Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Daring Bakers Dobos Torta


The August 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Angela of A Spoonful of Sugar and Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella. They chose the spectacular Dobos Torte based on a recipe from Rick Rodgers’ cookbook Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Caffés of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague.

Lorraine is my blogging friend and she's a very talented cook. I knew if she was helping with the challenge it would be something really challenging! And this torte recipe definitely was challenging for me! The Dobos Torta is a five-layer sponge cake, filled with a rich chocolate buttercream and topped with thin wedges of caramel.

Deeba called it simple yet complicated. Rosa described it as laborious and nearly traumatizing. (Both of their beautiful posts cracked me up.) Somewhere along the line I underestimated how time consuming and frustrating this recipe would be.

My cake layers were thinner than I expected and I had the same rushed feeling as Deeba. Trying to spread one layer out while another layer is baking, while at the same time trying to take another layer off the parchment. My buttercream frosting started out great, but when I added the chocolate it all deflated. The one bright spot was my caramel layer which I think turned out just right!

As a Daring Baker should, I persevered to the end and put the cake together as best I could. I am not a buttercream fan, so this cake was not my favorite, but I learned a lot and best of all I got to use my new scale for measuring!


Please visit Lorraine or Angela's for the full recipe, and be sure and check out all the amazing Dobos Tortes on the Daring Bakers’ blogroll.

42 comments:

Anita on August 27, 2009 7:02 AM said...

Your caramel does look fantastic!! This is what I found the hardest, I'd love to know your secret :P

Anncoo on August 27, 2009 7:36 AM said...

I think this is not an easy job, hope that I can do it like yours :)

Jenny on August 27, 2009 7:56 AM said...

I wasn't happy with the chocolate buttercream recipe. I had to chill it before I could frost the cake, and now that mine has sat at room temperature since this morning it looks like it is melting. It still tastes good though!

Beautifully done on your end. Your layers look thin and perfect.

HoneyB on August 27, 2009 8:06 AM said...

Looks awesome Barbara!

Anula on August 27, 2009 8:29 AM said...

Yes, taking the layers of the aper was tricky! It was a challenge for me too this month ;) Your Dobos Torte looks great - very delicious :) Cheers!

Denise on August 27, 2009 8:41 AM said...

That is one difficult looking cake. Good for you to keep going until the end.

Julie (Willow Bird Baking) on August 27, 2009 8:43 AM said...

Barbara, it LOOKS like you didn't have any trouble at all! It's lovely!

Angie's Recipes on August 27, 2009 8:44 AM said...

The caramel layer cakes looks amazing.

Angie's Recipes

Kat on August 27, 2009 8:58 AM said...

Looking at your final product I would never know you had any challenges! I agree it was a lot of work, but I am still glad I attempted it and made it to the end even though I produced the leaning tower of pisa. :)

Gaby on August 27, 2009 9:14 AM said...

looks amazing Barbara!!! love it!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on August 27, 2009 9:18 AM said...

Aahh I was waiting with bated breath for yours Barbara! It looks wonderful and you got the caramel just perfect! Most people struggled with that (me included) but you didn't at all-bravo! :)

maybelle's mom on August 27, 2009 1:13 PM said...

sorry to hear it was difficult for you, but it looks good.

Vrinda on August 27, 2009 1:34 PM said...

Gorgeous cake,nice layers...

Megan on August 27, 2009 2:42 PM said...

At least you got a whole cake! A whole beautiful cake. Thanks for baking with me. It makes it more fun! :)

mamatkamal on August 27, 2009 3:23 PM said...

This a gorgeous cake! I love it. Bravo Barbara.

Elra on August 27, 2009 3:50 PM said...

Yours look superb Barbara! Seems effortless to you though!~

Lauren on August 27, 2009 4:59 PM said...

Awesome job!! Your torte is stunning - Love the photos!

Sue Sparks on August 27, 2009 5:32 PM said...

Wow, your torte looks PERFECT!

Cinnamon Girl aka Reeni♥ on August 27, 2009 7:09 PM said...

This is beautiful, Barbara! You did a great job with it - the caramel does look superb.

Big Boys Oven on August 27, 2009 7:32 PM said...

Wow! looks amazing, not an easy one I think but got it done so well! :)

ice tea: sugar high on August 27, 2009 7:42 PM said...

That's gorgeous Barbara. Love how neat and proportionate the layers are. Great job.

teresa on August 27, 2009 8:53 PM said...

oh wow, that is one decadent looking dessert, great job!

Lynda on August 27, 2009 9:23 PM said...

You are such a talented baker, Barbara! This looks beautiful; I'm so impressed!

Fuji Mama on August 27, 2009 11:34 PM said...

I think your cake layers look perfect!! Yum! :-)

Tina on August 28, 2009 6:56 AM said...

Hi first time here...wonderful blog with lots of sweet recipes......

Ann on August 28, 2009 7:56 AM said...

wow,the caramel have done wonder there..totally mindblowing..

isa on August 28, 2009 9:39 AM said...

Gorgeous cake! Beautiful caramel glaze - I failed mine!

Marisa on August 28, 2009 10:26 AM said...

I am so impressed!!!! Seriously...what more can I say :-)? You're awesome!

Sara @ Our Best Bites on August 28, 2009 10:47 AM said...

Oh my gosh Barbara- that looks A-MAZ-ING!

The Blonde Duck on August 28, 2009 10:57 AM said...

That looks gorgeous!

sweetakery on August 28, 2009 11:31 AM said...

Gorgeous cake...yumm,nice layers! great work!

Lisa on August 28, 2009 11:50 AM said...

Great job, Barbara! Your Dobos looks stunning. The cake-circle deal is something I skipped because of all of the above. Easier to just sheet pan it, and then cut out whatever shape(s) you want :) Then again, I wasn't in the mood for circles or circular cakes, this month..LOL

Fahrenheit 350° on August 28, 2009 3:31 PM said...

That looks beautiful! Well done, I'm impressed and a bit embarrassed for mine...

Katy ~ on August 28, 2009 4:36 PM said...

Totally awesomely gorgeous. I want someone to make this for me! Too much work for me but it looks divine!

Cathy on August 28, 2009 5:20 PM said...

You're a brave one, Barbara, to take on such a project. Your tort is beautiful. I've been lucky to sample this cake in the cities in the cookbook and yours ranks right up there with the best.

I have to take a look at that cookbook.

Aparna on August 28, 2009 11:07 PM said...

Your torte has turned out so good. I really like the thin sponge layers. Mine were a bit on the thicker side.

angelia mcgowan on August 29, 2009 6:42 AM said...

Great job! I don't think I would attempt that, I don't think I would have the patience! LOL

Mamatkamal on August 29, 2009 5:47 PM said...

This is gorgeous!I'd love to give it a try one day!Thanks for the recipe.

Jerri on August 29, 2009 8:38 PM said...

Yum! This looks fabulous!

Jamie on August 30, 2009 7:56 AM said...

Barbara! Everyone complained but there isn't one I wouldn't happily help devour! Yours looks so fabulous! It's pretty and that cream! I say deflated or what it looks divine! Great job!

Yasmeen on August 31, 2009 7:08 AM said...

Gorgeous,Barbara.This turned out to be a very special cake for me :D

Deeba @Passionate About Baking on September 13, 2009 6:53 AM said...

It's a lovely Dobostorte Barbara, it's just beautiful. Love how neatly your layers came out! Wow!!

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