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Home » Gluten Free Sweet Treats » Cake » Very Decadent Fudgy Chocolate-Berry Birthday Cake with Chocolate Ganache – Miss GF Makes #10

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Very Decadent Fudgy Chocolate-Berry Birthday Cake with Chocolate Ganache – Miss GF Makes #10

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This year I seemed to ‘lose’ March. No sooner had it arrived, than we launched into a month-long formal inspection at work, which called for excess hours in the office and many hours of intense focus. Planned leave was cancelled and one tired day piled into another…..

In amongst the chaotic busyness and ups and downs, I also had a birthday. To be honest, it came and went with very little expectation and minimal fuss. I am sad to say that I have reached an age where birthdays become increasingly scary……. Except that Miss GF made me the most amazing and incredibly decadent birthday cake. Look at it! I have to pinch myself that she is still only 11 years old. No kidding…… she made this cake without any help at all!

I have no idea where she found her inspiration for this beautiful Fudgy Chocolate-Berry Cake, but I am thrilled to say that she is using the blog as the intended recipe ‘book’ that it is and sourced the chocolate sponge from a recipe that I developed for her own birthday a couple of years ago. She added her own mark by throwing some freeze-dried strawberries into the mix and then took it from there……

When she saw that I had bought some cigarillos (for another cake I had planned), she nobbled a load and worked out her own way to stick them to the sides (with butter-frosting). She requested lots of strawberries and raspberries the day before, which were freshly delivered to ‘her’ kitchen, found a jar of raspberry jam in the larder and finished the whole lot off with a spread of dark ganache and a sprinkle of grated chocolate.

I will be honest….. she made the cake over two days after school and when I saw the sponge come out of the oven, I was a little concerned that it was going to be dry as no compensation had been made for the liquid that the dried strawberries would suck up. I needn’t have worried….. this recipe is very forgiving and when we eventually got to eat the cake, the sponge was perfectly dense and very fudgy. It worked superbly with the tart softness of the fruit, the sweet, decadent crispness of the cigarillos and the smooth richness of the ganache.

This is not a cake for the faint-hearted…. It is very rich and works well served with a slug of cream. A ‘three or four cigarillo’ slice is ample…… which means it goes a very long way…… Perfect for celebratory sharing!

Well done Miss GF…… I can honestly say this is the best birthday cake I have ever had.

As for birthday presents….. Mr GF has kindly bought me a wonderful trip to River Cottage for a day’s gluten free baking with Naomi Devlin in May. I can’t wait. No matter how my confidence in the GF kitchen grows, there is so much more to learn and I love hearing how the experts do it….. Perhaps Miss GF could give me a few lessons!

I am sharing Miss GF’s incredible Very Decadent Fudgy Chocolate-Berry Birthday Cake with :


Cook Blog Share with Hijacked By Twins

Free From Fridays with Le Coin De Mel and Free From Farmhouse

Sunday Fitness & Food with Marathons & Motivation and Ilka’s Blog


Brilliant Blog Posts with Honest Mum

We Should Cocoa with Tin & Thyme

Fiesta Friday with Angie

Very Decadent Fudgy Chocolate-Berry Birthday Cake 

Ingredients

Fudge Cake
100g plain GF flour mix (I used blend A from this post)
15g cocoa powder
pinch fine sea salt
¾ teaspoon xanthan gum
1½ teaspoons GF baking powder
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
100g ground almonds
½ teaspoon vanilla bean powder

200g dark chocolate – broken into small pieces
150g unsalted butter
4 large eggs
200g caster sugar
100g dark chocolate chunks
handful freeze dried strawberries

Method

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients together (except the strawberries), making sure any lumps are completely broken down.
  2. Base-line 2 x 8 inch non-stick baking tins with baking paper.
  3. Pre-heat the oven to 180 C/350 F/Gas 4.
  4. Melt the dark chocolate (200g) and butter in a heat-proof glass bowl, either over a saucepan of simmering water (stirring frequently) or in the microwave on medium setting at 30 second bursts, stirring between each. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. In a separate large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork until well-blended and creamy.
  6. Add the sugar and beat again.
  7. Add the melted chocolate mix and beat in well.
  8. Add the dry ingredients and fold until the batter is smooth.
  9. Add and fold in the chocolate chunks and strawberries.
  10. Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins and spread evenly.
  11. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. The cake will have a crusty top.
  12. Leave to cool in the tin, before removing ready to decorate.
Vanilla Butter-Frosting & Cigarillos 
120g unsalted butter – softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
400g icing sugar – sifted
1 to 2 tablespoons almond (or other) milk
raspberry or strawberry jam
Approx 80 chocolate Cigarillos

Method

  1. Beat the butter until soft with the vanilla extract.
  2. Gradually add the icing sugar and a little milk until you have a light, smooth butter frosting.
  3. Place one half of the cake (crusty side down) and spread a good layer of frosting across the surface.
  4. On the soft side of the second sponge, spread a layer of jam and then place this on top of the first layer, jam side down.
  5. Spread a good layer of icing sugar round the sides of the layered cake using a spatula.
  6. Carefully place the cake onto a serving plate and then gently but firmly, press the cigarillos one by one round the sides of the cake to form a ‘wall’. Leave a small gap for a fruit-ganache waterfall.
Chocolate ganache, Fruit and Decoration
150g dark chocolate – chopped
150ml double cream
400g fresh strawberries – washed & trimmed
500g fresh raspberries
grated dark chocolate

Method

  1. Place the chopped chocolate in a heat-proof bowl.
  2. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over a low heat until just at simmer point.
  3. Pour the cream over the chocolate, leave to sit for a couple of minutes and the stir until the chocolate is melted and the ganache is liquid and smooth. Set aside to cool at room temperature, stirring occasionally until beginning to thicken.
  4. When the ganache has thickened to spreading consistency, spoon some onto the top of the cake and spread to the edges inside the cigarillos. Spread a little down the gap in the cake to form a ‘waterfall’. Keep a couple of tablespoons back for decoration.
  5. Pile the prepared fruit onto the top of the cake, sticking a few pieces of fruit onto the ganache waterfall.
  6. Gently heat the remaining ganache over a bowl of steaming water to loosen and drizzle over the fruit.
  7. Add a sprinkle of grated chocolate to decorate.
Gluten Free Alchemist © 2013-17 unless otherwise indicated
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28 Comments

This page may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and go on to buy the product recommended, I will get a very small commission. You will not however be charged any more than if you went direct to the site. 

I will only ever recommend products that I actually have in my kitchen or would buy myself. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Drew Watts says

    18/12/2018 at 9:56 am

    This post featuring Danny’s birthday celebrations is just so amazing. That cute video was so entertaining for me. I also would be hosting such a party for my son’s birthday and would like to book some rental Chicago event venues so that I don’t have to clean up the mess, HAHA!

    Reply
  2. benilhalk says

    18/12/2018 at 9:55 am

    Nice cake! It must be cheerily yummy. Farewell party organized for our favorite teacher was appreciated by her. Hired one of the well known event venues Chicago for dinner. Drinks and desserts were all of best quality. Also the interior was attractive with pretty lighting. Ambience was amazing and everyone praised the kind catering staff.

    Reply
  3. dhai chicken recipe says

    21/01/2018 at 4:49 pm

    good to know new recipe

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      22/01/2018 at 9:42 pm

      Thank you x

      Reply
  4. Choclette Blogger says

    29/04/2017 at 6:42 pm

    Miss GF is quite amazing. I'd be thrilled to produce anything as glamorous as that now after many many years of making cakes. What a lovely birthday present to you and I hope you enjoyed the day, despite the hideous pressures of work. Thanks for sharing this with We Should Cocoa 🙂

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      01/05/2017 at 1:25 pm

      Thanks Choclette. Isn't she?! She certainly made my day with this one! xx

      Reply
  5. Angie Christina says

    14/04/2017 at 4:30 am

    Wait, your daughter, who's 11, made THIS cake?! That's just so incredible and fabulous! Bravo 👏 I think we all know what a bright future she'll have with such talent. Happy Birthday!! 🎈

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 9:08 pm

      Thanks Angie. I know right? Very talented for sure!
      And thanks for the birthday good wishes xx

      Reply
  6. Midge & The Peachicks' says

    11/04/2017 at 6:56 pm

    Well done Miss GF – That is amazing! xxx

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks Midge x

      Reply
  7. Monika Dabrowski says

    11/04/2017 at 6:43 pm

    My 11-year-old can do many things but he is a very long way away from producing something as fabulous as this cake:)

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 9:02 pm

      Ha ha! Thanks Monika. She is a bit of a star xx

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    10/04/2017 at 9:28 pm

    This is one showpiece of a cake! And very creative! Love it! I remember how proud I was when my daughter started making things! We do not give our children their due! Great for you for giving her free reign and I wish I had a slice! Happy FF!

    Mollie

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 9:00 pm

      I know…… I was stunned by it! I have to admit, there are times when I think she has too much 'free reign', but then I see what she does with it and I realise she is way more competent than I give her credit for.
      Thanks for popping over & for your kind comments xx

      Reply
  9. Sarah G says

    10/04/2017 at 8:09 pm

    YUMM! This is right up my alley 😀

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 8:54 pm

      Thanks Sarah. Chocolate & fruit are a heavenly marriage! X

      Reply
  10. Bethany says

    10/04/2017 at 4:56 pm

    Such a gorgeous cake!

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 8:52 pm

      Aww thanks Bethany x

      Reply
  11. Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says

    10/04/2017 at 11:49 am

    Oh wow Miss GF really does have an amazing talent! I hope you have a great trip to River Cottage, it is so peaceful I really want to go back. Sorry for the late commenting and thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      14/04/2017 at 8:51 pm

      Thanks Kirsty. I am pretty impressed with her!
      I am so looking forward so River Cottage. Gets me a weekend away too! X

      Reply
  12. Kat BakingExplorer says

    09/04/2017 at 3:29 pm

    Wow this is absolute stunning! And what an amazing birthday present! I can't wait to hear about your trip to River Cottage 🙂

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      09/04/2017 at 7:36 pm

      Thanks Kat. It was such a lovely thing for her to do…..
      And as for River Cottage…. I can't wait! x

      Reply
  13. belleau kitchen says

    09/04/2017 at 11:38 am

    wow… it's just so pretty and looks wonderfully rich and fudgy… just how we like it!

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      09/04/2017 at 7:35 pm

      Thanks Dom…. us too! x

      Reply
  14. Ginger & Bread says

    08/04/2017 at 2:24 pm

    What a talented daughter you have! Congratulation to that and, belatedly, to your birthday!
    Happy Fiesta Friday!
    Ginger x

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      09/04/2017 at 7:35 pm

      Thank you Ginger. That's very kind xx

      Reply
  15. Johanna GGG says

    08/04/2017 at 1:44 pm

    Wow Miss GF bakes birthday cakes and tests your recipes – what a wee treasure. I am shamed that her birthday cake decorating skills far exceed mine – I might need to take some lessons from her – though I can see where she inherits her talents from!!!! Belated happy birthday and hope that April is a more forgiving month for you

    Reply
    • Kate Glutenfreealchemist says

      09/04/2017 at 7:34 pm

      I know…. she is a bit of a star in the kitchen! Thanks Johanna for your lovely comments. March was a bit of a trial, so I am looking forward to a less frenetic April….. x

      Reply

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