Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

The library is a perfect place for the a one-night stand.

Well, perhaps a three week stand. And you can enjoy it even more with a renewal.

Borrowing cookbooks from the library is a great way to give a new book a spin around the kitchen before any commitment.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

This happened with Donna Hay's Simple Essentials: Chocolate book.
I got it at the library, fell in love with it, and after a few clicks on Amazon, it arrived at my door.
Sweet.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)

Donna Hay suggests a layer of jam, cream, and/or berries in the center of two 9" sponge cakes. And that sounds real nice.
But what do you do when you just bought a new jar of Nutella? You go with Nutella. No questions asked.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)
I sliced some California strawberries. Yum.

Food Librarian - Chocolate Sponge Cake (Donna Hay)
The only thing missing is a nice layer of whipped cream. I tried! I put the bowl and whisk in the freezer and was all ready. Reached into the fridge. And pulled out an expired carton of whipped cream.

Drats.

So, when you make this...include the layer of Nutella and add a layer of sweetened whipped cream.

That would be dreamy.

Recipe:
Donna Hay's Chocolate book, page 58
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42 comments:

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

That looks so good to me right now! I totally agree with you on adding a layer of whipped cream in the middle as well. I need to see if my library has that book immediately :)

Steph said... [Reply to comment]

I was thinking of making a chocolate sponge for a lighter chocoalte dessert. Your cake looks so good!

Audrie said... [Reply to comment]

Looks so gorgeous and yum! Those are some of my favourite things in the world -- Nutella / chocolate, strawberries and Donna Hay! When I was living in Australia, I had one of her cookbooks and it saved me a lot of headaches with daily meals and such.

Bethie said... [Reply to comment]

Oh gawd, you're killing me here. I would be in heaven.

You mentioned one night stand and all I thought of was CAKE stand when I saw your pic. LOVELY!!

Susan from Food Blogga said... [Reply to comment]

Chocolate, Nutella, and strawberries? I'm in love.

Mary Jo said... [Reply to comment]

the exact same thing happened to me on father's day, i knew i had heavy cream but it just went and expired on me :( i have two cook books i've borrowed from the library right now, trying to decide if they are worth the purchase :) cake looks great!

Parita said... [Reply to comment]

The sponge looks awesome, perfect, i got to get my hands on this book!

Lisa said... [Reply to comment]

I've never met a Donna Hay I didn't love. And you're right: I've been checking out cookbooks left and right and my Amazon wish list is much better for it. :)

Cori said... [Reply to comment]

Such pretty pictures! That would so hit the sport right about now.

Kerstin said... [Reply to comment]

What a beautiful cake! I love strawberries and Nutella together - yum!

Eileen said... [Reply to comment]

That cake looks absolutely divine. :)

2.46% said... [Reply to comment]

I totally agree about borrowing cookbooks from the library. It's the best! If I make at least half a dozen recipes and it turns out well, I buy the book. In Lexington, we can check out a book for a month and renew it twice so I've been guilty of keeping cookbooks for 3 months!

The cake looks delicious. Have a great holiday weekend!

Nutmeg Nanny said... [Reply to comment]

Super delicious!!! I love the added Nutella.

Mary Bergfeld said... [Reply to comment]

This does look lovely. It's hard not to fall in love the ingredients you've used. You have a lovely blog. I'll be back often.

Pamela said... [Reply to comment]

Whipped cream would've been wonderful, but this cake looks pretty darned stellar on it's own. Yum!

Monica H said... [Reply to comment]

This is dreamy already- no whipped cream necessary.

Liz said... [Reply to comment]

Chocolate, strawberries, and Nutella? You had me at hello!

betty geek said... [Reply to comment]

WOW . . I want to dive right into that.

Carrie said... [Reply to comment]

Hello, my name is Carrie and I am addicted to Nutella! This would make a perfect 4th of July dessert! It, looks awesome!

Mary Ann said... [Reply to comment]

This looks so good! Nutella in the middle? heavenly! I agree about borrowing cookbooks from the library. Great way to find out about new things.

Patricia Scarpin said... [Reply to comment]

I love Donna Hay recipes - this is a luscious cake! What a wonderful idea to use Nutella. :D

Creative Classroom Core said... [Reply to comment]

This turned out so beautifully! Love it!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

You had me at Nutella.
XO
Racheal

Esi said... [Reply to comment]

Chocolate + Strawberries = BLISS

Madam Chow said... [Reply to comment]

Oh, I know what you mean! I made a pie (for guess what blogging event?), the whipped cream was no good, so I had to use the canned stuff. My guests didn't mind. Boy, this cake looks so good.

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

beautiful and so so simple! Thanks for sharing.

Snooky doodle said... [Reply to comment]

oh this looks divine! I love chocolate especially with nutella :)

Audrey said... [Reply to comment]

I have strawberries, and Nutella, and chocolate, and my library network does not own this book. I checked about 30 seconds after I read your post.

I am a very responsible patron. Can you please arrange an interlibrary loan? :)

maris said... [Reply to comment]

Hehe. I think this CAKE is great for a one-night stand because it wouldn't last more than that in my house :)

Mary said... [Reply to comment]

Nutella...yum...that sounds great. I have seen Donna Hay on TV last time I was in Korea and she is fabulous. I think she has a magazine too..they always have it in cool airport magazine stands...hmm...must borrow soon...

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

Mmm this sounds like a delicious dessert. I agree that taking books out of the library is a great way to see if you'll like the cookbook or not. Unfortunately I've purchased some cookbooks from Amazon, having never seen them before, and I've barely (or not even) cooked/baked from them.

Deeba PAB said... [Reply to comment]

Just gorgeous...nutella takes it to another level.Too bad about the expired cream.I'm thinking mango wih chocolate as strawberries are out of season now!!

Ingrid_3Bs said... [Reply to comment]

Looks good..makes me wish I liked chocolate!

Hapy 4th!
~ingrid

Marta said... [Reply to comment]

No questions asked indeed: Nutella was clearly the way to go! Plus, Nutella and strawberries are heavenly! Great cake!

Tasty Health Food said... [Reply to comment]

I've got to make this for my family! I'm not a cake fan, but they can't seem to get enough. :P

Katrina said... [Reply to comment]

Yum--especially with the Nutella!

vibi said... [Reply to comment]

Mary, you are the master of perfect dessert... as well a a pro of amazing photography!

All is always soooooo neat!

April said... [Reply to comment]

Oh gosh I might want to have a long-term commitment with that cake. You had me at the picture of Nutella...

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Tiny tip! Most dairy products with a higher fat content are good to use a few days after the expiry date. Of course give it a sniff and small taste test, but in my experiences I've gotten away with 3 days past due.

Megan said... [Reply to comment]

Hi,
Could anyone post the recipe for this cake? I love how it looks, but I live somewhere where I cannot get/buy the book.

The Food Librarian said... [Reply to comment]

@Megan Megan, email me. - mary ::: thefoodlibrarian (at) gmail

Rose THERESA said... [Reply to comment]

Nutella and cherry preserves (or brandied cherries) instead of the fresh berries...

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