Happy Birthday to Me – Pikelet and Pie turns 1!
A year ago today I made this area for random ramblings a dedicated food blog. It was the Easter long weekend and I was relaxed. I had just started a graduate job and was reveling in the idea of having a whole long weekend off, I kept having to remind myself that I had graduated from uni – there was nothing to study! (Well, except for Chinese, and that is just fun 
)
In the last year, and in the last 3 months especially, I have explored new techniques, used produce in season and made (and eaten!) some interesting dishes that I otherwise wouldn’t have. This blog forces me to be more creative in the kitchen, something that is difficult and sometimes frustrating, but brings me great joy. Also, in the last three months I have become more a part of the food blogging community which is fun! Thanks everyone, for your kind comments, support and your beautiful and inspiring blogs.
And to celebrate I made cake! But not just any cake, chocolate and dulce de leche. Ridiculously decadent milky caramel and bittersweet chocolate. Gooey and amazing.
Here’s to another delicious year
Hip hip hooray!
Chocolate Mud Cakes with Dulce De Leche
Adapted from Valentine’s Cupcakes from The Crabapple Bakery Cupcake Cookbook.
2T instant Coffee granules dissolved in 3/4C hot water
125g butter
150g Dark Chocolate (I used lindt 85%)
3 eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/3 Cup plain flour
pinch salt
1t baking powder
1/4 t bicarb soda
1 1/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/3 cup dulce de leche
Preheat oven to 160C and and grease a 12 hole muffin tray.
Put butter, chocolate and dissolved coffee into a heatproof bowl and place over a pan of simmering water, ensuring that the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir until melted and combined, then remove and cool.
Separately, whisk together eggs, oil and buttermilk.
In another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, bicarb, and cocoa. Mix in sugar and stir until all combined. Make a well in the centre and pour in egg mixture. Stir lightly until mixed through. Add cooled chocolate mixture and fold until combined. Half fill the muffin tin with mixture, then drop a small teaspoon of dulce de leche in each muffin tin. Top with remaining cake batter, but do not overfill (I had some batter left over that I cooked separately into a special mini cake, alternatively you could grease another muffin tray and make more, there would probably be enough mixture for another 2 or 3. I didn’t do this because I only own one muffin tray!).
Bake in preheated oven for 20 mins or so. When a skewer comes out clean, remove cakes from the tray and cook completely on a wire rack.
They should keep for up to 4 days – though it is unlikely there will be any left!
This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
18 Comments
Chocolate and dulce de leche – now you’re talking!
Happy 1st Blogiversary!! Good on you for celebrating it with chocolate lol.
droool…
Oh this looks so moreish! What a way to celebrate a year of blogging
I’m suprised that the dulce de leche didn’t spread out and blend into the cake mix during baking. Would have thought that you’d need to freese it or do something special with it.
Happy Blogiversary! Ahh what a perfect way to celebrate through these delicious mud cakes mmmmm! Here is to many more years of blogging ^^!
Congrats and I hope there are many more years of blogging to come!
Happy blog birthday!
congrats on a year of food and fun-times! these cakettes look deliciously decadent. do we serve hot or cold for the ultimate bite?
Omigod, can you see me hyperventilating over this???!!!
Happy BlogDay! Dulce De Leche + chocolate mud cake = YUM!
Happy first birthday Pikelet and Pie.
My how you’ve grown and developed. As interesting and as tasty as you are, you will attract more attention, as word of mouth watering delights passes from one foody to another. Your beautiful, talented and full time working mother wishes she could devote more time to you; in just one year she’s done a wonderful job in raising you to be the darling and delicious site that you are. love, (grand) pmum.
Happy Blogday! What beautiful birthday cakes. It’s handy to know you can cook the dulce de leche without it melting everywhere.
Karen: Thanks, is there any other way to celebrate a Blogiversary (love that!) than with chocolate?
Sue: Agreed
Simon: Oh, I think I cooked the dulce de leche enough so it was pretty solid, and the low-ish temperature helped to keep it solid (though spreading out wouldn’t be such a bad thing, right?). Look out for my upcoming post about the dulce de leche.
FFichiban: Thank you
Howard: Thanks, I’m sure there will be more years of life in this blog – though I’m not looking forward to it’s terrible twos phase
Y: Thank you, it was a great one!
Shez: Cakettes! Love it! Either hot or cold. They are pretty delicate in texture, but would be delicious either way
Reemski: Haha, wow, I didn’t know this post would have that affect, calm down and cook
Belle: Thanks
pmum: Oh, thanks. Haha you always wanted to be a grandma
Arwen: Thank you, and yes, handy tips indeed.
i see where the rest of it went !!!!!
happy belated 1st bday pikelet & pie dearest
Happy 1st Blogsiversary! What better way to celebrate it than with yummy cupcake with dulce de leche. Here’s to many more
Happy 1 year!! I’m glad I found your gorgeous blog!! =)
congrats lili!
Betty: Thank you
and Yes, I didn’t eat the rest of the dulce de leche with a spoon (maybe just a little bit, though).
Lorraine: Thanks, I hope so too!
lisa: Oh, thank you:)
Karan: Thanks Karan, bet you still wish you lived in Sydney, hey – dinner invites, and the like
Congratulations Lili. You know I love following your deliciousness and really love reading your stories. Hope you enjoy for many more birthdays darlin’. <3