Cake With Four Different Layers...flavor Conflict?

Decorating By Newbie0514 Updated 12 Feb 2012 , 10:54pm by CakesHeaven

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Newbie0514 Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 3:57am
post #1 of 18

So I'm looking to make a cake with four different layers and I'm having trouble choosing four layers that taste good together. This cake is for a project for a class and I've come up with four different cakes that fit my theme and symbolism, but I'm not sure of the different flavors. Right now I have a simple White Cake with strawberries, a rich Chocolate Cake, an Applesauce Cake, and a Yellow Cake with pineapples. I have no idea about the icing yet...any ideas? any suggestions will be helpful.

I've attached the links to the individual recipes so you can get a better idea:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/white-almond-wedding-cake/detail.aspx (I think I'm going to take out the almond extract and add strawberries to the mix)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/too-much-chocolate-cake/detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/applesauce-cake-v/detail.aspx
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/is-it-really-better-than-sex-cake-recipe/index.html

17 replies
carmijok Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
carmijok Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 4:25am
post #2 of 18

Personally I think the spice in an applesauce cake would not work well with your other three--2 of which are stronger fruit flavors. Since chocolate works well with fruit flavors that to me is OK...perhaps you might think of an orange or lemon cake instead of applesauce. I would think you'd want a complimentary blend of flavors and not a competing group.

Speaking of which...that's a lot of flavors going on there! Any reason why you need to have 4 different layers? And honestly I'd go with a cream cheese frosting. It's a good neutral taste that goes with all those flavors.

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matthewkyrankelly Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 4:55am
post #3 of 18

If it was me, I would make the four flavors add up to a whole flavor profile. A banana split cake would have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and banana cakes with maybe a pineapple buttercream. A tiramisu cake, a cappuccino cake - all can be done deconstructed with each layer being part of the flavor profile of the whole dessert.

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AnnieCahill Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 1:52pm
post #4 of 18

A tropical cake could be coconut, mango, passion fruit, and vanilla bean.

Banana split is also a very good idea, as well as tiramisu.

Spumoni with cherry or strawberry, pistachio, chocolate, and vanilla.

Icing can be either plain vanilla BC or chocolate ganache, but this is going to depend on the flavors and fillings inside the cake.

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Newbie0514 Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 3:40pm
post #5 of 18

Without going into too much detail, this cake is inspired by the elements. We're reading a poem in class and the author describes the spirits of women and how they acted in life, and relates them to the elements. So...

Earth, which represents a prudish woman, is the chocolate cake
Fire, which is an angry woman, is the applesauce cake
Air, which is a pure woman, is the white cake
Water, which is the promiscuous woman, is the yellow cake (is it better than sex? cake)

and i agree with carmijok. I was worried about the spice. Can anyone think of a cake that would represent fire?

Also, I really like the idea of a tropical cake or a fruit themed cake. Thanks guys for these ideas!

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jgifford Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 3:56pm
post #6 of 18

What about Red Velvet?

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cakeyouverymuch Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 3:57pm
post #7 of 18

Rather than applesauce, which to my way of thinking is rather blah and not firey at all, why not go to a spice cake and use one of the more "firey" spices like chili or cayanne pepper? Just keep in mind that with the firey spices a little goes a long way. You could also melt some 'red hots' candies in the liquid for your recipe and use that to give a firey kick to a simple spice cake recipe.

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matthewkyrankelly Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 4:08pm
post #8 of 18

You could go with a true spice cake, but it might overwhelm the whole cake.

I would pick red velvet to represent fire.

What about a cheesecake layer for the promiscuous woman?

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Annabakescakes Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 6:51pm
post #9 of 18

Since when are people expected to eat cake from all 4 tiers? If the flavors don't "go" together, don't eat them together. There will still be people who enjoy each flavor. And promiscuity reminds me of the Scarlet Letter, and Roxanne putting on her red dress to sell her body, I think that one should be red velvet. You can do a cayenne chocolate for the fireicon_smile.gif

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leah_s Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 7:33pm
post #10 of 18

Anna, the OP is talking layers, not tiers.

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Annabakescakes Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 7:35pm
post #11 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

Anna, the OP is talking layers, not tiers.




icon_redface.gificon_redface.gificon_redface.gif Disregard...... Yeah, that combo sounds weird.

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Debbye27 Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 8:10pm
post #12 of 18

ha! I was thinking tiers, too- wow that was going to be one big cake icon_wink.gif
I like the banana split idea as well...you already have strawberries, chocolate, pineapple, and vanilla...why not incorporate banana- and do a whipped cream like frosting?!
but red velvet would be a good fire.

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FromScratchSF Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 8:14pm
post #13 of 18

What I'd do:

Earth - Almond or walnut
Wind- Vanilla bean
Fire- chocolate chili (add 2 tsp. chili powder to your chocolate cake recipe)
Water- strawberry or raspberry

Vanilla buttercream

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pag41989 Posted 7 Feb 2012 , 8:19pm
post #14 of 18

I also agree that red velvet sounds good. It doesn't sound like an applesauce layer would go good with those other flavors. I like the Banana split idea as well.

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AnnieCahill Posted 8 Feb 2012 , 12:10am
post #15 of 18

I was going to suggest chocolate chili as well.

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Spuddysmom Posted 8 Feb 2012 , 12:40am
post #16 of 18

Great, now I can't get that famous old phrase, "I'm as angry as applesauce!" icon_mad.gif out of my head.

I vote either chocolate chili or red velvet for fire.

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Newbie0514 Posted 12 Feb 2012 , 10:02pm
post #17 of 18

Thanks for all your help and suggestions....I think I have a good idea about where to start now!

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CakesHeaven Posted 12 Feb 2012 , 10:54pm
post #18 of 18

Once I red your elements, Fire I thought of a spicy red velvet. You can add a little cayanne pepper to the recipe to give it a little punch but be careful as a little goes a long way.
Good luck and let us know what you choose and how it went

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