The Celtic culture found hope in Groundhog Day; the appearance of that one groundhog gives hope to the end of harsh winters and the onset of sweet spring. In a foodie’s world, the spotting of the first pumpkin is like seeing that groundhog. It means the end of hot sticky days of summer and melting fondant are over, thus the real creativity begins.
I have recently been inspired by the idea of homecoming, particularly homecoming in the deep south. Homecoming isn’t just about catching up with old friends; it’s the mums, the parade, the school spirit, the perfect answer to the question “what have you been up to?” (the most haunting question for any recent graduate), and of course the crème de la crème: the football game. Now at my almamater there is an almost sickly obsession with Dr. Pepper; to the point where every Wednesday afternoon there were free Dr. Pepper floats in the student union building. A tradition that we Bears are extremely proud to call our own. I recently have been re-introduced to the Dr. Pepper cake…yes, yes; if we can deep fry Dr. Pepper you better believe someone put it in a cake. Before you knock this slightly odd confection, I will say as a lover of sweets and a pastry chef that the cake is light and chocolaty with hints of cinnamon. The chocolate/Dr. Pepper butter cream frosting is, well, positively mouthwatering. Here is my favorite recipe…
Cake…
1 cup butter
1 cup Dr. Pepper (this is no time to use diet)
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugar
½ cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cup flour
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
-heat the butter, Dr. Pepper, and cocoa powder together until the butter melts and you have a lusciously chocolaty mixture
-cream together eggs, sugar, buttermilk, baking soda, and chocolate mixture
-finally add the cinnamon, vanilla, and flour
-makes two round cakes (9x12), bake at 350 degrees F, and bake fro about 25 minutes
Dr. Pepper Frosting…
½ cup butter
½ cup Dr. Pepper
6 tbsp cocoa powder
Confectioner’s sugar (just add enough to get the constancy you want ~2 cups)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
-heat the butter, cocoa powder, Dr. Pepper, and blend well
-stir in the other ingredients
*you could also blend in a block of cream cheese to make it into a cream cheese frosting
-decorate with nuts on top or on the sides
To my fellow foodie’s I will tell you to always live life filled with sweet notes rich in tradition and history.
