
Baking for Bill is easy. It's actually very enjoyable. He likes everything. He is willing to try it all. He is also very much like an 8 year-old when I bake. He comes to the kitchen five times for the same imaginary glass of water. Goes back to his study with a banana. Comes back to the kitchen to dispose of the banana peel. Sixth imaginary glass of water. You get the idea. I love it. I also love that when I stacked the last layer of this cake, the first words that came out of his mouth were "Oh wow! That cake is huge! Yeah!!" Yes, The New England Cake, is indeed humongous and delicious.
I would not make a cake of this stature on the spur of the moment, just for us and two cups of tea. This is a Reunion Cake, a Birthday Dinner With Friends Cake, a Celebration Cake, a Date Cake! No really, I mean it. It is literally a lovely brown sugar cake filled with dates and iced with maple sugar buttercream. Trust me, you could make this for a first date and end up with a second. And a third.

There were a couple of reasons for this cake to start taking over the kitchen countertop. A family reunion and a book club. The reunion was as typical as can be: tiresome, crazy, at times scary but ultimately fun. Basically, no reason to elaborate on that but to focus on the book club instead. The Edible Word started last year under the initiative of Cath from A Blithe Palate and Stephanie from Dispensing Happiness. I had such a good time doing it that I said yes for this year's book, "Confections Of A Closet Master Baker" by Gesine Bullock-Prado, a non fiction memoir. I am just a couple of days behind the deadline but I blame it on this cake. And the reunion.
Confections Of A Closet Master Baker traces Gesine's journey as a Hollywood executive who finds her true calling in baking and decides to pursue her passion by moving to Vermont and opening a bakery in the small town of Montpelier. I devoured the book, all pun intended. So many emotions, "coups de coeur" and fun truths. Her passion is the air she breathed. You can bet I found myself in many of Gesine's mornings, getting to the bakery at the crack of dawn, leaving after everybody else and never questioning getting to do it all over again the next day.

I also fell in love with Gesine, her writing style and her voice. Fun, honest, visual. Writing is definitely her other talent. She is a cool chick. Each chapter of the book ends on a sweet note with one of her recipes. I had plenty to choose from: Carrot Cake, Plum Tart, Espresso Cheesecake, cream scones, and the list goes on. I went with The New England purely out of necessity. I was given very short notice to bring another dessert and not much time to shop so I did have to match my pantry to one of the recipes in the book.
I did make a couple of changes to her original recipe. The cake calls for brown sugar and I substituted half the amount with muscovado sugar which gave it an even deeper brown sugar flavor and kept the cake ultra moist, even days later. The frosting is a wonderful maple sugar Swiss meringue that would also go very well with any other darker cakes. I did make the executive decision to leave it un-buttercreamed on the outside. I had this vision of the cake growing and growing the more I was spatulating the inner layers. It was also starting to be pretty hefty and I had to travel with this cake. Honestly, it was quite perfect as it was. Impressive and delicious, filled with dried dates and a soft hint of molasses and maple sugar.

Due to copyright restrictions I am not at liberty to post the recipe (although I have stumbled upon a few close recipes with a quick Google search) but trust me, this cake is worth getting the book alone. Wait! Wait! What I do have is one extra, brand new copy to give away to one lucky reader. If I could I'd add a slice of the New England cake with it but I am afraid it won't work with the post office policies.
To enter the giveaway:
- leave a comment between Thursday September 10th 2009 and Sunday September 13th 2009 (midnight Eastern time)
- One entry per reader.
- no anonymous comment will be taken into consideration. Sign Zorro or X if you must.
- the giveaway is open to all. I'll ship anywhere in the world.
- the winner will be randomly picked by asking Bill to call out a number from all the entries received.
If you happen to know or have a link to a great date cake recipe, feel free to leave it in the comment. I know I am ready to try more!
You can follow Gesine on her blog, Confections Of A (Closet) Master Baker filled with humorous stories, tempting recipes and videos and on Twitter.
458 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 458 Newer› Newest»oh wow that looks good! i wish i had an occasion to make it soon!
New England! I live there! I'll make the cake too...
just like all your recipes and photos, the cake looks amazing!
I Love dates! I've never baked with them before - mostly savory dishes/appetizers. Thanks for sharing this cake. This may be one of the first times I've seen you blog about a food item that is "regular" size vs. the single serving dishes you normally post. Beautiful cake - love the simplicity.
Christina
http://thelovelyladybaker.blogspot.com/
The New England Cake sounds very similar to a fabulous cake that our dear friend from Guadalajara, Elvira, would make each year during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season - I thought that I had lost that taste memory - but now maybe it is found again! Yum
PamB
Fantastic! I love visiting your blog to see the wonderful things you make
http://natureculinary.blogspot.com/
Again, another lovely looking cake that seems to whisper: Dig in, Dig in.
I've never heard of Muscovado sugar before but it seems to make a difference. Your cake has just such a rich color, and maple sugar buttercream sounds gorgeous.
I'd very much like to try my luck to get that cookbook, just for the sake of this recipe. :D
looks wonderful, thanks for posting!
-irene
okay, that was just *cruel*... the minute i read the first words about this cake, i wanted to make it -- and then... no receipe! and so, i must win the book! it has to be...
I will be googling that recipe immediately! Your pictures and commentary left me salivating and am thinking it might be worth buying the entire book now! Thanks for yet another fantastic post :)
That sounds yummy! I bet it would sound eve yummier if I weren't constantly stuffed with pastries from class ;)
As a New Englander I do love me some maple anything, and I definitely also like dates. And brown sugar? Yes please!
Now I know what to do with the dates I have in the fridge ... can't wait to read her book ... I love her blog. Her writing is witty, lovely and sincere!
Heike
This looks like an awesome book. I hope that Bill picks my number!
You had me at maple and dates. I can't wait to get this book! The cake you made is absolutely gorgeous.
This cake looks completely amazing and even attainable for amateur bakers like me.
Beautiful cake! I love your blog - it brightens my day at work each time! I adore anything with dates (I think they make you smarter - when I was sitting for my graduation exams from the university, I consumed pounds of dates, and passed, therefore, the dates must have extraodinary powers) and memoirs; and will run out and buy the book tomorrow! Thank you!
I love dates!! The cake looks great!
Thanks for all your beautiful pictures. I would love to have this cookbook, as I love to bake. Thank you, Pat
Beautiful cake, Helen! I like it better un-buttercreamed! :)
Gorgeous! I love baking with dates, there's often a date loaf or date scone to be had in New Zealand, however this cake looks truly amazing!
Mouthwatering as always ;) I love that cake plate - always wonder where you get those nice dishes ... Can you give me a hint please?
I love dates! Both kinds. . . :-)
Looks amazing. Thanks for the chance to win.
Yum!
The cake looks just deeeeeeeeeeeelicious, like all the other wonderful desserts you bake :)
Amateur baker here, just stumbled across your blog. Quite enjoyable!
Oh yum!!! Maple Sugar Butttercream - I have to bake a cake pronto!
oh my goodness this looks delicious!!!
Mmm! cake looks delicious and the book looks wonderful!
That cake looks so good. I do wonder how it taste that made is so special.
I've made a date loaf before but this cake looks really beautiful and special.
So yummy!
I do have a dinner date coming up....
Oh boy, oh boy! This is a cake I could dive face first into. Brown sugar and maple are heavy-hitters in my kitchen - lovely!
Cheers,
*Heather*
Yum! I need to use up as much junk from our cabinets as I can (we're moving soon), and this sounds like a good candidate.
I like the picture of the cake next to the window. As usual, lovely post Tartelette!
Following from Mexico!
www.deharinaydemaiz.com
Your cooking looks wonderful. I'm often refering to your site for ideas! keep up the good work :)
Maple sugar buttercream frosting? Yes please!
Sounds like a great book and cake. When are you coming out with a book...?
This cake looks wonderful! I am getting hungry just looking at it...
The cake looks wonderful. I'd love to win the book!
gorgeous. wish my cakes looked so wonderful...
gorgeous cake!!
Ohh I loved this cake so much while I was studying overseas. Practically had it every other day. Lol. :D Now all I need is to know how to make it.
i love your photos and your creations. every time i visit your blog it inspires me to bake =)
Mmmm...looks yummy!
What a delicious sounding cake! I just stumbled across your blog tonight and have to say I am a fan! This book sounds fantastic and I think, if I don't win, I'm going to go out and buy it! I am a baker myself and grew up in Vermont, hope to one day start my own bakery there.
I want! I want! Both book & cake!!
This cake looks fantastic - I like that you left the outside uniced too. The book sounds fabulous too. :-)
I must have that recipe! It's be a great Fall recipe for my baking club.
Love the cake and love your blog. I would love to read the book!
That cake looks divine! Well done, as always.
That looks amazing! And the book looks great too!
Your cake looks lovely as always, and I'm digging the blog redesign too! I've been devouring foodie memoirs lately, would love to add this to my collection. Thanks for the opportunity!
The first time I found your blog, and this was a few months ago, I went through all your back posts, scouring for recipes, devouring the pictures. I check it daily now, always much anticipating what you have for us next. I love it! And this cake looks just divine!
Thanks for the book give away! I found her blog a few days ago. Can't wait to read the book.
Muscovado and dates? Sounds like my type of cake. I make somethimg similar with bananas (minus the frosting), but of course they are never as good looking as yours!
What a pretty and delicious looking cake!
What a lovely cake! I am constantly impressed by the delicious pictures you take.
That looks delicious! I've long been a fan of your blog and that just 'reads' yum.
that's a big cake
MMMM, this looks so yummy!
The cake looks wonderful, the only time I've ever used dates in baking is in Sticky Toffee Pudding, yummy!! Would love to win that book so I could try all the delicious sounding recipes!
Astoundingly, I hadn't heard of this book, but it sounds delectable! Thanks for all of the inspiration.
bonjour helene,
this cake looks amazing. i've only recently started hearing about muscovado sugar. last week i had some muscovado ice cream, very delicious!
The cake looks amazing! Your photography is stunning. Enjoy your weekend.
Your photography is amazing!!!! And I always have a urge to run to the bakery after eyeing over your goodies!
Looks delicious...my stomach is already growling, lol.
Bill call out number 269!!!!
Helen, wonderful cake you made. Would love to be part of your family for a reunion.
what a masterpiece this is - you have such skills and one of the most beautiful blogs
Hey Helen! I L-O-V-E ur blog! Everything u cook n bake is so beautiful including this cake..I'm not very fond of dates but I'm still tempted to have a slice of this!
-Disha.
The cake looks and sounds scrummy, off to hunt a recipe thanks for the tip about substituting half the amount of brown sugar with muscovado sugar. I love moist cakes and will definitely follow suit.
Please add me for a chance to win a copy of the book.
Thanks
i went to a party where the host made cupcakes that sound just like this recipe.the icing was to die for and the dates just did me in(love,love,love dates).
coucou Hellen
honestly, I have never ever tried a cake with dates, before but oddly I found myself buying 1 big bag of pitted dates last week wishing to do something with them. How about some cake?? (I'm so brilliant!).
Congratulations on the Book Club, what a lovely idea, and congratulations on the husband as well, Bill (and his imaginary glass of milk )*looks* even lovelier.
bisous
Cake looks delicious! And as always, loved your delicious clicks!
There is one date cake recipe i've been wanting to bake. Check the link.
http://www.aayisrecipes.com/2006/05/27/date-cake-eggless/
What a lovely cake! It reminds me of my grandmother who was a wonderful cook and baker.
You make the baking trade so glamorous, yet homey at the same time. Thanks for the inspiration!
Gorgeous cake and I LOVE LOVE LOVE your photos!
I am planning on making your Lemon cupcakes for my brother on his birthday next month.
I will make this cake for my father for his birthday. He adores dates and maple syrup and I am sure the buttercream will also find his fancy! Thanks for a beautiful site.
I'm sooo inspired! By Gesine, by you.. Cheers to all those who are daring enough to live their dreams!!!! love all your beautiful creations!!!
Wow! I absolutely love dates and to pair them with maple and put them in a cake just sounds lovely. I have a feeling this will be a favorite Christmas dish and I can't wait to bake it!
The cake looks amazing and the book like a really good read. I am going to have to search for a similar recipe as I am now craving cake!
Mmm that cake looks so good!
This cake looks wonderful!
My husband would just love this cake as it sounds not too sweet and just a small amount of frosting!
This cake is outstanding!:)
And the book probably too, so I hope to "be the chosen";)
I feel like a cheater because I am leaving my first comment on a post to win something. I PROMISE I READ YOUR BLOG EVERY DAY! I even make the recipes sometimes!
that looks great!
You have such a gorgeous website... and a delicious looking cake too.
As always it looks delicious.
Love dates...The cake looks fabulous. I've been hearing a lot about the book, would love to share it with my book group
A closet master baker—that is exactly what I want to be.
This cake looks so good I can almost smell it!
It looks delicious. Sometimes too much frosting can overwhelm a great cake, and I like my frosting. New to your blog, but love it.
That's a beautiful cake!
This cake looks amazing!!! I'd be so excited to make it, even for just a cup of tea.
the cake looks great!
The cake looks fantastic! I'm not a huge fan of dates, but I'm excited to try something different! Thanks for the post!!
I am so happy I discovered your blog. Ahh the baking possibilities...
Your cake is beautiful, and I am reading past posts and discovering wonders like Chocolate Truffle Tarts! You have my endless THANKS :)
I just love your cake-stand (if it's called like that). Tartelette - tasteful as ever ;)
after that intro I MUST have that recipe - delicious!
Yum! Looks lovely,
~M
If only I could live on desserts...the world would be a much better place. I'm going to have to try this cake. Its looks like heaven on a plate.
This sounds great - and a perfect late-summer or fall cake! AND this is just the kind of book I've been looking for! Thanks for the tip! - Kim
WOW that cake looks soooooo good. I am a serious cake addict and would pass up most other activities ;p for a slice of silky cake!
Sarah Madsen
looks soo good! but I'm waiting for something new with fresh fruit!
Your pictures are beautiful...and always make me hungry! Thank You!
Your photos are amazing. What a beautiful cake!
I just found your blog. Very interesting!
The cake looks amazing. It was a very good idea to avoid frosting the sides. A little frosting is very tantalizing.
That cake does look quite tasty... but really everything you create looks incredible!
Even if I don't win the book I'm going to buy it, can't wait to read it. I just finished Julie & Julia and need another book to get into.
Salute Helen! I am in college and my only knowledge of the kitchen is limited to my love affair with sweets in every manifestation. I have recently decided to build upon my food literature and would love a chance at that book! I don't want just another recipe book, I prefer it to be something like your blog, inspirational recipes, mouthwatering pictures maybe, but most importantly the good stories. I have been following your blog for some time, and my only addition to said library thus far has been Afrodita, by Chilean author, Isabel Allende. I recommend it! Much Love..
Oh my goodness so many comments! As there should be, what a wonderful giveaway! I hope I have the lucky number!
Can I just say - I could stare at your pictures all day. They are SO beautiful. And I'm not just kissing up for a giveaway (although if it works, I'll take it, haha)
This cake looks divine and so does this book!
What a lovely cake with beautiful flavor combo's I would love to try baking it.
what a coincidence...that is exactly how i want my life story to someday read! i would love to peek at that book to see what my future holds.
Oh, I hope you pick me. =) If I lose can you at least send me a slice of that cake? ;)
Your cake looks fabulous as usual.
Jane
The cake looks amazing and absolutely delicious:) I've always liked cakes with muscuvado sugar...
And Bill must be so lucky, since all your recipes look delicious and yummie!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one number...:) Thank you:)
I'd love to win a copy of this fab book!
YUM!
Hi Hellen, the cake looks very moist!!! I love it, I love the dark sugar/molasses/dates combination, very nice.
wow a date cake. i don't think i've eaten dates since they found their way into trail mix. looks great, though.
Wow that cake looks YUMMY! I can't wait for autumn to get here.
When I saw the cake, I looked forward to seeing the recipe at the end of your post, but maybe I can look forward to winning the book, instead. =) It looks delicious!
Mmmmmm Maple sugar buttercream sounds so delicious!! I might have to try that out!!
Maple sugar buttercream....yummy. I want to win! I want to win!
I've always enjoyed using dates in cakes, like Sticky Toffee Pudding. Thanks for this new idea!
Your cake looks amazing and yummy! I want some. I love to bake, and I love cookbooks. Thanks for the chance to win.
Bonjour,
Greetings from Paris!
Your site is an inspiration to me, everyday I visit it to check your latest creation. You make everything seem like a dream, especially the food!
Merci
Amarja
This cake looks fantastic!!
It was always a treat to stop at Gesine's. Lovely little place. I come to your blog via Jen, yes, of course the one and only, Use Real Butter. I have sooo little time to be on line, but sheesh, you chicks are so damn inspiring I can't stop:) Would so, so love that recipe for maple buttercream, will have to buy the book.
What a lovely cake! And so nice of you to do a giveaway!
Awesome! Sounds like a groovy book. I've never attempted such a large cake.
Lovely cake. And beautiful website!
I have to say I am in awe of your creations! Beautiful! : )
Sticky toffee pudding is my favorite date dessert but I love anything maple so I know I would love this recipe. Do you think agave could be substituted for the brown sugar?
This is gorgeous and looks delicious. I can't wait to try it out. I recently discovered your blog while trying to find recipes for macarons. I love reading your posts and have been inspired to bake so many new things!
Delicious! I would love to win the book also. Who wouldn't! =) Blessings from New Zealand.
I've never made a date cake, but I'd love to try another recipe from the book!
That book looks fantastic. The cake looks even better. Enough said.
I'm dying to win a giveaway, so I hope I do!
That cake looks amazing :D
I love your blog. I just found it. :)
Yippee! I love your blog! I have a link to your site from my blog, because I want all of my readers to become as big of a fan of you as I am. http://www.sliceoffeist.com
thank you for your passion and art!
Kirsten Larsen
YUM! and beautiful too!
jan
I love the simplicity of your presentation :) It makes you seem more reachable somehow.
I love these pictures! they're stunning!
Lovely cake!! and a maple butter cream!! mmmmmm!! would be perfect for the celebration next week!! will google the recipe now!!
It looks so simple and perfect with some tea :) As always, amazing job.
Oh, this book sounds wonderful!
I am drooling! Pick me! :)
It looks SO DELICIOUS!
Love your recipes and delightful photos ... Cheers!
I just love your blog. And... I just love dates.
I made an orange essence cake with date buttercream once. It was just divine. Dates are so yummy.
Simply lovely.
Oh my, this cake is beautiful and mouth watering I'm sure!
Thank you for the muscovado sugar tip. :)
Renee
I love the photos... cannot wait to try baking this cake (yes, even if I don't win the book). Have a lovely weekend!
Mmmmmmmm....cake!!! Would love the book! Just started baking cakes and love new recipes!
I've been meaning to try a Date Cake for quite awhile now, now might be the time! And the book sounds fantastic, it will be going on my list of books to read. Thanks!
This cake sounds amazing, the perfect thing to share with great friends you haven't seen in ages.
Oh what a wonderful cake! And I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. Kristina x
You had me with the maple but then add dates! This cake sounds really good!
What a beauty of a cake!
Your photography is lovely as ever!
What beautiful creations. And the cakes look wonderful, too! (I was speaking of your photography).
Looks wonderful - both the book and the cake! Lucky Bill!
Such a shame you cannot post the recipe! It looks scrumptious!
The cake looks delicious and the books sounds fabulous! The story of the book sounds like a change I've made by changing careers to go to culinary school, only I've realized my true passion is in baking & pastry!
Thanks for the opportunity! And all your lovely dessert posts! :)
Lovely cake! I'm a new reader, loving your blog and photos!
Looks perfect with a cuppa Tea...
Jill
Oh, it looks so amazing! I would love to try it, and I'm sure there's plenty of other lovely reciepes in the book. Hope I'm lucky...
This sounds like a really good book (and the cake looks delicious - love your cake stand, too!) - here's hoping Bill picks my number! :)
maple sugar buttercream sounds heavenly!!! the cake looks absolutely amazing!
how funny — i just heard about that book and the bakery the author set up in vermont, where i live! i'd love to read it!
Looks like a nice breakfast type cake. yum.
that cake looks and sounds delicious!
u never fail to impress me everytime. love ur work. would love tat book!
Hi Helene, your baking and photography shows through your passion in your field of patisserie. I love your blog :D and looking at the pictures and the generosity of your recipes! Sometimes by looking at it, it brings inspiration to me that I have to try it. Thank you for being so generous Helene. Kindest regards from NZ, Jenny.
Awesome cake! I love reading your blog.
Sarah
what a dream. i would love the book!
Another fabulous recipe and with my preferred brown sugar to boot - it's a keeper! Thanks. Yasmin
I love reading and I love baking and I would love to win this book! I also love your blog! It is inspiring and gorgeous! Thanks for all your delicious posts (at least all that I have tried have been great successes!)
The cake is so pretty. I love the thought of the maple icing.
Your pictures always look so delightful, thanks!
i live in vermont and have had the pleasure of visiting gesine bakery...i would love the book!
Oh my gosh! Gorgeous and so delicious. I'm off to make "Nectarine Golden Cake" but this looks even better :)
Looks as delicious as it is lovely.
I need this! I just moved and left all my cookbooks at home.
everything you make looks divine...this is no exception!
It's such a homey recipe, but you made it so elegant with the more-is-less frosting approach!
Yummy + delicious + wonderful!
That cake looks tempting! I didn't know what muscovado sugar is, but now I do. :)
Bcake and beautiful presentation. This is my first visit to this site, and I'm sure I'll now be a regular!
Yum! Another recipe to try out! Looks wonderful!
Okay Bill pick me- I am a loyal fan of your wifes!
I keep checking your blog in anticipation of your book making an appearance. But I will happily look at this one until yours arrives. he he.
Dates are Sinful, everyone should sin a little! lol love the cake, looks like ill be baking next weekend!
thanks
cg
Gorgeous cake & fabulous review of the book Helen. I love the way you showcased Gesine's writing style & personality. Just what I like about cookbooks like this. A personal level & warmth to connect with. Beautiful in every way...Yes, Bill does sound like an 8 year old (or like my 10 year old...same childlike excitement!)
OMG I HAVE TO BE THE LUCKY WINNER TO GET THIS! =D
perfect for the beginning of autumn!
Oh wow!
I've been eying that book off for a while now
I just adore your website! What a lovely cake :)
Post a Comment