354 replies to this topic

[Dr. Teeth]

This discussion is absurd. Cake cannot carry pie's cape. Cake advocates need to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves if they really have what it takes to be a foodie.

Edited by Dr. Teeth, 17 November 2008 - 10:03 AM.

[slkinsey]

I wouldn't go guite that far. Cake can certainly play Robin to pie's Batman... or perhaps Gleek to pie's Wonder Twins.

[Miss E]

Pie, because they are more forgiving to make, and I'm not a huge icing fan. I don't even turn my nose up at a decent pudding mix pie - there's one with a pecan/caramel layer base then vanilla pudding & whipped cream on top. I do draw the line at Cool Whip, however.

I have an easy pie crust recipe that I got from my Mom, who was a big pie person. I have done the whole cut shortening & butter into flour routine, but the result (IMO) was not that much better than this:

1 C + 2 TBLSP flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 C vegetable oil
Mix above with fork, then add
1-2 TBLSP water as needed

This makes enough for one pie crust.

[Katie Meadow]

This discussion is absurd.  Cake cannot carry pie's cape.  Cake advocates need to take a long look in the mirror and ask themselves if they really have what it takes to be a foodie.

This discussion is hysterical. Cake was originally designed as a way of getting rid of sugar in such a fashion that it was able to support one or more candles. A beautiful cake is an art project and I am the first to admit that I love to admire a fanciful work behind the glass. I am totally in awe of people who can create something so lovely. But after it's cut it's a letdown for me. I have no interest in eating cake.

Sweet potato pie: unique in this world. Carmelized rustic tarte tatin: transporting. Peach pie, key lime, blueberry...of course it goes without saying there are lousy pies, but that's not what we're talkin' about here. My idea of heaven: hiking out to the lagoon the day after Thanksgiving and packing a big piece of my SIL's pecan pie for lunch. Now there's a pie that travels well.

[CaliPoutine]

OK, here's the thing. I just spent two days making cakes. This cake only. 

Coconut Cake

I have a party to go to tomorrow night and have to bring dessert, but I was mainly making it for some photos required by the crazy demanding Calipoutine (an unaplogetic fan of coconut cake). I'll post them shortly, as right now it would be a pain on this connection.


At any rate, if you can tell me that some pan full of goo is better than this cake, and convince me that you are right, we'll work something out for a home baked cake.  I like to travel, so what the heck?

It's about 5 recipes bound into one and, well, damned tasty. Give it a try. It's not easy, takes some time and some not easy to find components, but it's worth the trouble. There is, truly, a reason my friends call it " crack cake".

And if you want to see the better photos, you can probably find them at this month's
"Southern Living" site and for sure in the magazine (I'm not really that bald-they were just trying to make us into everymen".

Pie? feh.

A good cake whomps a good pie any day of the week. Period.

I'm still waiting for the pics!!

[Mayhaw Man]

OK, here's the thing. I just spent two days making cakes. This cake only. 

Coconut Cake

I have a party to go to tomorrow night and have to bring dessert, but I was mainly making it for some photos required by the crazy demanding Calipoutine (an unaplogetic fan of coconut cake). I'll post them shortly, as right now it would be a pain on this connection.


At any rate, if you can tell me that some pan full of goo is better than this cake, and convince me that you are right, we'll work something out for a home baked cake.  I like to travel, so what the heck?

It's about 5 recipes bound into one and, well, damned tasty. Give it a try. It's not easy, takes some time and some not easy to find components, but it's worth the trouble. There is, truly, a reason my friends call it " crack cake".

And if you want to see the better photos, you can probably find them at this month's
"Southern Living" site and for sure in the magazine (I'm not really that bald-they were just trying to make us into everymen".

Pie? feh.

A good cake whomps a good pie any day of the week. Period.

I'm still waiting for the pics!!

As I type, I'm baking six rounds. I promise that I will send you finished results when I am all done.

[CKatCook]

I am definately, firmly in the pie camp. A well made cake is a work of art for sure, but a pie is something you can pull up a chair and dig your fork in...a well made pie crust trumps cake...


let THEM eat cake... I will take pie!

[Lindacakes]

Hmmmm . . . Brooks, if you send a piece, maybe I'd be willing to change my vote and all . . .

[LindaK]

I thought this debate had been settled in favor of pie long ago. But thanks for bumping it up again, Brooks, it's fun to read once more the futile arguments in favor of cake.

I made a yellow cake the other night.  With broiled icing.  When I opened the oven door, it was on fire.  Actual flames shooting out the top of the cake.  I closed the door, turned the oven off and walked away. 

This probably wasn't funny at the time, so hope there's no offense when I tell you that your picture of a flame-throwing cake made me laugh.

[Lindacakes]

I have sucha vivid visual of above flaming cake that in my household that story has become shorthand for immediate, quiet resignation.

As in, I turned the temperature down and walked.

[PopsicleToze]

OK, here's the thing. I just spent two days making cakes. This cake only. 

Coconut Cake

I have a party to go to tomorrow night and have to bring dessert, but I was mainly making it for some photos required by the crazy demanding Calipoutine (an unaplogetic fan of coconut cake). I'll post them shortly, as right now it would be a pain on this connection.


At any rate, if you can tell me that some pan full of goo is better than this cake, and convince me that you are right, we'll work something out for a home baked cake.  I like to travel, so what the heck?

It's about 5 recipes bound into one and, well, damned tasty. Give it a try. It's not easy, takes some time and some not easy to find components, but it's worth the trouble. There is, truly, a reason my friends call it " crack cake".

And if you want to see the better photos, you can probably find them at this month's
"Southern Living" site and for sure in the magazine (I'm not really that bald-they were just trying to make us into everymen".

Pie? feh.

A good cake whomps a good pie any day of the week. Period.

I'm still waiting for the pics!!

As I type, I'm baking six rounds. I promise that I will send you finished results when I am all done.

I was just flipping through Nov-08's Southern Living for a few last minute Thanksgiving Ideas, and lo and behold, there was Brooks and his famous cake in all of its glory!! Wish I could post the picture for everyone, but it is gorgeous.

Even though I don't like coconut I'm going to make this for Thanksgiving since all of the normal people in the family love coconut cake.

Congrats, Brooks!!
Rhonda


edited for typo

Edited by PopsicleToze, 24 November 2008 - 02:00 PM.

[CaliPoutine]

OK, here's the thing. I just spent two days making cakes. This cake only. 

Coconut Cake

I have a party to go to tomorrow night and have to bring dessert, but I was mainly making it for some photos required by the crazy demanding Calipoutine (an unaplogetic fan of coconut cake). I'll post them shortly, as right now it would be a pain on this connection.


At any rate, if you can tell me that some pan full of goo is better than this cake, and convince me that you are right, we'll work something out for a home baked cake.  I like to travel, so what the heck?

It's about 5 recipes bound into one and, well, damned tasty. Give it a try. It's not easy, takes some time and some not easy to find components, but it's worth the trouble. There is, truly, a reason my friends call it " crack cake".

And if you want to see the better photos, you can probably find them at this month's
"Southern Living" site and for sure in the magazine (I'm not really that bald-they were just trying to make us into everymen".

Pie? feh.

A good cake whomps a good pie any day of the week. Period.

I'm still waiting for the pics!!

As I type, I'm baking six rounds. I promise that I will send you finished results when I am all done.

I was just flipping through Nov-08's Southern Living for a few last minute Thanksgiving Ideas, and lo and behold, there was Brooks and his famous cake in all of its glory!! Wish I could post the picture for everyone, but it is gorgeous.

Even though I don't like coconut I'm going to make this for Thanksgiving since all of the normal people in the family love coconut cake.

Congrats, Brooks!!
Rhonda


edited for typo

I made Brooks cake today for my 42nd bday( yep, I have to make my own cake). Its gorgeous and I can't wait to taste it tonight. Coconut cake is my most favorite cake.

The only thing I couldnt do, was split the layers. They were so delicate, I didnt want to risk it falling apart.



Doesnt it look so moist?

Edited by CaliPoutine, 02 December 2008 - 12:52 PM.

[Lilija]

That cake is so much sexier without all that frosting... If someone presented me a cake like that, in the first picture, sans frosting, I might come over to the cake team.

[CaliPoutine]

Holy Crap Brooks, that cake was effing fantastic.

[Toliver]

Holy Crap Brooks, that cake was effing fantastic.

Simply stunning. I call thee Food Porn!
Thanks for posting the pictures.

[gingerbeer]

cake!!!!!!!! i love cake.

what i really can't understand is people who prefer ice cream to cake. cake is so much better.

that cake above makes me want to lick the screen.

i've also noticed, even in putting together my blog for a few days (that's not a plug, i promise) the most featured food in literary food scenes is... cake! you know why? because it's crazily delicious.

Edited by gingerbeer, 04 December 2008 - 03:37 PM.

[Mayhaw Man]

Randi,

I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I told you that there was a reason that my friend Sue calls the thing "crack cake."

And, judging by the number of people who looked me up and figured out my email address, you weren't alone in your holiday baking extravaganza. I write stuff with recipes all of the time, but I have never gotten the volume of email that I got off of this thing. Most of them were in love with the cake, but a few got into the middle of it and realized that it was a whole bunch of work and complained mightily (though they mostly finished it and loved it).

[Lindacakes]

Wow.

I have to make it now. I have been eating a lot of coconut cake lately because this particular coconut cake has seven minute icing and I don't have to make it.

And coconut cake is probably the sexiest cake.

That is amazing.

[CaliPoutine]

Randi,

I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I told you that there was a reason that my friend Sue calls the thing "crack cake."

And, judging by the number of people who looked me up and figured out my email address, you weren't alone in your holiday baking extravaganza. I write stuff with recipes all of the time, but I have never gotten the volume of email that I got off of this thing. Most of them were in love with the cake, but a few got into the middle of it and realized that it was a whole bunch of work and complained mightily (though they mostly finished it and loved it).

I missed this when you first posted it. Personally, I didnt think the cake was that hard to make. I made the "glue" one day and the cake and icing the next day. It was actually once of the easier cakes I've ever made. I urge anyone who loves a good coconut( cake) to bake it. You wont be sorry!!

[Amy D.]

cake, even a mediocre cake is far more pleasing than pie

[ravenshadow13]

Cake. For sure. If I want fruit, I can put some raspberries on top of my cake, or make an apple cake, or serve a nice coulis or something. Pie is too sophisticated for me, I think. But, you know, the rules aren't clear. Boston Cream Pie is really cake, and there is such thing as Cake Pie...

Cake is just soul food, for me. Mmmm...

[Marya]

If crust had more flavor (I just can't get excited about flour, shortening and water) like french tart pastry, I could get behind pie. But, until butter, egg yolk and sugar make an appearance, I'm firmly behind a luscious and moist cake.

[CKatCook]

Holy Crap Brooks, that cake was effing fantastic.

Simply stunning. I call thee Food Porn!
Thanks for posting the pictures.

that looks amazing!!!

[blocksnboards]

CARROT CAKE MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

[viva]

I did make Brook's coconut cake recently, and all the cake-lovers in the gathering adored it.

I thought it was pretty good (being cake and all), but I'll still take pie, thanks! Grandma made me some blackberry cobbler with a nice flaky crust for my birthday that was spectacular! Yes, I had birthday cobbler instead of birthday cake. My family knows me.

[Mayhaw Man]

Making coconut cake for a dear friend's birthday party tonight. And, since I had all of the gear out anyway, making a mayhaw pound cake for me.

And, while I am thinking about it, it's BIRTHDAY CAKE that is served for a birthday celebration, not Birthday Pie. People, there's a reason for that...

[LindaK]

Making coconut cake for a dear friend's birthday party tonight. And, since I had all of the gear out anyway, making a mayhaw pound cake for me.

And, while I am thinking about it, it's BIRTHDAY CAKE that is served for a birthday celebration, not Birthday Pie. People, there's a reason for that...

yes, there's a reason. For many of us, once a year is enough for both. hee hee.

Your coconut cake is a thing of beauty, I will admit. I'd prefer your pound cake, though, since the relative simplicity of pound cake lets the quality and flavors of the ingredients really shine. Come to think about it, that's why I prefer pie.

Read the current threads on cherry and blueberry pies...yumm.

[Steven Murphy]

Brigtsen's Pecan Pie for me. I am not a cake person. I would rather eat a Duncan Hines box cake than most bakery cakes I have tried. Give me a good pie anytime. I grew up on pie at The Blue Spring and Cowen's in the St. Louis metro area.

[Jacqueline Clemens]

Pie!

[chuchelo]

I won't say "both" because I like to play by the rules. Having said that, it depends entirely on the flavours involved. Chocolate meringue pie trumps carrot cake. Chocolate cake trumps chess pie. If neither option was chocolate, I'd go for the pie.

Okay, I admit, that's sort of both, but leaning toward pie.