Thursday, July 2, 2009

Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

The library is a perfect place for the a one-night stand.

Well, perhaps a three week stand. And you can enjoy it even more with a renewal.

Borrowing cookbooks from the library is a great way to give a new book a spin around the kitchen before any commitment.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

This happened with Donna Hay's Simple Essentials: Chocolate book.
I got it at the library, fell in love with it, and after a few clicks on Amazon, it arrived at my door.
Sweet.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

Donna Hay suggests a layer of jam, cream, and/or berries in the center of two 9" sponge cakes. And that sounds real nice.
But what do you do when you just bought a new jar of Nutella? You go with Nutella. No questions asked.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)
I sliced some California strawberries. Yum.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)
The only thing missing is a nice layer of whipped cream. I tried! I put the bowl and whisk in the freezer and was all ready. Reached into the fridge. And pulled out an expired carton of whipped cream.

Drats.

So, when you make this...include the layer of Nutella and add a layer of sweetened whipped cream.

That would be dreamy.

Recipe:
Donna Hay's Chocolate book, page 58

42 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 2, 2009 at 10:03 AM

    That looks so good to me right now! I totally agree with you on adding a layer of whipped cream in the middle as well. I need to see if my library has that book immediately :)

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  2. StephJuly 2, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    I was thinking of making a chocolate sponge for a lighter chocoalte dessert. Your cake looks so good!

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  3. AudrieJuly 2, 2009 at 10:46 AM

    Looks so gorgeous and yum! Those are some of my favourite things in the world -- Nutella / chocolate, strawberries and Donna Hay! When I was living in Australia, I had one of her cookbooks and it saved me a lot of headaches with daily meals and such.

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  4. BethieJuly 2, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    Oh gawd, you're killing me here. I would be in heaven.

    You mentioned one night stand and all I thought of was CAKE stand when I saw your pic. LOVELY!!

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  5. Susan from Food BloggaJuly 2, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    Chocolate, Nutella, and strawberries? I'm in love.

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  6. Mary JoJuly 2, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    the exact same thing happened to me on father's day, i knew i had heavy cream but it just went and expired on me :( i have two cook books i've borrowed from the library right now, trying to decide if they are worth the purchase :) cake looks great!

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  7. ParitaJuly 2, 2009 at 11:19 AM

    The sponge looks awesome, perfect, i got to get my hands on this book!

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  8. LisaJuly 2, 2009 at 12:08 PM

    I've never met a Donna Hay I didn't love. And you're right: I've been checking out cookbooks left and right and my Amazon wish list is much better for it. :)

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  9. CoriJuly 2, 2009 at 1:28 PM

    Such pretty pictures! That would so hit the sport right about now.

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  10. KerstinJuly 2, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    What a beautiful cake! I love strawberries and Nutella together - yum!

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  11. EileenJuly 2, 2009 at 3:52 PM

    That cake looks absolutely divine. :)

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  12. 2.46%July 2, 2009 at 4:01 PM

    I totally agree about borrowing cookbooks from the library. It's the best! If I make at least half a dozen recipes and it turns out well, I buy the book. In Lexington, we can check out a book for a month and renew it twice so I've been guilty of keeping cookbooks for 3 months!

    The cake looks delicious. Have a great holiday weekend!

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  13. Nutmeg NannyJuly 2, 2009 at 4:19 PM

    Super delicious!!! I love the added Nutella.

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  14. Mary BergfeldJuly 2, 2009 at 6:19 PM

    This does look lovely. It's hard not to fall in love the ingredients you've used. You have a lovely blog. I'll be back often.

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  15. PamelaJuly 2, 2009 at 6:21 PM

    Whipped cream would've been wonderful, but this cake looks pretty darned stellar on it's own. Yum!

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  16. Monica HJuly 2, 2009 at 7:57 PM

    This is dreamy already- no whipped cream necessary.

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  17. LizJuly 2, 2009 at 10:50 PM

    Chocolate, strawberries, and Nutella? You had me at hello!

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  18. betty geekJuly 2, 2009 at 11:03 PM

    WOW . . I want to dive right into that.

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  19. CarrieJuly 2, 2009 at 11:03 PM

    Hello, my name is Carrie and I am addicted to Nutella! This would make a perfect 4th of July dessert! It, looks awesome!

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  20. Mary AnnJuly 3, 2009 at 4:36 AM

    This looks so good! Nutella in the middle? heavenly! I agree about borrowing cookbooks from the library. Great way to find out about new things.

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  21. Patricia ScarpinJuly 3, 2009 at 7:34 AM

    I love Donna Hay recipes - this is a luscious cake! What a wonderful idea to use Nutella. :D

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  22. Creative Classroom CoreJuly 3, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    This turned out so beautifully! Love it!

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  23. AnonymousJuly 3, 2009 at 8:06 AM

    You had me at Nutella.
    XO
    Racheal

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  24. EsiJuly 3, 2009 at 9:56 AM

    Chocolate + Strawberries = BLISS

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  25. Madam ChowJuly 3, 2009 at 10:21 AM

    Oh, I know what you mean! I made a pie (for guess what blogging event?), the whipped cream was no good, so I had to use the canned stuff. My guests didn't mind. Boy, this cake looks so good.

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  26. AnonymousJuly 3, 2009 at 11:10 AM

    beautiful and so so simple! Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Snooky doodleJuly 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    oh this looks divine! I love chocolate especially with nutella :)

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  28. AudreyJuly 3, 2009 at 2:33 PM

    I have strawberries, and Nutella, and chocolate, and my library network does not own this book. I checked about 30 seconds after I read your post.

    I am a very responsible patron. Can you please arrange an interlibrary loan? :)

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  29. marisJuly 3, 2009 at 3:29 PM

    Hehe. I think this CAKE is great for a one-night stand because it wouldn't last more than that in my house :)

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  30. MaryJuly 3, 2009 at 4:21 PM

    Nutella...yum...that sounds great. I have seen Donna Hay on TV last time I was in Korea and she is fabulous. I think she has a magazine too..they always have it in cool airport magazine stands...hmm...must borrow soon...

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  31. eatme_deliciousJuly 3, 2009 at 5:02 PM

    Mmm this sounds like a delicious dessert. I agree that taking books out of the library is a great way to see if you'll like the cookbook or not. Unfortunately I've purchased some cookbooks from Amazon, having never seen them before, and I've barely (or not even) cooked/baked from them.

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  32. Deeba PABJuly 4, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    Just gorgeous...nutella takes it to another level.Too bad about the expired cream.I'm thinking mango wih chocolate as strawberries are out of season now!!

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  33. Ingrid_3BsJuly 4, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    Looks good..makes me wish I liked chocolate!

    Hapy 4th!
    ~ingrid

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  34. MartaJuly 4, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    No questions asked indeed: Nutella was clearly the way to go! Plus, Nutella and strawberries are heavenly! Great cake!

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  35. Tasty Health FoodJuly 5, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    I've got to make this for my family! I'm not a cake fan, but they can't seem to get enough. :P

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  36. KatrinaJuly 5, 2009 at 8:24 PM

    Yum--especially with the Nutella!

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  37. vibiJuly 5, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Mary, you are the master of perfect dessert... as well a a pro of amazing photography!

    All is always soooooo neat!

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  38. AprilJuly 6, 2009 at 8:25 AM

    Oh gosh I might want to have a long-term commitment with that cake. You had me at the picture of Nutella...

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  39. AnonymousMarch 6, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    Tiny tip! Most dairy products with a higher fat content are good to use a few days after the expiry date. Of course give it a sniff and small taste test, but in my experiences I've gotten away with 3 days past due.

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  40. MeganJune 4, 2012 at 3:21 AM

    Hi,
    Could anyone post the recipe for this cake? I love how it looks, but I live somewhere where I cannot get/buy the book.

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  41. The Food LibrarianJune 5, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    @Megan Megan, email me. - mary ::: thefoodlibrarian (at) gmail

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  42. Rose THERESAJuly 15, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    Nutella and cherry preserves (or brandied cherries) instead of the fresh berries...

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