Today is a special day, friends. Today is the day that Life’s Ambrosia turns 6! Can you believe it? And what a better way to celebrate such a special occasion then with a cake with a bajillion sprinkles on it?
OK…Maybe not a bajillion, but it’s close.
When I planned to make this cake, I planned to put sprinkles on it, because nothing says LET’S CELEBRATE like sprinkles. Am I right!?
What I didn’t plan on was getting chocolate crumbs in my pretty white frosting resulting in me covering the entire cake in sprinkles. But, while I was covering the cake in sprinkles at 10pm on a Friday night (because that is when you decorate cakes when you have a toddler and 4 month old) and saw how pretty it was turning out to be, I was very happy that those little chocolate crumbs had a mind of their own.
Speaking of chocolate crumbs. These chocolate crumbs are down right delicious. Yes, I used pumpkin again, but only for the moistness factor. This does not taste like a pumpkin cake. And like the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, it totally worked. It worked so well, in fact, it might just be the only way I make chocolate cake from now on.
In addition to making this delectably moist chocolate cake to celebrate, I also wanted to say thank you to all of you that read this blog. Thank you for making the recipes. Thank you for letting me know how they turn out. Thank you because your readership allows me and encourages me to continue to explore this passion for food I have. And as another way to say thank you, I’m giving away a box of my favorite things to one lucky winner.
Like last year, this box includes things that you’d find in my kitchen. Things that I love. Things that I would send to every one of you if I could, but alas, until I win the biggest jackpot in the history of jackpots, there can only be one winner. The one winner does win some pretty schanzy prizes though if I do say so myself. Check it out:
This year’s Favorite Things Box includes:
1. A Signed Copy of The Flavor Bible – When I attended the International Food Bloggers Conference last month I actually got to meet Karen and Andrew and they signed a copy specifically for me to give away in this box. If I could give one to every single one of you I would, you NEED this in your kitchen.
2. A 2 ounce package Market Spice Spaghetti Seasoning Mix – Spaghetti is my favorite meal, probably ever. This is a mix from a spice store in Pike Place Market. I use it all the time, not just spaghetti but pizza sauce as well as dressings and marinades.
3. Jar of Maille Rich Country Dijon – This stuff is gold for sandwiches as well as vinaigrettes.
4. Jar of Maille Honey Dijon with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – This is the stuff that I used to make my Crispy Chicken Thighs with Honey Dijon Balsamic Pan sauce. It works for that…or you can eat it with a spoon. Your choice :)
5. A 6 ounce jar San Juan Island Sea Salt – This is my favorite finishing salt. Just a simple sprinkle on tomatoes or fresh french fries…SWOON.
6. $50 gift card to Sur La Table – One of my favorite stores to buy all kinds of kitchen gadgets.
7. KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Processor – I adore having a big food processor but I use my smaller one more. It’s easier to clean, and works great for small jobs like sauces, pesto and even hummus.
There you have it, friends! Just leave a comment below telling me your all-time favorite food. It can be a snack, meal, dessert or whatever you can’t get enough of. Me: I can eat spaghetti every single day and never get sick of it.
The Deets: The jars of Maille Rich Country Dijon and Honey Dijon with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena were graciously donated by Maille. The KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Processor was graciously donated by KitchenAid. Due to shipping this giveaway is open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 12AM EST 10/16/2014. Winner picked at random.
Servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 1/2 - 4 ounces sprinkles
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 5 - 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 (9 inch) cake pans.
- In a bowl of a stand mixer or bowl with a hand mixer cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl in between. Beat in the vanilla. Turn off mixer.
- In a bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add mixture to the mixer. Turn mixer on to medium speed and beat for 3 minutes. Beat in pumpkin. Turn mixer to medium-low and pour in hot water. Mix 1 minute.
- Pour cake batter evenly into prepared cake pans. Bake in preheated oven for 35 - 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes. Gently remove cakes from pan and place on cooling rack to cool completely.
- While the cake is cooling make the frosting by creaming together butter and 5 cups powdered sugar until fluffy. Beat in milk, vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt until the mixture becomes thick and spreadable. If frosting is too thin add remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Adjust salt if necessary.
- Place one of the cakes bottom side up on a cake stand. Spread a third of the frosting evenly on the top. Place the other cake, top side up, on top of the frosting. Frost the cake with remaining frosting, using smooth strokes.
- Sprinkle sprinkles on the top of the cake until covered. To cover the sides, place sprinkles in the palm of your hand and gently press into the sides of the cake. Repeat until all the sides are covered. Slice and serve.
Chocolate chip cookies!!
Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite meal :-)
My favorite food is pizza with pepperoni and pineapple. Lived it since I was a kid. Happy blogiversary!
Cheese enchiladas are my favorite comfort food for sure.
Enchiladas. I could eat them every day I think. I wish they weren’t so time consuming. I have a toddler and an infant too!
Curries. Mostly Indian. Butter chicken is my favorite with homemade naan. Obviously I only do this occasionally because wow….time commitment! But oh….sitting down with both….gah!
Pizza is definitely my favorite comfort food!
I eat with the intention to nourish the body along with the soul. With that premise, all that I eat I appreciate. However, I will never forget the first time I ate ‘Mantu’. It is an Afghan dish prepared for special guests.
Everything!!! but I love soups of any kind… especially Italian Wedding Soup.
I could eat Italian food every day. breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
All things Mexican! The cheesier, the better!
My favorite comfort food is my mom’s roast beef.
Corn chowder with sausage cheddar muffins! The perfect winter meal
One of my favorite comfort foods is Spaghetti with meat sauce and warm garlicky bread.
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting…but anything chocolate will do.
Such a pretty cake!
Happy 6th!! What an amazing accomplishment. And I love the cake!
Baked mac and cheese, hands down
……Favorite comfort food…..Cookies, specifically Any type of pudding cookie.
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Best comfort food is yummy chocolate cake and a great cup of good coffee! Havin’ this cake today!
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Best cake. Enjoying with family today. How comforting!
My favorite comfort food has to be pork roast, add mashed potatoes and gravy and beans….swoon!!
Happy Ambrosia Birthday, Des! My favorite comfort food is Pasta Alla Checca! :-)
Mashed potatoes or Mac and cheese are my comfort foods.
My favorite comfort food is Latvian Bean Soup. My mother was a Latvian war refugee and this soup was her go to recipe if anyone was feeling under the weather. It has a wonderful colllection of vegetables, white beans and a super good home made broth base. I am salivating thinking about it.
Any kind of homemade soup is a comfort food to me.
Whenever we feel under the weather, I make a big pot of Greek style lentil soup and some crusty bread slathered with lots of real butter, now that is comfort food in our family.
Wow, everything to love in this box.
A good donair without lettuce…why do restaurants do that??? It is not traditional to have it with lettuce! Lots of sauce, onions and tomatoes are the key! I’d like one right now!
Potato soup is my ultimate comfort food!
Freshly baked, still warm cookies and cold milk.
My favorite comfort food is any kind of homemade soup
I second spaghetti! Especially million dollar spaghetti. Oh. My.
Pasta…of any sort. I do like traditional sauces…cheese, spaghetti, alfredo…but, am always open to new ideas!
Huckleberries! In muffins, cookies, pie, waffles, ice cream. Other than eating berries as I pick them, my all time favorite and most requested huckleberry dish is huckleberry cheesecake. Happy 6th anniversary!
It’d have to be macaroni and cheese or beef stew. I find the process of making them comforting too. Happy 6th birthday!
I love chicken noodle soup with homemade bread!
My favorite comfort food is split pea soup! It’s what I make when it’s cold and rainy.
My favorite comfort food is ICE CREAM which I could eat all day every day!!!
Duh…your salt and pepper chicken wings! Happy 6th B-day!!!
Looooove spaghetti and cookies are my thing too!!!
Shortbread in any form…
Anything jalapeno…especially poppers. Baked or fried and melty cheese! Yep, sign me up for that.
Fried chicken. Really good fried chicken!
Mexican Food…anything covered in Salsa!
All things Mexican – fajitas, guacamole, queso, I love it all! Happy 6 years!!
French fries!
Chocolate cake!
Mashed potatoes and cream gravy.
Great Recipe, Great giveaway!! My favorite comfort food is Pepper steak! Yum.
Happy blogiversary! My fave has to be mac n cheese. All day every day.
woot woot!! congratulations
Chili and cornbread!
Congrats Des! What a huge accomplishment and I’m so excited that you got turn your passion into a career! Being Italian, I love a good pasta but I think my moms home made meat loaf tops the list of favorite comfort food
Congratulations! I’ve followed your blog since before you had kids, and your trustworthy and delicious recipes are appreciated. Your Steak and Jalapeno Chili is in regular rotation at our house :)
My favorite comfort food like yours is yummy Spaghetti!
Congratulations and happy blog birthday!!! That is so fun to celebrate!!! And I love this fun sprinkle covered cake!!!! My favorite comfort food is anything pasta! Love the stuff!!!!!
Anything my mom makes! But I’d go with Chicken and Dumplings!
Happy Blog Anniversary! Your shrimp tacos with the cilantro lime sour cream is my absolute favorite recipe! But for comfort food, I will have to go with my mom’s cheesy mashed potatoes!!
Chicken pot pie….
This is so cute!! Cant go wrong with sprinkles! YUM!
Yum! I love all the sprinkles!
My favorite food! I love a good salad and I know that sounds weird , but a good one, apple, cranberry, pecans, mixed greens, a little grilled chicken or fish on top and some great dressing on the side , one of my favorites is a maple vinaigrette , I love this !!
My favourite food is Mac and Cheese. We make it with 4 types of cheese and often swap macaroni for tagliatelle! It is so luscious and silky. It’s proper comfort food :-)
Happy, happy birthday! It’s hard to choose just ONE comfort food, but today my favorite would be pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions!
Happy SIX YEARS!!!! That cake looks so, so, so
perfect! My favorite comfort food goes way back to when I was a
kid…enchiladas
Holy moly! I LOVE all the sprinkles on this cake – the ONLY way to celebrate. Happy 6 years! My favorite comfort food is mac & cheese – I could eat that stuff every single day (but luckily logic tells me that’s not such a great idea…)