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Sunday, July 17, 2011

HCB: Chocolate Tomato Cake with Mystery Ganache


This cake turned out better than I expect. Which is not hard, considering I have very low expectations (sorry, Rose!) But I just could not bring myself to think or imagine that a cake made with tomato soup would turn out edible. If I were not so determined to bake everything from the book, I would have skip this cake in a heartbeat.

For the sake of scratching off one more cake off the list, I made 1/4 recipe, which yield 8 cupcakes, 50 grams each.

While I was prepping all the ingredients, it occurred to me that I should have just made 1/8 recipe. But oh well, it was too late.

First, I made the ganache. I usually chop chocolate by hand, no point in dirtying up the food processor.


Once the chocolate is chopped, heat up the cream and tomato soup until hot. Then add in the chocolate.


I let it sit for a minute or two, while I snap some photos. Then it only takes a dozen stir to get it looking like this.


While the ganache is "resting", I made the cake batter.

The cake was very easy to put together. Mix the egg, tomato soup, and vanilla together in a bowl. Mix all the dry ingredients in the stand mixer. Add in the butter, and then the egg mixture in two additions.

The cake batter smells pretty tomato-ey. I usually love chocolate batter and could not wait to taste test it (dipping my finger into it or licking the spatula). This time, I did not feel like trying the batter. I did anyway, and I could taste the tomato in the cake. And let me tell you it was not a good feeling.


The cupcakes baked up pretty quickly, about 17 minutes. After it cooled down, the ganache was ready as well. So I went ahead and started decorating.


Despite me not being excited about the cake batter's taste, I really liked the ganache. The consistency is excellent as well. Very smooth and creamy and easy to apply to the cupcakes.

To make it prettier, I made some stabilized whipped cream and piped little rosettes.


Topped with the chocolate pearls from Whole Foods and served with decaf coffee.


Tasting impressions:
This is pretty good. I liked what the tomato soup does to the chocolate cake. And by this I mean the it taste different, not like a typical chocolate cake. I can't really describe it. If I didn't know there's tomato in the cake, I would not be able to guess what it is. I liked the ganache as well. But even though I liked it, I would not go as far to say I will make this again (except maybe to bring to parties and have people guess what it is). I still can't get over the weirdness of eating a cake with tomato soup inside.

9 comments:

  1. I just made the Tres Leches and your first paragraph about the tomato cake is exactly how I feel about the Tres Leches! I might just quote you :)

    Your cupcakes are so pretty--I love how much care you took in decorating them despite having so many reservations.

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  2. I'm sending you a virtual high-five for getting over your reservations and baking this (cup)cake. I found the cake to be a pleasant non-tomato-y surprise. The tomato just adds a subtle sweetness to the cake and ganache that you can't put your finger on. The stabilized whipped cream is so pretty on top. I have to ask: did you paint the table in that first picture? I recently read a blog post on blogger photography where they showed a similar painting technique to give it the background that "rustic" look :o) It looks great on yours regardless how you got it :o)

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  3. Like your coffee glasses... reminded me The BOSTINI's!!!! Girl your photography is rocking!

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  4. Sometimes I make a tomato cake with brown sugar and cinnamon which I love. When I do, play with the idea of adding a little of cocoa powder, but I never do.
    I think your recipe is just what I was looking for! Sounds perfect, I have to try it!

    (Sorry for my mistakes with the language, but I needed to say something about this cupcakes!).

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  5. How interesting! I cant even imagine what these must taste like, such an interesting idea, but they are very pretty indeed and look like they would taste wonderful!

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  6. Jenn,
    This is exactly how I felt about the tomato soup cake. In retrospect, though, it seems like it would be a perfect birthday party cake. If somebody made your picture-perfect cupcakes for me, I'd be happy about turning a year older!

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  7. ECL, you can definitely quote me in your tres leches post. Thanks for the photo compliment!

    Hanaa, virtual high five back! And yes I painted that background just this weekend. Glad you liked it :).

    Monica, the glasses is from the bostini. It's a smaller version.

    La enredadera, thanks for stopping by. And your language is perfect!

    Sasha, there's only one way to find out how it taste like. Buy or borrow Rose's Heavenly Cakes.

    Marie, I think I'd be happy to get this cake for my birthday too. Just don't tell me there's tomato soup in there hehehe.

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  8. I was curious about this cake, but didn't get around to making it. I guess my motivation wasn't all that high. I'm glad it exceeded your expectations.

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  9. ב''ה

    Great photos! We enjoyed this cake.

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