It was the Hubby’s Birthday this past weekend.
(Happy Birthday, Hun ♥)
Since it wasn’t a “milestone” birthday
we decided to take it easy and catch the new filmed in Canada hockey movie,
“Goon”
He did generously offer to see “The Vow”, but since it was his birthday, and all,
I thought we should go see a
“Man Movie”
Well, let’s just say.. it was pretty graphic and a little off-side,
there weren’t any cute little monkeys on skates in this 18-A rated movie.
the “F” bomb…
Despite some pretty nasty scenes, I have to admit I had a lot of good laughs.
(Please don’t think less of me.)
For the occasion, I thought I’d bake up a
Man Cake
for my man.
I figured it had to be somethin’ a hockey player would enjoy.
(Since the hubs still plays hockey 2-3 times a week!)
This one from Sweetapolita caught my eye,
“Campfire Delight”
… kind of a “Lumberjack’s” cake, loaded with chocolate
'))
Right from the face-off, I should have known I was out of my league!
I dangled the batter, but it went off-side, hit the boards edges
and dropped…
But I’m a “grinder”, eh, and there was still time left on the clock… I would not be defeated!
So I hand-picked my best players cakes, sharpened my skates knife,
I must have stick-handled beat them for way too long,
because the ice chocolate icing was covered with chips air bubbles
and I got a penalty for roughing.
well, let’s just say..
I think I set a record for dropping the “f” bomb in the kitchen today.
(Now I’m sure you must think less of me!)
All in all, since it was for the Hub’s birthday, I’m glad I took a slap shot at it..
This guy is a great hockey player, an awesome husband and the best Dad!
And this Man Cake turned out better than I thought it would…
once I stitched patched things together with icing.
(Actually, I think all I needed to do was buy him a bottle of Grappa and he would have been just as happy…)
Here is the printable recipe for the Rich Chocolate Cake–it is for 3 x 8″ pans, but the layers will be shallow if you use the recipe as it is written. If you double the recipe, you will be able to fill the pans 2/3 full, resulting in thicker layers. You will have some remaining batter, with which you can make cupcakes, etc. You can also increase by 50%.
I increased by 50% and used four smaller 6” pans. This gave me an extra layer that I used to make a smaller cake.
Rich & Dark Chocolate Cake
(gently adapted, original recipes can be found at www.sweetapolita.com)
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup premium cocoa powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee (dark roast)
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespooon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Prepare 3 x 8″ cake pans with butter and flour or parchment paper. In bowl of electric mixer, sift all dry ingredients. Add all remaining ingredients to bowl with the dry ingredients and with paddle attachment on mixer, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed (you may need the plastic splashguard that comes with mixer) and pour into prepared pans. Batter will be liquidy. **NOTE: Try not to fill past mid-point or just below, this cake really rises.**
Bake for 20 minutes and rotate pans in oven… **NOTE: I wouldn’t do this, even thought this is what is written.. I believe this is what caused my cakes to shift and deflate**. Cakes are done when toothpick or skewer comes clean–approximately 35 minutes. Try not to overbake. Cool on wire racks for 20 minutes then gently invert onto racks until completely cool.
I made 1-1/2 times the recipe. My four 6” pans were over-filled, I don’t think I needed to increase the recipe size for my size of pans. To make her recipe
Malted Belgian Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
1 lb butter (4 sticks or 2 cups) at room temperature
4 cups icing sugar (confectioners’ or powdered)
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup Ovaltine Classic (brown in colour)
8 oz (250 g) Callebaut (or other premium brand) bittersweet chocolate chips, or chopped, and melted (I used the microwave)
1/2 cup whipping (35% fat) cream
Directions
In a bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the icing sugar and butter and beat on low speed for about 1 minute. Add vanilla and malt powder, and beat on low until well combined. Add the melted chocolate and beat on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes). Add whipping cream and beat on medium speed for only about another minute. Try not to over whip, this creates air bubbles in the frosting.
*Just a note that the frosting will become an even richer brown a short while after it’s been made.
Toasted Marshmallow Frosting
Ingredients
16 large white marshmallows
1 cup icing sugar (confectioners’ or powdered)
1/2 lb butter (2 sticks, or 1 cup) at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
198g jar of Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Cream (or Marshmallow Fluff)
8 graham crackers, coarsely crushed
Directions
Place marshmallows on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place on lower rack of oven, and broil marshmallows until nice and brown on top, between 30-60 seconds. Remove pan from oven and gently turn the marshmallows over, and broil until they are golden brown. Be sure to keep an eye on them–they burn very, very quickly. Combine butter and icing sugar in electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, on low until blended (about 1 minute). Add vanilla and mix on high for about 3 minutes. Add marshmallow cream and toasted marshmallows, and mix on lowest setting for about 1 minute.
When icing, sprinkle crushed graham crackers over each layer of Marshmallow Frosting.
{Printable Copy} Man Cake (S’mores Cake)
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by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
wow!
oh wow what a great cake! love the belgian choco frosting and the marshmallow frosting! It must be tasting so amazing. *dream*
I just said, “Oh my God,” out loud about 5 times! That cake is amazing!
Great guy and girl flick is, “This Means War,” with Reese Witherspoon. It is actually more of a guy flick, but I loved it once I got over the weird colored film.
WOW! So beautiful and so delicious… Thank you dear Barbara, with my love, nia
That is a Man Cake if I ever saw one. I know you husband had to appreciate all the work that went into making his birthday special.
Wow, Smidge! What a cake. That looks incredible, and I bet your hubs loved it!
Man oh man! Is that EVER a man cake! And you Smidge are one resourceful, clever, funny, lovin’ kitchen maven! I’m sure it’s not lost on him, but that is one lucky (lip-lickin’) husband you got there! And that is one GORGEOUS cake! (you used all the hockey lingo so brilliantly – like you know the game, which I can make no claim to, so I’ll spare you any feeble attempts to keep it up. But you’ve just impressed me on a whole new level! You are forever managing to do that!) xoxo spree
My gosh! If this cake was for a non-milestone Bday, I just wonder WHAT you would come up for a real milestone date!
Maybe you know I am cake challenged, and every time I see a layered cake, gorgeous such as this, I feel a little pain inside – my limitations bothering me
happy Bday to your hubby!
It’s definitely going to make his day!
Now, that is one heckuva cake! Six layers?!!?! I’m sure your Husband was very happy to receive it. Who wouldn’t be? I just have one question, one that has plague mankind since the first cake was put into the oven. Just how many “f” bombs does it take to prepare a 6 layer S’mores Cake?
Wow – I am hoping I can get this typed before Big Man comes in and sees the photos or he´ll be wanting one all of his own! That is an amazing looking cake and as for the frostings….and SIX layers. I bow down to you
Oh boy! Lucky Hubby!! It sounds like you made him the perfect birthday all the way around.
The cake is incredible! I am giving you a standing ovation right now. Having tried some layer cakes in the past, I know this was not easy, and very prone to “F” bombs. Way to go Smidge! Not only did you succeed, you made it yours and made it perfect. Bravo!
You’re so creative, I just love you to pieces!!
Really, really, really, really wish I could jump through the bloggosphere right now and taste that cake! It’s amazing! I know your husband must have been thrilled to bits. And six layers, too. You are really a great baker, Smidge!
OMG – someone is lucky to be getting a slice of these – YUM!!!
this not these – duh!
Looks fantastic, great photos!
Can I have a manly slice please?… looks amazing!
Man cake – what a great post title, I was intrigued when I saw it in my inbox. The cake looks lovely and I am sure it tasted sublime as well. Your hubby is lucky – a belated Happy Birthday to him.
This cake is much too good to be true – BOOKMARKED!!!
And as for the whole man cake thing, I would make it for myself anyway
You are fantastic!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Beautiful, Smidge. Absolutely wonderful. I love a MASSIVE and decadent cake – great recipe.
If this is a cake failure, inciting many f-bombs, successful cakes are beyond my imagination. Love the circles and the lone “Whopper.”
How sweet, and festive, and delicious! A cake like that is meant to make someone very, very happy.
The frosting looks amazing! Love the photos.
Goodness, what a cake! A true labour of love! I’m not surprised it had you swearing in the kitchen though, it looks fiddly..
I loved how you wrote this with all the references to hockey, and no to “Now I’m sure you must think less of me!”, not at all
mmmm….looks delicious! i’d like to have some of this man cake! i’ve been known to have a bit of a potty mouth in the kitchen too. happy belated bday to your hubby!
Hi Smidge! You are a very wonderful wife to make such a and obviously must adore your hubby. This cake would send everyone in my family (including myself) over the edge and into Nirvana. It looks perfect. Rich, chocolatey, AND MARSHMALLOW-y. What a score!
I just made a s’mores cookie. It looks like we are both dreaming of marshmallow delights right about now. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Hi Smidge! You are a very wonderful wife to make such an amazing cake, and obviously must adore your hubby. This cake would send everyone in my family (including myself) over the edge and into Nirvana. It looks perfect. Rich, chocolatey, AND MARSHMALLOW-y. What a score!
I just made a s’mores cookie. It looks like we are both dreaming of marshmallow delights right about now. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
I saw those lovely S’mores cookies and wondered if we both have had a marshmallow dream this week to inspire us! Yours look just heavenly!!
I’ve been wanting to try this cake recipe for quite sometime now. Now I wasn’t sure I could do it. You’ve just given me hope Barbara
. I am totally hype now lol. Let’s hope I get to enjoy it without everybody eating it from me when I make it lol
The wonderful hubby deserves nothing but the best from the love of his life. This is another work of art, Barbara.
Holy smokes does this look heavenly! Those layers, wow!! You husband is one very, very lucky man. And I love that it wasn’t a perfect experience – and you shared.
There are quite a few movies we’ve decided we need to watch, now I’ll add this one to the list!
Those frostings were so delicious. It made quite a lot of the chocolate and now I wished I’d used more to frost the outside and to layer… Oh well, next time!
He sure did.. It was delicious:)
Thank you, nia:)
Hahaha, I’m not sure I know the game? If my son read it he’d probably think I didn’t have a clue, but at least I try, right? Xo Smidge
Hmmm.. Now that’s got me thinking, what would I do for a milestone? Probably go out;)
Oh, John, let’s just say… Many, many “f” bombs, more than you would think. With all of my careful planning and preparation, you’d think it would have gone smoothly.. I had batter baking over the pans, big scoops of icing blobbed on my white linen table cloth… Yup, a large number of pots and pans in the sink and bits of cake crumbs and meringue sticking out of the icing. If you go to her website you’ll see how pretty hers turned out.. Mine’s not bad, but if you put them side by side… I bet she didn’t use any “f” bombs..
Ahh.. That’s exactly how I feel when I read your recipes!!
It’s tricky for sure, trying to level out the cake so it doesn’t look tipsy. I think a little wine and then I’d be the tipsy one and I would think the cake was level??
Ah, thanks! If I could I’d send you a slice! I think John is right, we need Scratch and Sniff computers to be invented!!
I think I had more than one slice.. So I was, um, doubly lucky? I might have to have another and be triple lucky;)
Thanks, Sibella!
Thank you, I’ll pass on your birthday greetings:)
Hahaha, I guess it could be anyone’s cake.. Just couldn’t make my pink ruffle cake for the occasion, that might have been a little questionable:)
It turned out massive.. But the next day the whole thing toppled over! I’ll have to devise a system to hold it up the next time!
You’re sweet, Sharyn! If you look at the original recipe, you’ll see what I was comparing my cake to. I think next time I’ll just do a little photoshopping to make it look perfect;) … Or not!!!
Thanks so much.. It looks like I succeeded:)
Thank you!
Fiddly only in the assembly.. I think it takes practice, but who makes cakes like these on a regular basis?? I must take notes for next time!
Ahhh… Thanks, Claire! You never know, I sure wouldn’t want to offend anyone…
Oh, dear.. No it wasn’t easy to assemble at all, I’m not sure how I could have improved on that part of it. Hopefully my hints will help someone else along. Clearly she’s (sweetapolita) a masterful and clever baker.. It’s great to have something to aspire to:)
Thanks, Ashley, we all enjoyed it (some of us a little more often than other;)
We had a fun, if quiet, birthday.. we topped the night off with a fine bottle of Grappa:)
Hahaha, if I could send one to you I would. Judging by how it’s already fallen over on the cake plate, I don’t think it would survive the journey;)
For sure you could do it!! It was only my lack of skill in frosting the outside that was lacking. I think I should have more patience and done a thing “crumb coat” then refrigerated for a while then done the final icing.. then I wouldn’t end up with crumb and meringue bits everywhere! Lol!
Thanks, Malou, I think you’re right!
Yum yum yum, and my it was gorgeous!
Wow. That man cake is….WOW. I just found your blog through Sarah (of It’s Sarah’s Place fame) and I’m so glad I did! I can’t wait to read more!
Looks delicious and I think my husband would be thrilled if I made him a “man” cake!!
He is a very fortunate man indeed. That is some cake! Wowee wow is all I can say.
Does one eat a man cake in a man cave? Your step by step photographs are always in a beautiful light. I especially responded to the toasted marshmallow shot.
Happy Birthday to your husband and kudos on an excellent post.
That is a sensational looking cake. I just love how you finished it off and then when it was sliced, to see all those layers! He must have been thrilled. And this isn’t just a ‘man cake’, this is definitely one for the ladies too. I’ll have a large slice thanks!
Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering…I think I will have a glass of milk while I click through the pics…INCREDIBLE!!!
Holy cow!!!!!!!!!! I’d say happy birthday, but he already had one!
it looks amazing! Birthday blessings for the hubby
Very cool creation!
What a woman!
Wow Smidge…Wow!! My son turns 20 in May and this is going to be his cake for sure!! Now, I’m not sure…did you take the revised recipe you posted and prepared 1 1/2 times more of it? or is written as such? I love all the layers and want it to be just like that; I’ll start shopping around for the 3 – 6 inch pans! What a great cake!!
I did took the recipe that is written (this is her original recipe) as it is here and then I did 1/2 again… So this is only one recipe written, you’d have to do the math to get the extra 1/2 a recipe. In hindsight I think I would have used the bigger 8″ pans with all the batter I ended up with. It would also be more stable… My 6″ cake fell over once it was cut in half:) If you do use 6″ pans, you’d have enough batter for 5 of them! I wouldn’t bother rotating them in the oven as she suggested, I think that’s what made them go uneven and fall once I took them out. I also think the key to the chocolate one is not to over beat once the cream is added. Then a thin “crumb frosting” layer once the layers are assembled. Refrigerate and finish with the final layer of icing. I was way too impatient and ended up with cake in my frosting. Email me if you get stuck? bjbamber@shaw.ca Good luck!! 20 years.. You look way too young!!
Also I made the icing and marshmallow filling just as written, I didn’t have to double or anything and had tons of icing:)
Sent from my iPhone
Gorgeous!!!!!!!! Your husband is a lucky man. I so want a bite!!!
Oh dear, I better not let my husband see this recipe
This looks like the perfect cake to make for a mostly-boys party I’m attending next week! Thanks for sharing!
I want to dive into that cake, curl up and stay there forever! Those marshmallow pictures are so beautiful. They look so soft and fluffy. Thanks for sharing the malted choc frosting recipe, I am definitely using it for my next! And, with a gorgeous, decadent cake like that, I’ll bet your hubby wishes it was his birthday everyday!!
Love the play on hockey – F Bomb – too funny
Looks terriffic
Love the hockey play.. F Bomb too funny
Really enjoying your blog so I have awarded you the Awesome Content Award. You can read about the award on my latest post.
Sharing a leisurely day, good laughs and a birthday cake made with love… sounds like a perfect birthday to me, filled with sweet, carefree moments… and I doubt anyone thinks less of you!!
Hahaha, luckily I was alone… hmm, if I hadn’t said anything no one would know? Oh, well, just keepin’ it real!
Thanks so much! I’m glad you did as well, I’ll be visiting your blog soon:)
He does have a “man cave” but had the cake in the kitchen.. where all the fun takes place:) Thanks so much!
This is quite the construction! Looks awesome.
WOW what a cake! This looks outrageous! Was it as good as it looks? I’m printing this off to make soon, I can’t wait. I love chocolate and the addition of the coffee just enchances that chocolate flavor.
My husband and I were trying to figure out what movie to go to, now I’m going to have to check online to see what this one is all about. It sounds like fun although he’s more the blood and guts type of moviegoer but this could be fun.
Happy birthday to your hubby.
Wow!
How lucky is your husband. That cake looks incredible
Wow, I love the look of all those layers! I hope your husband had a happy birthday.
He really did… There was a little help with that Grappa I mentioned, though:)
You’re right, it’s a form of construction for sure! But it felt more like a demolition! Putting it together was the hard part! Thanks so much!
What a wonderful cake… lots of cake!
That is one amazing cake Smidge!
I hope your husband knows how lucky he is!
Hahaha, yes, there was lots and lots of cake.. I did my best…
I think he does:)
Wow! That is a great looking cake!
That is one fine looking Man Cake there. I’m on the look out for my own man cake at the moment… err, not my own man cake… but a cake for my man… which would make it his man cake… no wait, now I’m confused!
Need cake, have man… birthday coming. This cake of yours looks awesome. (Phew, brain clearly has gone mushy…)
Hahaha, hilarious!! I hope you find your man cake, not your man’s cake.. well it could be… your man’s cake!! Happy Birthday to him!!
This looks insanely, ridiculously, and yes, manfully delicious!!! Now, as for the, ahem, Colour Commentary in the kitchen, not only do I not think the less of you for the self-critiquing remarks, but I am infinitely thankful that I myself rarely have an audience in the kitchen to overhear my artistry as the Effing Chef, given that I’m quite inventive with the flubs, flops, mistakes and all!
Hahaha, I love that you always have a new descriptor… Effing Chef and Colour Commentary.. Gave me a good laugh this morning!! A much needed laugh!! Xoxo Smidge
Oh my GOODNESS. This looks amazing! Will have to try it (just for my little old self).
Love the Man Cake, and your description on making it! Will have my lady friend try it, since I am no good a baking! Jack
[...] S’mores cake, taken from Sweetapolita and then highlighted on Just a Smidgen, is hot damn delicious. Seriously rich, creamy, unusually toasty and a helluva time consuming cake [...]
Oh, I am so printing this out.
I still dream about this cake.. lol!
[...] cake isn’t anything like my Man “S’mores” Cake from last year.. I was trying to go for an ocean/beach effect.. but it ended up looking a bit [...]