It’s a …

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[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #9b9b9b;”] S[/dropcap]o Stonesoup is coming to you a little bit late this week. But I have a very good reason…

Yes. It’s a BOY!

Fergal St. John Brennan was born on the 21st June.

If you’re into the baby stats he was 4.5kg or 10lb and 53cm long. Yes a BIG boy. I seem to have been feeding him very well already.

And to celebrate we have cake!

Fergal seems completely happy for now to stick to milk, although if he’s anything like his father I’m sure one day he’ll be asking me to make this cake for him.

fergal cake-6

Little F’s Steamed Caramel Cake

You know how some cakes tend to cook and be dry on the edges but moist in the middle? The original versions of this cake kept doing that to me until I stumbled across the idea to ‘steam’ the cake by putting a plate on it to capture the steam as it cools. This keeps everything super moist and lovely. Thanks to Margot Henderson via a steamed chocolate cake recipe in Australian Gourmet Traveller for the idea.

The other secret to success with this cake is to make sure you use real white chocolate. Check the ingredients list to make sure your white chocolate is made with real cocoa butter rather than crappy vegetable oil.

Enough for about 10
100g (3.5oz) butter
250g (9oz) white chocolate (made with real cocoa butter), broken into chunks
6 eggs, separated
200g (7oz) brown sugar
250g (9oz) almond meal

1. Preheat your oven to 160C (320F). Grease a 24cm (9in) springform pan.

2. Melt butter in small saucepan. Remove from the heat and add chocolate chunks. Allow to stand while the chocolate melts.

3. Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until super light and foamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar until well combined.

4. When the chocolate has melted stir and add egg yolks to the mixture.

5. Add the chocolate mixture and almond meal to the egg whites and fold gently until just combined.

6. Carefully transfer the mixture to your prepared tin.

7. Bake for 1 hour or until the cake is deeply golden and feels springy in the middle when you touch it.

8. Remove cake from the oven. Cover with a plate and allow to cool and steam for at least an hour.

VARIATIONS
vegan / egg-free – I’m afraid the eggs are really key to the texture of this cake.

dairy-free – I haven’t tried this but you could easily replace the butter with coconut oil. And replace the white chocolate wiht a combination of 100g extra coconut oil, 100g extra almond meal and 50g extra brown sugar. If you do try this let me know!

nut-free – replace almond meal with 150g (5oz) plain (all-purpose) flour. Again I haven’t tried this but it’s where I’d start.

Video version of the recipe.

fergal cake

Peanut Butter Ganache

Inspired by peanut butter ganache on the most amazing Fender Bass Guitar cake my super talented sister, Naomi, made for my Irishman’s birthday back in January.

If you live in Sydney and ever need a creative birthday cake, she’s the girl! Get in touch via My Little Sweet.

As you can see from the photo this makes a super generous covering for the cake but I really love having the sweet and salty thing going on. Feel free to reduce the quantities if you prefer more cake with your ganache.

150g (5oz) cream
250g (9oz) white chocolate (with real cocoa butter)
300g (11oz) peanut butter (with no added sugar)

1. Bring cream almost to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat. Break chocolate into small chunks and add to the cream.

2. Stand for about 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt.

3. Stir well then add the peanut butter. Stir again.

4. Allow to cool to room temperature to thicken before using to decorate your cake. Will take a few hours. Or if you’re short on time pop it in the fridge for an hour to chill but don’t forget about it. You don’t want it rock hard!

Video version of the recipe.

With love,
Jules x

62 Comments

  • Congratulations on the birth of your little boy! May all his dreams come true.. :) Thanx for sharing these lovely recipes. Greetz from Amsterdam!

  • Many, many congratulations! We have a son, born when I was 45yo, and the joy and delight of having him around is beyond words. With all your super recipes Fergal will be weaning himself in days!!!!! Congratulations, take care, rest up and enjoy your family! Happy days!

  • Hi Jules,

    Congratulations. I wish you all the best in your new adventure as “Mom”.

    Love

    Kathy

  • Congratulations to you and your Irishman! Simply fantastic name – unusual and gorgeous! Hope you are well and with all good wishes for these early days with your baby boy.

  • Oh my GOD! congrats to you, the family and the world. Welcome little Fergal. Jules you’ve been such a blessing to our family I’m so glad you’ve got the ultimate blessing of all… No more words to say just a lovely warm fuzzy feeling.
    Thank you

  • Congratulations on your lovely boy, Jules! He sounds like a whopper! :) Can’t wait to see the photos of your newest project. Babies are such LOVE!

    <3

  • Wow, Jules! And he is a midsommernights child. I know from experience, thats a good omen. ;)
    Congratulations, all the best and thanks for the delicious cake.

  • Hi Jules,
    A big fan of your way of cooking now for a while, and so happy with your recipes I try to turn around my cooking habits! Following your news happily and many congrats with your baby son!! A midsummer night baby, how special… Enjoy and celebrate, and how lovely the cake looks, would love to see the treat of the month himself!!
    And hope you give us inspiration for kids food in the coming future (have 4 and try to persuade my Dutchies to the good taste of lentils etc. Tough time;)

  • Congratulations!! And welcome Fergal. Hope you settle as a family quickly – if you’re already making cake I reckon you’re doing a top job :-).

  • Hi Jules,
    How wonderful! A baby boy I am so happy for you and your Irishman and just wanted to say welcome to this wonderful world Fergus.

  • Congratulations Jules to both of you on the birth of Fergal. I am so happy for both of you. Glad everything went well.
    Congratulations once again.
    Helen.

  • Thank you also for this wonderful recipe and all of your recipes. I will have to try this soon.

  • Many congratulations! Well done for getting a post done after such a huge event, now that’s multitasking! These photos are absolutely beautiful too, will have to try it out myself!

  • Congratulations!!!! Lovely news indeed. Welcome to little Fergal. He is certainly going to be one well and lovingly fed boy.

    Maybe a cake for his first birthday? Looks just super and extra nice for those of us with wheat intolerance

  • Well done Jules. Your “little” boy sounds wonderful. Congratulations to you and hubby.

  • Congratulations Jules, and thanks for posting more of your delicious recipes so soon! All the best with your little one.

  • Dear Jules — Congratulations to you and your darling Irishman on the arrival of your bundle of joy. Looking forward to seeing pictures of little (big boy) Fergal. Cheers!!

    PS: This is a rocking recipe — I will bake Little F’s Steamed Cake for my twin boys’ birthday.

  • Congratulations to your baby Boy! Enjoy!we wish him health and well and lot’s of your cakes for his life!

  • Congratulations to you and your Irishman Jules!! And welcome to little Fergal! What a lovely summer gift! Take good care and thanks for this lovely cake recipe.

  • Oopsie ~ and the cake sounds scrumptious. I’ll be trying it without the chocolate since I’m allergic (tragic, I know) and have a feeling it’ll be equally delish.

  • Hi Jules,

    all the best to the three of you!!!
    May you have a wonderful time together!!

    <3, Christiane

  • Congratulations Jules and Irishman! How very exciting for you both. I love his name! And this cake looks delicious, I will be making it soon.

  • Congratulations on your lovely new baby – welcome Fergal St. John Brennan! I’m actually amazed that you had time for this newsletter . . . The cake looks fantastic. I just need to get some real white chocolate. Thanks for the recipe and, again, congratulations!

  • Congrats dear Mama! I have been thinking of you these last few days…so glad to read your news. Welcome baby Fergal! Hope you are well and getting some rest and that someone is cooking for all of you!!

  • Congratulations! I can’t wait to read about your cooking adventures with a baby! My boy is almost 1 and what a crazy great year it has been! I love cooking, but was having a hard time getting back into the kitchen post-baby and found myself going for quick frozen alternatives… Until I discovered your site and 2MM a few months back. Now that the baby is eating, I modify some of the recipes a bit and the whole family eats delicious, healthy food almost daily. I am in the US and joined a Community Supported Agriculture program that delivers organic produce right to my door step each week. Thanks again for helping me get back into the post baby cooking groove… I even shed a bit of weight! ;)

  • Jules,

    Congratulations to you and your Irishman! I hope “little” F sleeps all night. (Ten pounds is one big boy!) Best to all three of you.

    Ginny

  • Congratulations! Well done on the arrival of that big boy! Hope he is behaving for you!

  • Hi Jules – congratulations to you and your Irishman on the safe arrival of Fergal – what a cute name!

  • Congratulations on your new baby boy. I am sure he will bring you much joy, sleepless nights and happy days.

  • Congrats Jules – I was wondering if there might be some news – and there it is – a little boy – divine. Gorgeous name too – hope all is going well for you three. J xx

  • A friend introduced me to your website! I just love it, and congrats on your new arrival! Cheers Sammi

  • Congratulations! My birthday is the 21st of June! First day of summer here, first day of winter for you?

  • Congratulations on the birth of your son! The 21st was the due date of my son, but he came a little early on the 18th. :)

    • …as in: my son is a newborn, too. I just realized it sounded like my son was older and I was reflecting on the past. Sleepless nights and a tiny, lovable creature in my arms is very much my present!

  • Congrats, on your new addition! So happy and glad to hear he’s healthy. All the best to you and your family!!

  • Hi… I can’t find Margot’s original recipe anywhere on the web. Is it similar to this just with dark chocolate? I do like the look of yours with the ganache… might have to do both! Thanks.

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