I’m starting to really, seriously love Twitter. Recently, I put out a request for the absolute best cake recipe, and, within minutes, I had close to 10 (!) responses. There was a flourless chocolate cake, a vegan version, a suggestion of using something by Mark Bittman. But it was @parapluiesdoux who told me about Restaurant Eve’s cake, which she said had been published a few years earlier, and for that, I will always have a special place in my heart for Twitter and, as you can imagine, her.
To describe the flavor of this cake, I must begin with something not cake at all, something comforting in the way only things you ate as a child can be, something that begs to be eaten with a tall glass of ice cold milk, just before you stretch out on the sofa to watch some T.V. What I’m talking about, and this will be obvious the moment you take a bite, is a sugar cookie.
OK, picture that rich, buttery, creamy taste of a sweet sugar cookie, piled high with icing, and then transfer that image to a tall, moist layer cake, slathered with generous dollops of pink buttercream. Do you have it?
That, essentially, is this cake.
Created by Chef Cathal Armstrong, who along with his wife, Meshelle, runs Restaurant’s Eve, the Alexandria, Virginia, restaurant named for their first child, this cake was inspired by Cathal’s aunt and tastes sweet and moist, just the way birthdays should taste, I say. After becoming a favorite at the restaurant—usually dressed up with piping and embellishments for special events—this cake, and its recipe, appeared in a Washington Post article in April 2006. And though it’s taken three years to reach me, the timing is, actually, quite impeccable. For one thing, I’ll be taking a weekend to D.C. next month (and touring the Capitol building, if all goes well—fingers crossed), so learning about an Alexandria restaurant is much more interesting than it would have been in 2006 when I was, every day, going to classes and studying in Chicago, nothing much else.
But also, and more importantly, my coworker Carrie had a birthday Monday, and, of course, we needed to celebrate.
Friday night, I managed to eek out two cupcakes in addition to the cake proper, in order to make sure this tasted all right (it did; in fact, that was when the sugar-cookie description was born) and I boxed up the real cake to bring to Carrie Saturday, when she’d be working.
In retrospect, I may have liked the cupcakes better—mainly because they are smaller portions, easier to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed. After trying a big piece, Carrie suggested making one-layer cakes, rather than two; I found a suggestion online for a version with four layers, in which you’d split the original two, length-wise.
Whatever the case, this is some birthday cake, the one I’ll remember finding on Twitter, originally from the restaurant in Virginia, baking for my friend the traveler, that tasted like cookies and childhood and big parties covered in confetti, while we ate it on a rainy Saturday.
What’s with all the cakes? It could be said, fairly I guess, that I’ve been on something of a cake kick lately, what with the banana cake and the vanilla cupcakes and the make-in-minutes chocolate cake and, now, this. I have no excuses, just a faint comment that, well, I’m almost done for now, really. In the meantime, if you’re looking for some substance, may I recommend my friend Kendra’s chicken souvlaki? It’s fantastic, and since my pictures don’t do it justice, I’ll just tell you, TRY IT. Really.
Restaurant Eve’s Cake
from The Washington Post, April 2006
My favorite part of this recipe is how hard it is to mess up: you’re actually told not to worry about overmixing. Doesn’t that make you excited? Let your mixer do the work, and you reap the benefits.
A word on the frosting: As sweet and delicious as this frosting is, I have decided, I think officially, that I do not prefer buttercream. Next cake, it will be whipped, and that’s a decision I will stand by.
Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus additional to grease pans
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk (may substitute low-fat or nonfat)
Frosting (recipe follows)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Melt butter and let it cool to room temperature.
Combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in the large bowl of a stand mixer. (A stand mixer is preferable for this recipe, though a hand-held electric mixer may be used.) On medium speed, add the butter, incorporating in several additions. Beat for about 2 minutes, or until combined; the texture should resemble cornmeal.
In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla extract and milk. Add to the flour-butter mixture in two batches (scraping the bowl once), and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth.
Distribute the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 20 minutes. Remove cakes from pans to cool completely. Frost the cake. It can stand at room temperature for 1 hour; otherwise, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Frosting
Ingredients:
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 pounds (7 1/2 -8 cups) confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream, (may substitute whole, low-fat or nonfat milk)
Food coloring (optional)
Directions:
In a stand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until fluffy. On low speed, add the sugar in batches, increasing the speed to high after each addition is incorporated. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla extract and cream in a steady stream on low speed until incorporated. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired. (Restaurant Eve uses red to make pink.) Beat on high speed for 8-10 minutes, until light and fluffy.
This cake looks pretty and beautiful and girly….bonus for it tasting wonderful. hooray!
As a guy, I usually shy away from pink things. I would sneak a few pieces of that when nobody was looking without a problem.
Twitter rocks also.
I love buttercream so I’m on a mission to convince everyone it’s the best. Have you ever tried a “proper” buttercream that involves making a sugar syrup and contains eggs. It really creates a ligher, fluffier buttercream that retains the wonderful butter creaminess? If not, the Joy of Cooking has a good basic recipe.
Buttercream is a little overwhelming. The mouth feel is a bit crazy sometimes! But when it’s done well, it can really complement a cake.
yum yum SHanna. I wanna stop by for a snack.
You are right… it was SOME cake! Thank you!!
Hi Shannalee:
Restaurant Eve’s Cake looks absolutely divine. I love the pink and white colors. And your description of it’s sugar cookie-like taste makes me want to cast off my Lenten sugar proscription. Now.
I remember the day you tweeted a request for best cake recipes. I tweeted my suggestion late, wasn’t sure you got it so am glad to have a second chance.
This cake is nirvana for chocolate lovers: It’s Chocolate Oblivion Truffle Torte from Rose Berenbaum’s Cake Bible. Just three ingredients: Eggs, butter and Lindt chocolate.
Rose is an exacting baker–often calls for fussy measures like “1 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour”– but this recipe is pretty straightforward.
The accompanying sauce is another story: Sort of an “essence of raspberry” sauce. You strain raspberries, reduce the raspberry juice, etc. Laborious, but heaven with the ultra moist and rich chocolate torte.
That cake is beautiful, perfect for any party! There’s so much that could be done with such a delicious, basic recipe! Love it!
I just celebrated my birthday at Restaurant Eve. I had a great time. I had the coconut and dolce de leche gateau with toasted almond ice cream. It was so moist and delicious so I’m anxious to try this recipe. Thanks for posting it.
Also, as a birthday present the restaurant gave me a goodie bag with cream scone mix and Irish butter. How sweet!
Oh, I just realized…this recipe is probably for their dessert called Birthday Cake, Just Because. It’s an adorable little pink birthday cake, just for you, for any occasion
You’ve hit me on a day where all I want is cake. For real. I’ve done an apple and a banana trying to hit the sweet need with something healthy. A bust. Then I went on the opposite end and thought something savory and spicy (like my ma-in-law’s curry rice) would distract me. Double bust. Now all I want is sugar cookie cake. Maybe eight layers worth. Okay, six. I’m not some kind of pig. And thanks for the souvlaki love. You’re a fabulous blog friend.
We love Restaurant Eve! It’s definitely a special splurge. Eat at the bar and you get the good food, for a much lower price. Their “mixologist” is known for making wonderful drinks. Another fun restaurant from Armstrong in Old Town (Alexandria) is Eammons that serves fish and chips and fried candy bars!
That pink cake looks really good!
Wow that cake looks amazing. I can see how moist and soft it is. Makes me want cake now
I’m following you on Twitter now too! (@bayjb).
Do you offer cooking lessons?
kickpleat – I know! It makes me so happy when recipes give delicious AND attractive results.
Nick – LOL, love that this cake can get a guy to embrace pink.
figmolly – You are persuasive, and I want to believe you. I will definitely need to try Joy of Cooking’s recipe because, deep down, I think I’m not ready to let go of buttercream completely.
DD – Yeah, I think I just need a lighter option (like maybe Molly’s!)
Carrie – You are welcome!
Lorraine – Thanks so much for the suggestion. I have only ever heard very good things about Rose, so my money’s on that cake being awesome. I’ll have to try it!
Thank you, Meeso!
Aileen – How sweet, indeed! Another reason to like this place!
(And your cake sounds FAB)
MyFirstKitchen – Your comment makes me smile because I SO get it. Sometimes you need cake, and fruit or savory won’t do it.
Judy – FRIED candy bars? That sounds horrifying and delicious. I can hardly imagine! It reminds me of some place I heard about that deep-fries Twinkies. Oh. My. Word. I would probably pass out after.
Thanks, Kevin!
Jessica – You’re so sweet. I’m going to float on the flattery that you asked if I offer cooking lessons – kind of made m day. Of course, if my mom reads that, she’d probably laugh out loud. In all seriousness, I believe it going forth and trying. The worst that can happen is you learn something, right? (And let’s say I do a lot of learning) PS following you on Twitter now, too. Yay!
Will it be totally narcissistic if I comment again to apologize for the typos in that last comment? (AH!) Forgive me, all. I don’t type in a hurry well.
I printed out the recipe but I’m not waiting for a birthday to make it! It’s going to be my “just because” cake! Thanks for passing along the recipe!
~ingrid
i love girly cakes like this one, especially ones that was obviously prepared with such devotion.
i also heart alexandria, i lived there for a year after college. i have now decreed that Restaurant’s Eve is where i must hit next time i’m in that area. thanks for the heads up.
Ingrid – I LOVE “just because” recipes, and I’ll love hearing what you think of this!
Lan – I didn’t know you lived in Alexandria! Got any good DC tips, then? I’ll just be there for a couple days, but I know nothing.
This a great yellow cake recipe! So far the best I have tried, thanks.
Katie – So glad to hear you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!
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I made this cake and it turned out sooooo great! I could not stop eating the batter and the frosting is definitely the best I have ever tasted! I just made another batch of it today!!! I’m so full of sugar, I’ll probably melt when I go out in the heat today!!
Yeah, another success! And you even liked the frosting!
I bookmarked this post months ago, with the intention of baking this cake. Last night, I finally found the opportunity to do so, and I am SO SO happy I did!! The method scared me a bit, but the final product has the best of both worlds – texture and flavor. THANKS FOR THIS
Andy, I’m SO SO happy you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!