Additional Coverage:
- I tried the chocolate cake that Ina Garten said is the ‘most fabulous’ she’s ever made, and it’s the perfect dessert (businessinsider.com)
Local Baker Recreates Ina Garten’s “Most Fabulous” Cake
A local baker has taken on the challenge of recreating Ina Garten’s Beatty’s Chocolate Cake, a recipe the celebrity chef herself has dubbed the “most fabulous cake” she’s ever made. The cake, known for its moist texture and rich chocolate flavor enhanced by a secret ingredient – coffee – has a charming backstory. It originated with Beatty, the grandmother of Garten’s friend Michael Grimm, who used to bake it for customers on her husband’s milk route.
The baker meticulously followed Garten’s recipe, starting with the preparation of two 8-inch round cake pans. Dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, were sifted together “in a cloud of chocolate,” as Garten instructs.
Wet ingredients – buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla – were combined separately before being slowly incorporated into the dry mixture. The secret ingredient, hot brewed coffee, was then added to the batter.
The resulting batter was divided between the prepared pans and baked until a cake tester came out clean. While the cakes cooled, the baker prepared the “easiest, most delicious buttercream” frosting. This involved melting good quality semi-sweet chocolate, beating butter until light and fluffy, and gradually adding sifted powdered sugar, an egg yolk, vanilla extract, and dissolved instant coffee granules.
Once the cakes were completely cool, they were layered with the luscious buttercream frosting and stacked. The finished cake, described as “deliciously rich” with a “nice kick” from the coffee, was deemed a resounding success.
The baker noted the incredibly moist and fluffy texture, a testament to the recipe’s unique blend of ingredients and techniques. Even after being transported across California, the cake maintained its moisture and delicious flavor.
This local baker’s experience confirms that Beatty’s Chocolate Cake is a delightful treat for any occasion, whether a birthday, anniversary, or simply a craving for something special. While it requires a bit of effort, the end result is well worth it, proving that sometimes, the most fabulous things are homemade.