I cannot believe Easter is a week from today! It hit me as I was zooming in for my online church service this morning, which of course focused on today being Palm Sunday. I am looking forward to an in person service to celebrate Easter next week, albeit outdoors. And I bet that many of you are going to be planning small in person gatherings. We are not yet Covid clear but we are moving closer, thanks be to God.
I like to think of this trio of desserts as the Easter trifecta. You have the bright colors and flavor of the Lemon Tart with Raspberry Sauce, a bunny approved Carrot Cake, and a Chocolate Torte that would be welcome at any Passover table. How many of these options you make will depend on the size of your gathering, but do make at least one, they are all delicious.
Going back through my archives in search of these three recipes was really eye opening for me. I am still learning about food photography, which is definitely an art completely separate from actual cooking or baking. But I have come a long way! It is clearly time to re-shoot the Carrot Cake using some of my more up to date photography skills, but the recipe remains delicious and is in need of only one critical update: USE ONLY HALF OF THE FROSTING. At the time I posted it I was big into cake decorating and it bothered me that some of the cake would show through the frosting if I used the amount my Granny called for, which is exactly half of my current recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting. I have since realized that was silly, it is all about the taste and too much frosting is not the way to go. Now I often divide the frosting equally between the two layers and leave the sides naked. If I do choose to frost the sides I still use the majority on top of the two layers and press finely chopped walnuts into the lightly frosted sides. I promise to bring you all the details when I update this beauty, but don’t let that stop you from making it this week for Easter. I have had many people who claim not to like carrot cake tell me how good this is, including one of my son’s teachers who informed me that in spite of her dislike of carrot cake it was the best cake of any kind she had ever eaten. If that is not a ringing endorsement I do not know what is!
I’m hoping to try some Hot Cross Buns this week, which is something I have never made. If you have a favorite recipe please share it with me!