Dan's Birthday Pudding Cake

This blog is full of family favorite birthday cakes. Now that Dan is living near us, we finally got a chance to try his childhood, and still favorite, birthday cake.  This is Alex's adaption of Dan's Mom's recipe. The original recipe calls for Kalua instead of some of the milk. Making a cake for a child, Dan's Mom just used milk.  The chocolate - Heath Bar - whipped cream combination is similar to Heath Bar Cake.

Make the cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter the bottom of a 9-inch diameter cake pan, cover the bottom with a circle of parchment paper, then butter the top of the paper.

In a small saucepan or double boiler on the stove or a glass cup/bowl in a microwave* melt:

1 1/2 ounces chopped unsweetened chocolate

Using an electric mixer, cream until smooth:

4 T (one-half stick) unsalted butter, softened

Then gradually add and beat until light and fluffy:

1/2 c sugar

Beat in;

1 egg yolk

Then add

1/2 t vanilla extract

Add the melted chocolate.  Mix well then, to be ready to whip the egg whites in optimum time, remove the wisk from the electric mixture and wash throughly being sure to remove all traces of oil. If the chocolate mixture is in the only mixing bowl that works with the mixer, transfer this mixture to another bowl and wash the mixing bowl well.  In a small bowl combine:

1 cup (4.5 oz) all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt

Add the dry mix to the chocolate mix by hand a little at a time, alternating with:

1/2 c plus 2 T milk

Stir just until smooth.

Beat until it holds soft peaks:

1 egg white

Then fold gently but throughly into the batter using a spatula.  Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cool.

Make the pudding

Heat in a double boiler (saucepan or microwave)*

2 oz chopped unsweetened chocolate

In a small saucepan combine:

1/2 c sugar
3 T cornstarch
pinch of salt

Mix together
2 1/2 c whole milk
3 eggs

Stir this mixture into the dry mixture over medium heat. Wisk to eliminate lumps then stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Add meltled chocolate and

2 T unsalted butter, softened
1 t vanilla extract

Cool.

Make the pudding cake

Cut the cooled cake into 1 inch chunks.

In a glass bowl, approximately 8 inches in diameter. layer the cake cubes and the pudding.

Top with

whipped cream
crushed Heath Bars

And birthday candles!

* If using a sauce pan, cook over low heat, stirring frequently. If using a double boiler cook over hot, not boiling water, stirring occasionally.  If melting chocolate in a microwave, use high power but in very short intervals 10-15 seconds, stirring after each interval.  This is the easiest way to melt the chocolate but requires diligence to prevent chocolate from burning.

Reviewed 5/11/17