I have been cooking for a while now but I have not really been doing much in the way of baking. I still find baking to be a bit intimidating. I keep hearing that it is not like cooking where you can play around with the ingredients. Since I started food blogging I have been watching the Daring Bakers amazing creations. The things that they were baking always seemed to be very challenging. I thought, “What better way to improve my baking skills than to challenge myself?”. And so I joined in on the Daring Bakers challenge.
This months Daring Bakers challenge was a Bostini Cream Pie. It is basically an orange chiffon cake, custard and chocolate. I was pretty happy with the choice of the recipe as it sounded really good and I had never made custard or a chiffon cake before. The original recipe made 8 serving so I cut the recipe in about half.
Orange Chiffon Cake
The chiffon cake was pretty straight forward. I was not able to find cream of tartar though… I made meringues a while ago so I was familiar with beating egg whites. I pulled out my trusty forks and whipped the egg whites into soft peaks in no time. (Getting a bit of exercise while baking is always good.) I baked the cake in 4 ramekins. They turned out pretty good, though they were not quite as light and fluffy as I was hoping for. The orange flavour in the cake was really good!
Custard
When I looked at the custard recipe I noticed that it looked a lot like a basic ice cream recipe. I was a bit worried as I have never actually been able to get ice cream to thicken enough to cover the back of a spoon. The ice creams turned out alright because they were frozen after and the custard would not be. It turned out ok though. I guess the cornstarch helped or I just finally got it right. The custard tasted great! It had a good texture and a really nice vanilla flavour. I wish I had been able to find a vanilla bean to try it with.
The assembly of the pie was pretty easy. I just placed some custard on a plate followed by the chiffon cakes and topped it with the chocolate glaze. It was really good! The orange chiffon cake went really well with the chocolate. (Orange and chocolate are such a great combination.) The custard rounded everything out with a nice cool creaminess.
In the end my first Daring Bakers challenge was a success! I did not run into any major problems. It took a bit of time to make and I did end up having to wash the dishes 3 times; once before starting, once in between making the custard and the cake and once after it was all done! But it was definitely worth the effort. Overall it a great learning experience and there was a tasty treat in the end.
Bostini Cream Pie
ingredients
- 3/4 cups cake flour
- 6 tablespoons superfine sugar
- 2/3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons beaten egg yolks (~2 yolks)
- 6 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 3/4 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup egg whites (~8 eggs)
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
directions
- Mix the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Add the oil, egg yolks, orange juice, zest and vanilla and stir until smooth.
- Beat the egg whites in a bowl until they form soft peaks.
- Fold the egg whites into the batter.
- Spray the cooking dish(s) with nonstick cooking spray and fill with the batter.
- Bake in a preheated 325F/170C oven until the cake bounces back when pressed lightly with a finger, about 25 minutes.
Custard
ingredients
- 6 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 whole egg (beaten)
- 4 egg yolks (beaten)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
directions
- Mix the milk and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.
- Mix in the egg and yolks and beat until smooth.
- Mix the cream, vanilla and sugar in a sauce pan and carefully bring to a boil.
- When it just comes to a bowl ladle about 1/4 cup into the egg mixture and quickly whisk to temper the eggs.
- Mix the egg mixture into the sauce pan and cook until it is thick enough to cover the back of a spoon while stirring constantly.
- Strain the mixture and refrigerate to chill.
Chocolate Glaze
ingredients
- 3 ounces butter
- 3 ounces semi or bitter sweet chocolate
directions
- Melt the butter in a sauce pan.
- Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate to melt.
Good job! I can never be that daring when it comes to baking.
Aww I’m glad the bostini was a success for you! And the chiffon was a great way to start baking more, it’s a difficult cake but sounds like you didn’t have problems at all!
Great first challenge!
xoxo
Good job on a first challenge!
I actually turned my leftover custard into ice cream… with a little Baileys added in.
That looks sooo, soo good. But, Kevin, you are a maniac! Someone needs to get you an eggbeater for christmas, or your birthday, or something.
Yes, this one did create lots of dishes! I think it’s admirable to take a challenge head on when you find it to be intimidating. A great way to boost your confidence after a success like your bostinis. Awesome.
-jen at use real butter
Aren’t you proud of yourself? You took the challenge, and conquerd! Nice job!
Congratulations on your first challenge! I’m glad to know that halving the recipe works out so well. I will use this knowledge for good, not for evil … (begins plotting a private stash of Bostinis)
Great job on your first challenge!! Looks delicious!
Way to go Kevin, your bostini looks fine and you’re certainly daring!
This looks awesome! Nice job 🙂
I agree about the vanilla bean…maybe one day! Great job!
Hi Kevin, well done with your first challenge! And you whipped the egg whites without a mixer – I take my hat off to you.
Congrats on your first DB challenge and great job! I love that your sponge cake is so thick and is just covered with the chocolate glaze 🙂
dang that looks tasty!! i too am intimidated by baking but love challenges…truth is, i’ve never even had a Boston Creme Pie, way to land it!
Baking can be a little intimidating.. I think its because ingredients have to be that much more precise for it to work.
Great job though!
It looks marvelous! I think you are destined to be a great baker! 🙂
Wonderful job, Kevin. Congrats on your first challenge completed 🙂
Great job on your first challenge. I love how the chocolate soaked into the top of your cake!!
Nice job!
I’m pretty sure I washed the dishes a few time throughout the course of making this, too!
Congrats on your custard success!
Wow Kevin, your Bostini’s turned out great! That custard looks nice and thick. Mine ended up being a bit runny, but it all tasted good. You are a prize winner by the way in my Sarnie Event, so e-mail me your particulars and I’ll have your prize winging it’s little way to you soon! Thanks so much for participating!
Well done on your first challenge. The teeny bostinis must have been the perfect small size for your closet-sized kitchen!
Great job with this! Looks so yummy! 🙂
I love that thick sponge. Gorgeous!
~ Julius, The Occasional Baker
Congratulations on mastering the custard. Your Bostini looks so yummy! Glad you are a Daring Baker!
Beautiful Bostini Kevin. Glad you decided to join us!
(A bit of exercise is a GOOD thing, when you consider the calorie content of these treats)
Bonus points for the etra whipping work, and it all turned out beautifully! GReat job on your first challenge!
Well, it certainly doesn’t appear from the wonderful job you did with the Bostinis that you are intimidated by baking! You seem like an old pro! 🙂
Want a Bostini? Then wash 5 dishes first! 🙂
Nice work!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Welcome to the group!
Good job on your first challenge.
How daring of you 😉 to start baking more.
Looks great!
xoxo
Baking can be intimidating, but you only get better by doing it more!