A Super Awesome (Adult) Birthday Cake

   Last Monday (a week and a half ago), Rachel and I went to surprise Heather at lunch.  It was a lot of fun walking into Cracker Barrel with a giant 4 layer cake.  As soon as we walked in, people immediately began asking for slices.  Jokingly, of course, but little did they know we would actually offer them a piece!  There were only four of us at the table.  Did they really think 4 tiny to regular sized girls could devour that whole thing?  I didn't want to take any home, because that is just a hassle.

   When it came time to cut, we didn't even have to offer it to anyone.  Staff and patrons alike would casually sidle up to our table, cautiously asking about the cake, obviously wanting some.  A few of the staff members, once they caught wind of the free cake, would just stand there and grin stupidly.  I am always more than happy to give my food away.  I really wish I had business cards that day to pawn off on the eaters.  It only took us about 15 minutes to get rid of all the cake!

   I know that Heather isn't a huge fan of your traditional cakes.  Neither am I, so I tried to do something a little more creative than just a cake and frosting.  It is generally an interesting experience telling strangers what they are eating so that they are not shocked and disgusted when it enters their mouths.  I said, "salted chocolate cake with raspberry jam and whipped cream cheese cardamom frosting" more times than I can remember.  The expressions were priceless.  They ranged from, "Holy fuck, I'm about to eat something gooood!" to "What have I gotten myself into?"  The feedback was all positive though.  So, classy cake with awesome pink Gaga-bolts from crappy store bought "decorating" icing!  (Why do they make that stuff so difficult?  I can decorate a cake, I did it professionally for 2 years.  But the purchased stuff is junk.  Oh well.  The cake kicked ass.)

Dark and decadent!  The jam kind of melts into the cake.

For the Cake:

Salted Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Jam

Your favorite chocolate cake recipe (2 9-inch rounds)

1/2 C finely chopped dark chocolate

1 tsp sea salt

about 1 1/2 C good raspberry jam

   Add chocolate and salt into cake batter.  Lightly spray the cake pans.  Bake according to recipe directions.  Allow to cool completely.  Slice each round in half to get 4 rounds.

   Spread about 1/2 C of jam between layers of cake.

   Ice cake with whatever you like.

   12-16 servings, depending on how you slice it.

Cardamom Scented Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8-oz package light cream cheese, softened

3/4 C powdered sugar

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

2 C cream

   Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and cardamom.

   Whip cream into stiff peaks.  Gently fold into cream cheese mixture.  Frost cake.

   (Enough for a cake made of 2 9-in rounds)

"Happy B-day Lil' Monster!"  She's a big Gaga fan.