Chocolate Cake Truffles

I had the proverbial "epic fail" recently, when the gorgeous chocolate chip bundt cake I'd baked for my co-workers didn't come out of the pan properly. I'd let it cool for 30 minutes or so - not so cold that it had adhered to the pan, not so hot that it hadn't set yet. I'd thoroughly greased the pan. I needed this option because it was non-dairy; one of my co-workers has a severe allergy, and the fudge assortment I was also bringing was, needless to say, a rich and potential killer with all of its milk products.

But my cake ....

When I tipped the pan over, only half of the cake came out. And not the left or the right, such that I could trim the edges and slice the cake and make it look pretty on a plate ... nope. The top half came out, misshapen and crumbly on top. There was no piecing it together, gluing it with a bit of icing.

I stood and looked down at it, nearly in tears.

I thought about making bread pudding, only to realize I'd used my last two eggs in the cake. I thought about cake pops, only to realize I'd used the last of my non-dairy chocolate chips in the cake.

AAAUUUGGGHHH!

And then I thought of no-bake cookies. I've made some in the past that require ground cookies and nuts, a splash of liquid (coffee, brandy), some confectioners' sugar, and rolling the mixture into little balls. Well, what did I have on hand that might facilitate this???

Nilla wafers ... dairy. *#&%^@&*#&

And then, I saw them: waffle cone bowls. Were they ... gasp! They were! Non-dairy!!!

I ground them up in the blender. I smushed some of the cake. I tossed in some confectioners' sugar and a bit of almond milk. I mixed, I rolled, I breathed again.

When I brought these in the next day, they were a huge hit! They were more popular than Oreo Fudge, even!

I always maintain that if something doesn't turn out the way you expected it to, re-purpose it, rename it, and pretend it's what you'd intended to serve along.

And so, I didn't bring my co-workers a Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake. Nope. Instead, I brought them Chocolate Cake Truffles.

And they were good ... :)


Chocolate Cake Truffles

Needless to say, in my panic I didn't bother to measure how much broken cake I had, how generous the splash of almond milk was ... I just mixed and hoped and begged the fates to help this all come together. Judge by feel with whatever ingredients you might improvise with.

Crumbled chocolate cake
an equal amount of ground Nilla wafer or waffle cone crumbs
1/4 cup or so confectioners' sugar + more for coating
splash of almond milk

Combine everything in a large mixing bowl, and stir to mix well. When the mixture holds together and is sticky, it's the right consistency - not too dry or crumbly, not too soft and mushy. Roll into 1" balls. Place onto a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 20 minutes to help set the shape and start the drying process. Let cool completely, then roll in confectioners' sugar.

Frugal Floozie Friday - Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery

Jeremy had been wanting to try the Truffled French Fries at today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature - the Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery - since I first told him that I'd found the intriguing dish while searching through a variety of menus one day while making a list of restaurants to visit.  He's not a fan of mushrooms, usually, so I wasn't very sure that he'd enjoy these.

So imagine how thrilled I was when Jeremy announced that "These are pretty delicious.  These are the best fries ever!"

They were utterly irresistable - so crisp, so fragrant with rosemary, so subtly and perfectly flavored with truffle and salt - that we'd have each happily devoured our own serving rather sharing.   The fries were perfectly complemented by a rich mayonnaise-based dipping sauce - ketchup would be a sacrilege.  I've already made a note to myself that these fries will be on my Top 10 list for the year.  And they only cost $5, our mandatory per-person budget, despite a truly generous portion!

Another fabulous dish, though one that would need to be split to stay within budget (it could easily feed 4, particularly served with the fries) is the Three Cheese Pizza for $9: "Herb flecked ricotta, parmesan and gruyere cheeses, with shaved broccolini, caramelized onions and salsa verde."  The cheeses were rich and creamy atop a crisp, hand-formed, granite-baked crust ... sigh.  Purely, simply delicious!

I'm sure some of you are wondering why I'm focusing on the restaurant's food offerings and ignoring the brewery options, since Jolly Pumpkin is noted for its beer and ales.  Well, first of all, I don't drink beer - that makes me sufficiently ignorant of the offerings that I shouldn't dare to pontificate about them.  And a pint would just about use up our $5 per person budget - to my thinking, more food and less beer is a better value.  But I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from enjoying one of the fabulous creations.

In lieu of beer, Jeremy tried a $4 non-alcoholic Black and Tan, which is equal parts ginger ale and artisan ginger beer.  It was bright and refreshing, and would be spectacular on a hot summery day.

There are soups and ice cream available for $5 each, an olive assortment to split for $6.  Many options await you that all qualify for our $5 per person (or less!) budget.

The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, welcoming guests to come in and enjoy themselves without rushing.  Share some fries, indulge in pizza, nurse a craft beer ... just be sure to find your way to the Jolly Pumpkin, where the food is exceptional and there are great values to be found!


Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery
311 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 913-2730



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