of this cake.
I actually like that the “cake pops” aren’t perfectly smooth. It is a Halloween cake after all and perfection isn’t scary.
I think it looks great, and your changes will make it extra special. This would be a great cake for a man, it screams manly to me, colorwise I guess.
Although I am a woman and I’d eat it 
I bet it tastes great!
I kinda like the extra chocolate dripping… it gives it a ‘spooky’ look for Halloween!!!!
Meanwhile – it’s another kewl cake-making idea!!! THANKS!
Are the donuts homemade? They should be a post in themselves, they look absolutely delicious!
The cake looks great! Have a great time with Bakerella — we love her too
I don’t know that I’d change a thing in the world on this cake. It is gorgeous!!!
Please give Angie a big hug from me!
I saw them and right away thought doughnut balls, and was HAPPY with them. I think I would have been disappointed if they had been cake pops. Who would have guessed this was the “failed” attempt.
You’re crazy! And I mean that in the nicest of ways lol
This cake needs zero changes in the future. Donuts ON a cake?! Uhm YES please. I love how it’s not perfect. It’s super cute in every way. Love it and I’m totally craving donuts now thanks a lot!
You’re crazy! And I mean that in the nicest of ways lol
This cake needs zero changes in the future. Donuts ON a cake?! Uhm YES please. I love how it’s not perfect. It’s super cute in every way. Love it and I’m totally craving donuts now thanks a lot!
This is wonderful!! I think the lumpy donut balls look just fine!!! I love this design!!
Fabulous!!!!!! 3 of my most favorite things …….. chocolate, cake and donut balls : )
OOOO Can you drop this off at my door step if your Trick Or Treating in my neighborhood?
Drooling from the other side of the world at 8am in the morning.
oh amanda.. LOVE IT! just trying to visualise how it would look if i made it!
Delicious looking and so cute!!!!
WHOA! so utterly gorgeous! can’t wait for the boooook!
and by the way, i think doughnuts on top of cakes would be a great idea!!
Cute overall cake idea! And did you get a pic with her?
Hmmm… I think you are too hard on yourself. I’m kinda loving the cake. And I LOVE the idea of using the donut holes as a cake ball substitute, as I’m not a fan of the cakeball taste/texture (even though they look adorable). Also, I think the porportion of the cake-to-donut-holes is nice… not sure I’d like it as much with a larger cake. But of course, I’d have to see it to be sure…
Oh em gee. This cake is adorable. I love it!
great idea… i love it… beautiful pictures as well
great idea… i love it… beautiful pictures as well
Adorable Halloween cake, Amanda, whether you made your own cake pops or not.
I really have to try and make those…never have attempted cake pops.
Fun to see Bakerella!
I actually love the look of the donut holes! Such a deliciously adorable idea! Love!
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute? MN? Are you here in MN? That is sooo cool! Another reason to love MN!
Very impressive – am sharing on our fb page!
I think this looks marvelous. So much chocolate goodness. Wow!
I think it looks fabulous! I really like the chocolate poured over the cake and the donut holes…all good.
Pat
Are you crazy? It looks great. Wish I was as picky as you about design. And I love cake pops, but where I live they don’t sell candy melts, and doing only with chocolate is pretty boring. Although they don’t sell donut holes either… guess it’s time for a stock-up trip to the states!
Are you crazy? It looks great. Wish I was as picky as you about design. And I love cake pops, but where I live they don’t sell candy melts, and doing only with chocolate is pretty boring. Although they don’t sell donut holes either… guess it’s time for a stock-up trip to the states!
I like that it could be just a fall cake too, since we don’t do Halloween. Super cute!
Love it!! <3
http://dontthinkjustfeel-yuka.blogspot.com/
Eep! Exciting that you’ll be seeing Bakerella soon, I wish I could meet you both! I imagine you two as BFFs! Haha!
Maybe you should both come to NZ!?! Dooooo it!
you are just as smart – and pretty, too! such a cute idea. love the way your mind works. xx
I don’t know, Amanda, it looks visually appealing to me! I like the chocolate oozing over the cake and the donut holes used~it looks a bit “rustic” for lack of a better word, and I REALLY like it!
Love this look! Reminds me visually of the Boston Cream Pie (Bread and Chocolate Bakery, Boston) featured on Flay’s Throwdown. Not a bad idea to pile on more cake (balls/cubes) and cover all in chocolate! The recipe from their show did not get great reveiws though. I prefer a modified version of this GREAT recipe: http://thedaringkitchen.com/recipe/fresh-fraisiers. Nix the berries and add melted chocolate!
Looks delicious!
I have nothing to say besides: I. Love. This. Cake.
Wow – this is stunning, Amanda!
If that’s what you call fake it til, you make it, I can’t wait to see the real version of this. Wish I could get just a eensy weensy bite.
Well, I am no expert but I think the cake looks perfect just as it is… your creativity and talent never cease to amaze me… I always look forward to see what you have come up with!!
Well, I am no expert but I think the cake looks perfect just as it is… your creativity and talent never cease to amaze me… I always look forward to see what you have come up with!!
I actually lime the ‘bumpy’ effect. It is Halloween after all.
. And the winter/snowball idea mentioned above, THAT would be beautiful too!
I think it looks fabulous! I wouldn’t change a thing….you are amazing.
I think it looks fabulous! I wouldn’t change a thing….you are amazing.
I think it’s a darling Halloween cake love!
Hi Amanda!
This cake is amazing as everything you do. A daily inspiration for me, a humble portuguese food blogger. Recently I’ve tried to recreate your lilac cupcakes. You can see the result here:
http://lume-brando.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweet-garden.html
Thanks a lot for your sharing!
Teresa
Such a simple yet WONDERFUL idea! Why haven’t I thought of this for my hubby who adores doughnut holes! Thanks for figuring out what cake I’ll be making for his 52nd birthday next month (which just happens to be the same day as my 50th)!!
I think this is absolutely gorgeous and perfect the way it is!!
Wow. This cake looks stunning! I love everything about it. I personally love the doughnut hole look – but maybe that’s because I love doughnuts.
Well I still love the idea of the cake. The donut holes are a good shortcut. But I can’t wait to see what cake pops you do. And pouring straight chocolate on top of a cake is so hard to get smooth.
I think it works well….the pictures of it look beautiful enough…I would love to see the other version of it, if you do decide to make it at some point!! The Donut holes were a great idea though, I love the way they are piled up so high, they just give it a look that demands respect
oh you silly girl……..I love this! and those doughnut holes look incredible! I like that they aren’t perfect, but what I really like is all the textures and colors!
I love it just the way it is girl! The pops on top are so fun and whimsical.
how unique is THIS! cool!
This is so cute!! I know I’d have an issue with the donuts disappearing from the top of the cake in this household, though.
This is so cute!! I know I’d have an issue with the donuts disappearing from the top of the cake in this household, though.
This cake looks absolutely sinful… and delicious. I love it!!
A belated congratulations on the book – you deserve it! Hugs and blessings to you.
Lisa
This is such a cute cake. I actually like the chocolate poured over the top – makes it look very “Halloween-y”.
Hello I am not new to the blog, but new to leave a comment, I love this cake! I found it lovely, love the color combination.
i feel a little hungry…
looks really delicious !!!
Cake pops ON a cake!! Love it!! I’m just started outin my baking blogging adventures. Thanks for the inspiration.
this cake is perfect in every aspect!
12 days later, and 10 dollars shorter, I was thinking, TRUFFLES! Ok, well, cake. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Perfect is all in the eye of the beholder, and as a fellow artist, while we can rip, shred, cut and dice apart our work, we are the only ones that do not see the beauty in lumpy, bumpy and not perfect. I LOVE THIS LOOK. Of course next time I wrap or knit a wire, I may have to pop back over and read my own words, because I am certain I will come up with plenty of things to do differently next time!
Love the cake!
The colours and texture – just fantastic! I’m not sure about the donut balls though, I would prefer something more decadent like truffles!
This is one of the most adorable and most striking cakes I’ve ever seen. I love it.
I am looking forward to making this for my birthday. Very happy to have found your blog.
You are MUCH too hard on yourself. I find it clever and divine!! the lumpy donuts add tons of character and just makes me want to pop one in my mouth even more.
maybe make the donuts smaller…who gives a rats ass if they have a little lump?
Please don`t change out the chocolate dripping down over the cake. That`s part of the appeal of this cake….choc til you drop..A:-)
Stunning cake…ganache icing would probably be too rich and sickly, melted chocolate was definitely a great choice
Give Angie a big MN welcome from those of us who can’t be there! So glad she is with us!
Love, love, love it!!!!! Chocolate upon chocolate, cake AND donuts!!! Wish I lived in Minnesota!! But, very cute story; my neighbor’s Dad lives in Minnesota and visits a lot. Whenever I bake, he always gets to be a part of it. I hear that he will be here soon, and is looking forward to what I will be baking…(for him)..how cute is he..I think he is close to 90! Love his smile when I hand him cake or whatever is going…..
Now that is just about the cutest story ever!! Love it. Sounds like you are a pretty fantastic neighbor!
Saw your cake on FB and while I’m not particularly a cake person, you have me wanting cake!