Chocolate…my most favorite flavor in all the world! It was with great happiness when I picked up Ellie Alexander’s brand new release in her Bakeshop Mystery series, FUDGE AND JURY, and started reading about Ashland’s annual Chocolate Festival! The author transports us to a world of sweet confectionery with Jules, owner of her family’s bakeshop Torte, the “Queen of Sugar”. I love to bake and spend time in the kitchen and Ellie Alexander beautifully captures the feelings I have being there. She writes those feelings in such descriptive language that I feel like I’m right in Torte’s warm, cozy kitchen. “Food is an expression of art and love” is how Jules puts it and that expression truly shows as the theme is woven into a nice “whodunit” mystery. There are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing with the plot moving along nicely.
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However, this series’ greatest strength is the characters and keeps me coming back to see what happens next. Jules and her mother have a tender relationship, even if Jules was quite distant during her ten years away from Ashland. They’ve made up for that time and as a result share a true friendship. Jules has wonderful staff at Torte and each of them have their own story that is touched upon in each book. I’m always eager to see what creative coffee drink Andy, the college-age barrista, will come up. I’m also glad to see that the quirky character, Lance, continues to be a fixture. He adds a dose of levity to each story. And of course Jules is always creating a fabulous yummy dessert to share with her customers.
I’m grateful that Ellie includes some of those recipes at the back of the book because you most definitely will be craving chocolate as you read! Ellie has graciously allowed me to share Mom’s Famous Chocolate Spice Cake with Mocha Frosting. Frankly I was torn about which recipe to try because they all sound amazing but this cake recipe won out for a couple of reasons. First, it’s vegan….no eggs, no dairy and I had a dinner party I needed to bake a dessert for where a vegan friend was attending as well. Don’t be put off by the word vegan because it certainly does NOT mean no flavor. My husband isn’t a huge chocolate fan (yep, I married him anyway) but he loved this cake! I think the spices nicely balanced the chocolate and I fell in love with the Mocha Frosting…it will definitely be my “go-to” chocolate frosting here on out…I just couldn’t stop nibbling on it! The second reason I chose this recipe is because it’s EASY! No bowl and beaters to clean up for the cake since it mixes up with a fork, right in the baking dish. The crumb is very tender and moist so I recommend you bake and serve as instructed without trying to create this into a layer cake. (You can see my hilarious “goof” trying to stack layers with another vegan cake from long ago at the bottom of the page.) I did add some piping with the generous amount of frosting and added gold and silver star sprinkles to dress the cake up for the party, where it was gobbled up by vegans and non-vegans alike!
Amazon Synopsis
Welcome to Torte―a friendly, small-town family bakery where the pastries are delicious…and, now, suspicious.
It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter―unless murder taints the batter.
Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for―literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
A huge thank you to Ellie Alexander for providing an autographed copy of FUDGE AND JURY for one lucky winner! Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (you can omit if you're not a fan)
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup butter (or vegan margarine)
- 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2-3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 5 tablespoons of strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
- Sift flour, sugar, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg into an 8x8-inch glass pan.
- Make three wells-pour oil in one, vinegar in another, and vanilla in the last well.
- Pour water over entire pan and mix with a fork.
- Bake for thirty-five to forty-five minutes.
- Allow to completely cool and frost with mocha frosting below.
- Whip butter in mixer.
- Sift cocoa powder, sugar, and spices together.
- Slowly alternate adding powdered mixture and coffee.
- Once incorporated, beat until creamy and fluffy.
- Spread generously on chocolate spice cake.
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Years ago, when I was starting to experiment with fondant in cake decorating I volunteered to create a “piggie” cake for a vegan friend. Vegan cakes are made without eggs or dairy but I never appreciated the stability eggs bring to cakes until I tried stacking the vegan cake and covering with fondant. I was in tears as the cake toppled and tore until my husband said to just tell the birthday girl and party goers that the big bad wolf blew the house down…I did and everyone had a good laugh then ate the cake because it still tasted great.
This is what the cake was supposed to look like
This is what the big bad wolf blew down!
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Enjoyed this post immensely. And the cake looks yummy. vegan is always a plus. Love anything chocolate. But my all time favorite chocolate treat is a Hersheys Chocolate candy bar with almonds. Have yet to read this author. So hope this will be a start.
Chocolate cake, especially Black Forest and German chocolate, are my pic. However, it’s hard to beat a nice piece of chocolate at the end of the day.
My all time favorite chocolate dessert is a flourless chocolate cake smothered with dark chocolate ganache. Absolutely decadent and a little goes a long way…and now I want some 🙂
Yes I do , years ago my Mom use to make German chocolate cake with the chocolate cocoanut icing, I miss it, she made it by scrach. I never found the recipe so I don’t know how she made it.
Penney
No favorite chocolate desert. Any dessert with chocolate is a favorite.
My favorite chocolate dessert is chocolate Dr. Pepper cake (Hershey Bar cake comes in a close second!) ~
Tunnel of Fudge Cake is my favorite chocolate desert.
I love chocolate mousse!
Brownies
no favorite chocolate desert
Really anything chocolate with caramel. Especially brownies.
I love chocolate silk pie.
I sure do I love love chocolate cheesecake so good my girlfriend used to make it for my b-day and it was just delicious..I would love to read this print book and review on a few sites when i am done!
I love rocky road brownies. Thank you for the recipe you shared
I love chocolate but as I grow older a little bit is what I have to settle for. Now my favorite flavor is vanilla. I was looking througt my mom’s old recipe box from the 40’s and 50’s and remember all her wonderful chocolate desserts.
I have a recipe that I have had for 40 years, for Chocolate Shhet Cake, and it is so delicious!
I love chocolate cake with lots of chocolate icing
I love chocolate!!’ I really like Mississippi Mud Cake. Think lots of chocolate and marshmallow cream. Thanks for having the giveaway!!!
Hershey’s chocolate is my favorite. Chocolate makes anything better! Thanks.
I love this ‘chocolate’ dessert! But, growing up my grandmother made a devil’s food chocolate cake with buttercream icing in-between the three layers and then covered with a delicious fudgy frosting. It was so marvelous! She said she added leftover coffee along with little marshmallows into the cake…
I haven’t had a chance to start this series but I am so back logged on books it might be awhile. Thank you for the giveaway
I am looking forward to reading this one. My favorite chocolate desert is brownies.
Chocolate Lava Cakes are SO GOOD! I have to say though, if the dessert has chocolate in it, it’s already a winner. Thanks for the contest!
Chocolate Silk Pie – YUM!
I like chocolate cake.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post & recipe. I love this series & just got the 2 prior books for a Christmas gift.
Since I am a Chocoholic! Anything Chocolate is my favorite. But last night for my birthday dinner I had a Chocolate Paradise dessert. It was Chocolate Mousse on a Chocolate wafer topped with Whipped Cream and chocolate sauce. To die for!
I think this looks promising. I usually do things with pumpkin and dark chocolate. Maybe I can merge those with this?
I like chocolate eclairs—YUM!
The recipe looks delicious and the book sounds like a great one to read in the new year. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
PS: I love fudge, the old timey recipe that used to be on the back of the cocoa tin.
My favorite is the 8 to 10 thin layer vanilla cake with the old fashion cooked chocolate icing all in between the layers and poured over the top.
I love pretty much anything chocolate. Truffles are probably one of my favorites.
Brownies are my favorite and even more so with chocolate peanut butter frosting. Your cake recipe sounds very tempting too.
The cake recipe sounds delicious! Can’t wait to read Fudge and Jury. The title alone sounds fascinating.
I love chocolate mousse and actually just about anything chocolate.
Cute piggies!
I love chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I also love chocolate pudding with cool whip and chocolate chips. And chocolate chip cookies. See’s Candy Bordeaux especially. I pretty love chocolate in general! LOL
I’m a huge fan of anything chocolate but I really love chocolate fudge. (followed by chocolate chip cookies)
I don’t have a favorite. But I do like chocolate cake, Chocolate cake like brownies and fudge. I would love to win a signed copy of Fudge & Jury. Sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for the chance to win it.
I kind of love all things chocolate! This cake looks good and it’s nice to have a dairy free choice.
The cake looks and sounds wonderful! I adore the Bakeshop series. I discovered book one the year it came out, and I have been reading them ever since! I even have my sister, and a friend hooked on them! 🙂 Thank you Kim and Ellie for a great post and a chance to win a copy of the book!
I really don’t have a favorite chocolate dessert. Maybe a brownie. Thank you for this chance to win.
If it’s chocolate I’m sure I’ll enjoy it!
Oh Kim, that cake looks yummo! I have to try it! My favorite chocolate dessert would be chocolate cream pie. Thanks for a chance to win.
My favorite chocolate dessert is a brownie with walnuts. This cake looks delicious!
Just plain ol’ brownies is my favorite chocolate dessert. I prefer them with some nuts, and if I make them for hubby and I, I do put chopped pecans in. But if I’m making them to take somewhere, I usually leave out the nuts, but sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top before baking.
German chocolate pie. My grandmother made it for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can’t wait to try the Chocolate Spice cake recipe! It looks really good.
ANYthing with chocolate is a winner in my book! Chocolate and coffee get any day off to a happy start! My mom made the BEST fudge at Christmas, as well as a delicious “chocolate refrigerator cake” that I’ve attempted to duplicate a couple of times.
Sounds like the perfect book to read on a chilly day.
Definitely German chocolate! Wish I had my mom’s recipe… Thanks for the opportunity!
big thick brownies with a ton of frosting and Harry London chocolates are my favorites
Great giveaway here too
Pjstaton64114@aol.com
Chocolate and Carmel yum! The book sounds great!