I recently had the honor of helping plan an evening to celebrate one of my dearest friends by co-hosting her bachelorette party here in Portland. The evening was full of festivities, including a stop into the renowned Portland Rose Garden, noted as the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, featuring more than 10,000 roses. If you’re in the area or hope to visit one day, check out this link and add it to your list of places to see. You won’t be disappointed!
So, as with any celebration or life event, I was looking to capture a memory that would be remembered for years to come. We decided that a dessert picnic would be wonderfully relaxing, so naturally, I was in search of a decadent cake recipe to share.
A big thanks here to Beth of Localmilkblog.com who so willingly allowed me to republish her recipe! If you haven’t already, make sure to check out her stunning site. Earlier this year I discovered Local Milk while perusing the 2014 Saveur Best Food Blog Awards and was in awe at the creativity that could arise out of a kitchen. It was around the time when I decided to venture into the world of blogging. As such, I was spending my off hours researching and looking for inspiration in how to express my own passion for cooking. I am still amazed at how Beth breaks open the mold of what has been considered the norm for food styling and content creation, bringing her very own undeniable organic flair. Its truly inspiring, Beth- thank you for what you do so well!
So, now to the cake: this recipe is not for the faint of heart. When Beth says that the moistness of this cake cannot be overstated, it most certainly is the truth. So much so that when you remove it from your pan, make sure to place it on parchment paper on top of your cooling rack before letting it cool, or it’ll stick it’s whole self to it.
Trust me on this though- the effort put into this cake is well worth it. Just make sure sure to set aside ample time to walk through the steps. Tedious as they may be, you won’t be disappointed! I mean, chocolate and lavender?! I must admit, this is likely my first time ever tasting the two so delicately woven together. Top that with the heavenly lavender and earl grey buttercream and you have a cake that very well just might change your life.
Quick tip here, I would recommend freezing your cake layers before adding the frosting. This allows for the cake to be a bit more workable and also offers the convenience of making the cake in advance. Just make sure to use parchment paper here as well to prevent that luscious sticking.
For the full recipe, click here. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we all did!
The evening was most definitely a success, full of love, laughter, and kindred spirits!
