My third challenge already! And this time, I was afraid. Seriously afraid. Not because of the steps involved in this recipe, chosen by Mary at Alpineberry, but because of the *extremely* high calorie count. This felt like I would gain a pound just from looking at it. Two if I actually ate. So what to do? I couldn't skip a challenge just because of that, could I? Solution: cut the recipe in fourths. I did. It was fine. No problems. I then served ten mini portions of it, for my Tupperware party. That was a mighty fine solution, if I dare say it myself. (And I do!) That means that the full recipe would have served 40 and not 8 - certainly a massive improvement for the calorie count!
Anyway. I should also admit that I didn't like the sound of the recipe very much. Vanilla custard, cake and chocolate sauce. Huh. I felt that it was going to be so-so, and wasn't very excited. In fact, I had to force myself to reach out for the tiny cup and try it. But then! Oh then, I had no problems wolfing it down - because this was delicious! Really, really delicious! The custard was smooth and creamy, the cake light and airy and delightfully orange, and the chocolate glaze was slightly salty (I used salted butter) and rich with dark chocolate. It all went perfectly together. And a mini portion was just the right size.
I encountered no problems while cooking - this was very straightforward, and easy to make. The custard held together nicely, which was no huge surprise since it contained corn starch. The cake - I baked mine in the bottom of a regular loaf pan and then cut out ten nice squares. And I used freshly squeezed orange juice, straight from the orange, to make it more flavorful. (Worked out nicely!) The glaze - took about two minutes to make, couldn't be easier. All in all, a very nice challenge, and I'm so glad to be in the Daring Bakers because without it I'd have never chosen to take it on. Now, I'm glad I did!
You can find the recipe here. And don't forget to visit the Daring Bakers blogroll and see how everybody else did!
My other challenges:
August - Milk Chocolate Caramel Tart
September - Sticky Buns
Yay well done it looks fantastic. I too was a little nervous about the task but I guess they don't call it a challenge for nothing!
ReplyDeleteI was hesitant too at first because of the huge amount of eggs involved but I'm glad I tried it. Your bakes are lovely as always :)
ReplyDeleteI stilled haven't enrolled, due to recovering still but I will eventually, yet I love all these cream pies and puddings.
ReplyDeleteI make the custards calling for whipped cream (in the base) leaner by using half and half or quite simply, milk. I have a recipe somewhere here (what else would be new?!) for Boston Cream Pie. Another one which is really easy is Banana Cream Pie.
The amount of eggs intimidated me as well - even after halving the recipe we still used 6 eggs and almost half a litre of cream!
ReplyDeleteIt was a good idea to serve extra mini versions of this rich, yet delicious, dessert..
Yes, cream and eggs and chocolate, scream calories! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteJag kan ana att receptet (med svenska mått mätt)lutar åt pralinhållet, dvs rör sig i godiszonen.
ReplyDeleteI didn't make the whole amount either, I halved it and ended up with 6 quite big dessert portions. No problem to finish it either! I like your idea, mini portions of it would be perfect on a buffet!
ReplyDeletehi Anne!! i had exactly the same reservations with u...!! calories...!! :P Glad u liked it in the end!!
ReplyDeletebeautiful blog u have btw!!
I've totally been enjoying all the shaped cakes, but for some reason, your simple square looks the most appealing. It's so honest and trustworthy--a lovely presentation altogether! And hooray for finding a party to feed these to--my friends are looking forward to the monthly parties the DB challenges will spawn!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And I couldn't agree more.. this dessert is definitely made for mini portions.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it worked out and that you discovered something new! =)
As always.. a lovely job, Anne!
xoxo
I think your portion size looks perfect. Mine looked like a heart-attack on a plate as one giant cake!
ReplyDeleteAnne. Lovely job as always. I am glad you like the cake, too!
ReplyDeleteYes it was lethal in the calorie aspect. But your presentation and sizes were perfect. Just enough of all that richness.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful presentation, and great idea to do the mini servings. One full serving is definitely over-the-top rich.
ReplyDeletesince i ate about two bites of mine, I could have used a mini bostini... dividing the recipe into fourths shows some true daring baker dedication.
ReplyDeleteI guess thats what a challenge is all about right , even making something you dont like well ! You have done a wonderful job. Keep it up:)
ReplyDeleteYou know I think I did gain a pound eating these and I divided my recipe into fourths too. Of course it might have been the fact that I added some more chocolate sauce to the top of my Bostini since it tasted soooooo good.
ReplyDeleteNatalie @ Gluten A Go Go
Glad to hear you took the plunge and tried it! And using it for the party was a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI was retiscent to this month's challenge too. For the calories and the finished dish.But a spoon of it made me forgot every thing. Now I have to run the marathon to burn it. Love how you turned it into a verrine.
ReplyDeleteI never would have made this either if it wasn't a DB challenge, but I'm glad I did. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about not taking on this recipe if it weren't for the Daring Bakers. I, too, thought the result was very tasty--and i'm not someone who likes orange and chocolate together
ReplyDeletei agree this wouldn't have been made at my house either if it wasn't a challenge but I am glad i did, a learning experience, lots of calories i couldn't even finish my little piece
ReplyDeleteTHis looks amazing and yummy, really!!! I like so... Gloria
ReplyDeleteI was really careful about separating the eggs -- one bowl where the egg whites first dropped into, another where I put the egg whites, another for the egg yolks, and another for the ones I didn't need.
ReplyDeleteI did like how straightforward the recipe was. I told myself after reading it through a few times that it wasn't really all that difficult, and it really wasn't! I surprise myself.
All of those eggs really put the fear in me as well! I love your little mini-Bostinis...such a great idea. :-) And so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThese look great Anne! A lot of the DB's are posting warnings about using salted butter in the chocolate glaze, but I love what salt does to chocolate. I brings it alive on your palate. I used unsalted butter, but added a pinch of sea salt. Glad you actually ended up liking it!
ReplyDeleteHi Anne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments on my blog.
Did not mean to scare you with the calorie count. :) I also cut the recipe in fourths to do a bit of damage control.
Your bostini is gorgeous!
Julius
I think your description for the flavor of each aspect of the Bostini Cream Pie was perfect along with your idea for presentation. I bet your friends are hoping you have another tubberware party real soon! =D
ReplyDeleteShandy (Pastry Heaven)
I agree with you, mini would be perfect. But my husband dosnt agree. He could eat two of them. Did you see that calorie count? (heehee)
ReplyDeleteSImply irrestible. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteLovely Bostini Anne.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh my yes mini is the only way for these babies.
I was afraid of the amount of eggs and the recipe is incredibly massive! 8 servings? Ha, easily 18!
ReplyDeleteWolfing down would be just about correct with this dessert. And I'm clearly going to have to do a dessert in a glass. Yours looks absolutely fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAwww... It's so cute! =)
ReplyDeleteWonderful job! I wish I would have cut mine that small, although I didn't have a problem eating my portion!!
ReplyDeleteYour bostini looks divine! I wish I hadn't been so busy this month as to miss this challenge...
ReplyDeleteHi Anne. I had to cut the recipe down too. There was just the 2 of us here :)
ReplyDeleteI've just seen the calories! It's probably better I didn't know before =) We did have small portions though ;)
ReplyDeleteWell done it looks great!
Anne, I also didn't think I would like the combination, but when I tried it, I liked it too :) Great job and it looks terrific!
ReplyDeletejen at use real butter
Your bostini looks very tasty!
ReplyDeleteYour mini-portions are great Anne it means I can have more than one!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how quickly time flies! Smart idea to divide it into fourths ... your bostinis are gorgeous, of course.
ReplyDeleteAnne, you're obviously way better at maths than I am. I had to do mine a second time. Well done your's look gorgeous
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea with the fresh orange juice.
ReplyDeleteAnne, these look wonderful! Great job! I think we are at the same level with the Daring Bakers - what a great group to be challenged by! I agree, the calories are out there, had to do extra time in the gym today! ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you made the challenge, too. It reaally did make a lot, but it was delicious even in small doses.
ReplyDeleteElle of Feeding My Enthusiasms
Lovely Bosintis! Now you're really making me feel guilty at how large my servings were (and eaten!)
ReplyDeleteThe Caked Crusader - oh NO, that's definitely not my meaning :) Don't feel guilty!
ReplyDeleteGreat solution to the "calorie conundrum" Anne. :) Beats my theory that washing all the dishes that this one generated had to burn off at least the first couple of spoonfuls... :)
ReplyDeleteI love being a DB since I get to try recipes I would've passed up. Nice job on your mini Bostinis. I try not to think about the calorie content of a full sized Bostini. =)
ReplyDeleteI love the presentation. So gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour Bostini looks so good! Very nice presentation. I also thought the recipe was huge, so I halved it and made eight desserts out of it and shared with the neighbors. That's my justification for making all these high calorie challenges--I give most of it away! :-)
ReplyDeletemmmh how good was that! i loved this dessert, can't believe i doubted it so much at first. that's what i love about the daring bakers: it can be a real eye-opener!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, Anne. Good idea with the minis. I also wanted to cut the recipe in 4, but I finally decided to only half it.
ReplyDeleteYup Anne, I had the same thoughts you did about the eggs and calories! BUT like you I didn't have a problem eating my portion. Of course I've been eating rabbit food ever since!! Great job on your 3rd challenge!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful presentation! Looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt looks just lovely! Well done and your right about how looking at the dessert just piles on the pounds... It was delicious though!! :)
ReplyDeletevery cute way to downsize the calories!
ReplyDeleteI made the full recipe and ended up with 20 small-medium sized ones. 8 had to be for ogres, really! Great job on your third challenge Anne, they turned out beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was definitely scared by all those egg yolks and heavy cream too but man oh man was it tasty. Your minis are adorable! Great way to cut down on the calories. :)
ReplyDeleteYour presentation is great. I like your idea of mini servings. The 3 cups of cream and all those eggs - I don't even want to think of the calories. I thought the recipe was straight forward too. I hope the dessert motivated your guests to purchase more Tupperware:).
ReplyDeleteGreat job Anne, it looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteYour mini bostini looks great, Anne. Sometimes, it's nice to tease with a little bit of sweetness. Makes it that much more enjoyable. Well done!
ReplyDeleteAnne,
ReplyDeleteYour Bostini is Beautiful! I was surprised at how many people didn't like the sound of the recipe or maybe the individual components but liked the end result!
xoxo