{"id":5472,"date":"2014-10-28T13:20:14","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T11:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/?p=5472"},"modified":"2014-10-28T18:33:21","modified_gmt":"2014-10-28T16:33:21","slug":"dark-chocolate-fondant-birthday-cake-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/28\/dark-chocolate-fondant-birthday-cake-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Chocolate Fondant Birthday Cake Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I usually<\/a> do<\/a>, this year I baked myself a birthday cake. <\/strong>While the idea of someone else making me or buying me a cake for my birthday is exciting, baking my own birthday cake is\u00a0actually something I look forward to as it’s something I can make completely selfishly and I know at least I will be satisfied. It’s\u00a0a yearly form of self-love.<\/p>\n

This year’s birthday cake\u00a0was a very simple cake, but very rich and intense and indulgent. The “fondant” in this cake is not fondant icing as often used in English, but the French word fondant<\/em>, for melting or molten, and its center is barely held together.\u00a0I studded it\u00a0with French caramels au beurre sal\u00e9<\/em>, caramels made with salted butter, which are one of my favorite things on the planet. I even have a “caramel house” \u2014 a tin house container filled with caramels that I stock up on\u00a0every time I pass through France.<\/p>\n

This cake is a good reminder not to judge a book by its cover. It comes out of the oven crackled and defiant and dares you to say…is that it? But when you cut into it, you discover its moist dark heart and you start to get intrigued. And then you cut slice after slice. And then the cake says to you…is that it? And you reach for another slice.<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

To make this cake your own, you might think about adding chocolate chips, nuts, or something else to the very last step before you pour the cake into the loaf pan. I studded the cake with caramels by slicing up some high-quality caramels and then gently pushing the pieces into the poured loaf pan. I also recommend serving this cake with homemade whipped cream or even a fruit coulis.<\/p>\n

A few other scenes from a self-love birthday weekend, which I highly recommend<\/strong>, and remember, even if you do some self-love on your birthday, that still leaves a ton of space for other people to celebrate with you and even buy you gifts if that’s what you’re into. :)<\/p>\n

Birthday espresso (in the form of a marocchino<\/a>)\u00a0and two small cream-filled maritozzi<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Birthday<\/p>\n

Since I was\u00a0traveling the next day, I only bought myself a few flowers since I didn’t want an entire bouquet to die only for a day’s enjoyment.<\/p>\n

\"Birthday<\/p>\n

A walk around Rome with the sun playing hide & seek.<\/p>\n

\"Rome,<\/p>\n

Walking along the Tevere <\/em>river\u00a0which had been recently cleaned (a rarity) and leaf-free, which I also posted on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Sara Rosso (@rossosara)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n