TweetShabbat: Chocolate dulce de leche cake for a celebration Shabbat
Image by Carly Pildis
By Carly Pildis November 13, 2020
#tweetyourshabbat is a global movement founded by Carly Pildis, celebrating the struggle and joy of getting Shabbat on the table every week. This is a place for real dinners and real conversations about Jewish life. Join us at Forward in sharing what you’ll be eating and how your feeling this week at #TweetYourShabbat
“A party without a cake is just a meeting” —Julia Child
Image by Carly Pildis
The news broke to thunderous applause. People streamed out into the streets, popping champagne, banging on pots and pans, cheering, crying, dancing, embracing. After four long years of suffering, and five long days of waiting, the results were in: Donald Trump had been defeated.
We ran through the streets of Washington, D.C., my three-year-old daughter and me, hand in hand, cheering. “Joe Biden won! Joe Biden is the President!”
My husband and I wanted our daughter to see history in action, so that one day when she asked about it, we could tell her she was there. It felt like the end of a war. We ended the day on a new friend’s porch, because somehow, in Washington of all places, on that day there were no strangers, only new friends. Adults drank champagne and toasted each other and kids played.
On Sunday we danced at brunch with our cousins. We drank champagne (and apple juice) in the park to celebrate with my colleagues from Jewish Dems. Outdoor masked gatherings abounded. As we sat and celebrated with colleagues we were surrounded by people popping champagne. I even sat on a cork.
It’s been six days and I still feel like celebrating. Some victories are once in a lifetime, some parties only come once, and I am determined to keep the happiness going as long as I can. We have had precious little to celebrate this year. It has been a dark time, full of grief, fear and suffering. Our medical experts have warned we should expect a bleak and difficult winter. Our new President will face enormous challenges. Our country is far from fulfilling its ideals, and the fight to bend the arc of history towards justice marches on. There is so much more left to fight for — which is why it is critical to take this time to celebrate, rest and let our spirits soar with joy.
This Shabbat is especially sweet, both for our nation and for my family. I am looking forward to continuing the celebration by spending extra time with those closest to me. My family sacrificed lots of time with me so that I could be part of the fight to defeat Donald Trump. On Shabbat, I am finally going to be able to turn off my phone, settle in with a piece of cake and focus on those I love most.
A special celebration calls for a special cake – and this one is seriously celebratory. This cake is a party. A triple layer chocolate cake filled with dulche de leche! It’s got butter, sour cream, buttermilk, Dutch cocoa and an entire bag of chocolate chips. This cake has its dancing shoes on and is ready to celebrate our 46th President. Shabbat Shalom friends, this one is so beautiful and sweet!
How was your week? How are you spending Shabbat? Let us know at #tweetyourshabbat! Everyone is welcome at this table! Come hungry.
Chocolate dulche de leche celebration cake for our 46th President!
This is a special cake for a special Shabbat. Special thanks to Manilan Houle, who spent much time with me discussing how to make this cake as rich and decadent as possible. Pairs well with bourbon. Bourbon and cake — I may not serve anything else.
Cake
1 ½ cups of flour
Dash salt
1 ½ cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup high quality Dutch cocoa powder
½ cup buttermilk
¼ cup sour cream
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup hot coffee
2 extra large eggs
A stick butter
Dulche De Leche (I love Coronado’s goat milk-based version)
Chocolate Ganache
1 stick of butter
1 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips
½ cup of buttermilk
Turn on Kool and The Gang’s Celebrate. Be happy your husband isn’t there to roll his eyes and say,”AGAIN CARLY!” Preheat the oven to 350
Cream sugar, sour cream and eggs together until thoroughly combined, about four minutes. Add buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and mix another three minutes or so.
Add dry ingredients and sift, either with a sifter or just whisk until airy and fluffy. Combine one cup at a time with your wet ingredients, keeping your mixer on low to fold in, not beat. Once your cake batter is mixed ( it will be very rich, like brownie batter, because YUM) distribute evenly into three cake pans. Bake approximately 20 minutes, depending on your oven. Let cool thoroughly, about 30 minutes
DANCE BREAK! Celebrate!
Ganache time! Melt the butter on low heat. Dump in the bag of chocolate chips when it is about halfway melted, stir continuously. Add buttermilk and mix to combine.
Time to assemble. Stop dancing and focus. Remove your cakes from cake pans. Place your first cake on your plate. Cover with a thick coating of Dulche de Leche, about a cup, and spread evenly with a knife. Repeat with next layer. Add final layer. With a knife, pour chocolate ganache all over the top, and smooth over the sides. Cover with ganache and make pretty swoops with the back of your spoon. Drizzle remaining dulce de leche all over the top. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy! Shabbat Shalom America! We did it!!!
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