The results of the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Adventure Cupcake Contest were announced today! It was fun to be one of the more than 2,000 entries, which puts me in good company as a non-winner!! The contest rules state that “All entries submitted become the exclusive property of the Sponsors and none will be returned,” so it seems clear that I am not free to post my non-winning recipe and share it with you.
I can tell you that my non-winning recipe was adapted from my Grandmom’s 1-2-3-4 cake recipe that is at least 60 years old. The handwritten notes from her recipe book states that “1 1/2 times the recipe makes a doll cake.” And I can tell you that many doll cakes were made for me in my youth from this recipe!
The Chocolate Adventure Contest wanted you to select from one of fourteen adventure ingredients. When I saw that one of them was saffron, my mind was set! Starting with my Grandmom’s wonderful recipe, I substituted orange blossom water for some of the milk called for in the recipe and added saffron powder and steeped it. I made the batter and then added some Scharffen Berger cocoa nibs for a little “crunch” effect and topped the cupcake with a milk chocolate ganache using Scharffen Berger’s 41% Cacao Milk Chocolate for the ganache. Overall, I was pleased with my results and submitted my recipe for consideration in the contest. My first time ever to do so. I think Grandmom would be proud!
