July 30, 2008

Amaretto Gateau with Midori Pistachio Praline Buttercream


A July Daring Bakers Challenge


This month's Daring Baker's Challenge was hosted by Chris of Mele Cotte. The recipe is for the Filbert Gateau with Praline Buttercream from Great Cakes by Carol Walter.

This is the second version of this cake that I made while on vacation with my family this month. The first one was devoured by my family before I had even finished making the buttercream. It was wonderful to know how delicious the cake was, but I really wanted to taste this cake all put together.

I waited until everyone was tired out from an afternoon spent in the hot Florida sun. While they were recovering, I hit the kitchen and whipped up another version of this cake. The gateau is made of almond meal and flavored with Amaretto. Then I brushed an Amaretto sugar syrup on each layer before spreading out the buttercream. The bottom layer of Swiss buttercream is pistachio praline flavored with Midori, a honeydew liquour. The top layer of buttercream is only flavored with Midori. The top layer of cake is covered with a lime curd glaze and then topped with chocolate ganache flavored with vanilla cognac. I had to use so much Midori liquour to get a nice flavor that we were jokingly calling this cake a "Snockered Gateau."

My family and I are on our way home and I'm having trouble with my internet connection. As soon as I can, I'll post my version of this recipe. If you would like to take a look the recipe now, visit Christ at Mele Cotte for the complete recipe.

Thanks Chris for a fabulous challenge. We thoroughly enjoyed eating this cake and it was a dream to make.

20 comments:

Chris said...

ha!!!!! I am sitting here thinking, I really need to go to sleep since I have to get up at 5...then read Snockered Gateau. Love it! Great job and choice in flavors. I am so pleased you enjoyed the challenge. :)

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I don't know how you do it, especially juggling travel at the same time too! Have a safe trip home. :)

Cheryl Harris said...

gosh, you did it twice? I'm impressed!

linda said...

Wow, great job on making the cake twice! while on vacation! Your family sure is impatient ;) The cake looks wonderful, love the flavours you used!

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I love boozing up my baked goods! You definitely get props for making this twice!

Jeanine - The Baking Beauties said...

Wow, you made it twice! That's a lot of work. Your flavours sound great!

Ann said...

Great work! Twice! :-)
Ann at Redacted Recipes

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Wow, I commend you for making that cake twice - it's phenomenal!!

By the way, I discovered that I'm allergic to wheat/gluten - I've been posting about it :0)

breadchick said...

Love the "Snockered" Gateau. And would never have thought of midori but I'll bet it was very good indeed.

Anonymous said...

Such cool flavor combos! I'm glad your family loved the cake. It's so fun to see our loved ones loving our baked goods!

Anonymous said...

Almond and Pistachio sound awesome - looks totally delicious :)

Tiffany said...

Great job!! I'm sure they tasted fantastic...hopefully you didnt get too tipsy off of them! LOL

Jen said...

Pistachio Praline sounds delicious!

glamah16 said...

Midori! Yummmmm.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Baked it twice?
Very interesting combinations of flavours in a great cake.

Lis said...

OHMYGOD that sounds and looks SO GOOD!!!! And the more booze the better, I say. hehehee

Hope you are have a safe trip home.. hugs!!!!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Your version looks beautiful! I never would have thought of using Midori ...

Vegan_Noodle said...

I would love to get snockered on your gateau. (that sounds kind of dirty, huh?) Can't believe you made two cakes!! Wow.

Angela's Kitchen said...

Yummy! That cake looks great! I can't wait to see your recipe for it. The texture is really nice.

Debyi said...

Your cake looks great and sounds amazing! I love your flavoring choices. I am impressed that you made this twice, all the dishes have scared me off it for awhile.