i know what you are thinking. why in gods name would she just GIVE me her chocolate cake recipe. 

well the truth is, it really isn't mine to give. it's ina's (the barefoot contessa) and she has already given it away. 

ina is pretty much my culinary goddess. when i was teaching myself to cook, nine times out of ten i would go with a barefoot contessa recipe. they NEVER let me down. and while i have adjusted most of her recipes that i started with, this one is tried and true.

if you are a chocolate cake fan, this is your holy grail. this cake is rich, but still light and fluffy. it's bold in flavor, but is still very moist. it's pretty much the perfect cake. it's great with cream cheese frosting, a classic butter cream or if you are like me, it's great on its own. 

THE chocolate cake
serves: 2 x 9 inch cakes or 1 9 x 13 sheet cake
prep time: 10 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
bake time: 30-45 minutes
total time: 1 hour
ingredients: 1.75 cups ap flour. .75 cup cocoa powder. 2 cups sugar. 2 tsp baking soda. 1 tsp baking powder. 1 tsp salt. 1 cup buttermilk. .5 cup vegetable oil. 2 eggs. 1 tsp vanilla extract. 1 cup hot coffee. parchment paper. vegetable oil spray.
start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees f. while your oven is preheating, prepare you pans. trace the size of your pans your are using onto the parchment paper and cut out a shape that fits into the bottom of the pan. spray your pan with oil and then set the parchment in the bottom. 

in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand blender, combine the eggs, buttermilk, oil and extract. 

once the wet ingredients are well combined, turn the mixer to slow and add in the dry ingredients a bit a time. 

when your batter is well combined (it should be nice and thick), slowly add in the hot coffee. 

mix until just combined and smooth. 

pour the batter into the prepared baking pans. 

bake for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the pan. you will know that the cake is done when you can insert a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. remove the cake from the oven and set to cool on a cooling rack. 

once the cake has cooled to room temp, remove your cake from the pans and use.

xo, a

THE chocolate cake
erves: 2 x 9 inch cakes or 1 9 x 13 sheet cake
prep time: 10 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
bake time: 30-45 minutes
total time: 1 hour
ingredients: 1.75 cups ap flour. .75 cup cocoa powder. 2 cups sugar. 2 tsp baking soda. 1 tsp baking powder. 1 tsp salt. 1 cup buttermilk. .5 cup vegetable oil. 2 eggs. 1 tsp vanilla extract. 1 cup hot coffee. parchment paper. vegetable oil spray.
start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees f. while your oven is preheating, prepare you pans. trace the size of your pans your are using onto the parchment paper and cut out a shape that fits into the bottom of the pan. spray your pan with oil and then set the parchment in the bottom. in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand blender, combine the eggs, buttermilk, oil and extract. once the wet ingredients are well combined, turn the mixer to slow and add in the dry ingredients a bit a time. when your batter is well combined (it should be nice and thick), slowly add in the hot coffee. mix until just combined and smooth. pour the batter into the prepared baking pans. bake for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the pan. you will know that the cake is done when you can insert a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. remove the cake from the oven and set to cool on a cooling rack. once the cake has cooled to room temp, remove your cake from the pans and use.

somedays, life just gets away from you. you wake up in the morning with a plan, and at the end of the day, everything you wanted to accomplish is in shambles. 

that pretty much sums up the day of my birthday party. i had all these pretty and delicious cakes planned, but life was not cooperating and time got away from me and i of course ended up an emotional mess.

no surprise, all my friends and family are amazing and they all came and made the day extra special. but i learned a valuable lesson. when in doubt, go with a staple. 

you know what i mean. that tried, true go to. and my dessert staple is cheesecake. these bites are great because they are easy to make, easy on the eyes, and easy to make disappear. the best part is you can make them seasonal with any of your favorite fruits and you can enhance colors with just a drop or two of food color. 

marbled mango cheesecake bites
serves: 1-2 dozen depending on your size preference
prep time: 5 minutes
bake time:30 minutes
cool time: 2 hours to over night
total time: 2 hours 35 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup finely chopped pecans (i pulse mine in the food processor). 1 cup flour. 1 stick butter, melted. .25 cup brown sugar. pinch of salt. 1 lb softened cream cheese. 1 cup sugar. 3 eggs. 1 tsp vanilla extract. .25 cup mango purée. 9 x 13 baking dish. parchment paper. tooth pick. 

start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. in a medium bowl, combine the flour, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter. 

use your hands to lightly combine the mixture till it is in pebble size crumbs. 

pour the crust dough into a parchment lined 9 x 13 dish. use your palms to press the dough till it reaches the edges of the dish. 

bake until the crust starts to turn golden. about 10-12 minutes. while the crust is baking, prepare the filling. 

in the bowl of a stand mixer with your whisk attachment or with a hand blender, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. about 3-5 minutes. 

reduce the speed of your mixer to add in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. 

once your crust is out pour all but .5 cup of the filling over the crust. use a spatula or butter knife to spread the filling evenly over the crust. 

combine your mango puree with the remaining .5 cup filling. mix until completely combined. 

using a spoon, drizzle your mango cheese cake mixture over the cheese cake filling. 

then, using your toothpick, swirl the mango cheesecake filling to create a marbled effect. 

bake the cheesecake in the oven until set, 20-25 minutes. 

when the cheesecake is set, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely. pop it in the freezer for a half hour or so till it gets really solid. 

then slice off the rough edges, and cut into squares of your size choice. serve or store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. 

xo, a

marbled mango cheesecake bites
serves: 1-2 dozen depending on your size preference
prep time: 5 minutes
bake time: 30 minutes
cool time: 2 hours to over night
total time: 2 hours 35 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup finely chopped pecans (i pulse mine in the food processor). 1 cup flour. 1 stick butter, melted. .25 cup brown sugar. pinch of salt. 1 lb softened cream cheese. 1 cup sugar. 3 eggs. 1 tsp vanilla extract. .25 cup mango purée. 9 x 13 baking dish. parchment paper. tooth pick.
start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. in a medium bowl, combine the flour, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter. use your hands to lightly combine the mixture till it is in pebble size crumbs. pour the crust dough into a parchment lined 9 x 13 dish. use your palms to press the dough till it reaches the edges of the dish. bake until the crust starts to turn golden. about 10-12 minutes. while the crust is baking, prepare the filling. in the bowl of a stand mixer with your whisk attachment or with a hand blender, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. about 3-5 minutes. reduce the speed of your mixer to add in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. once your crust is out. pour all but .5 cup of the filling over the crust. use a spatula or butter knife to spread the filling evenly over the crust. combine your mango puree with the remaining .5 cup filling. mix until completely combined. using a spoon, drizzle your mango cheese cake mixture over the cheese cake filling. then, using your toothpick, swirl the mango cheesecake filling to create a marbled effect. bake the cheesecake in the oven until set, 20-25 minutes. when the cheesecake is set, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely. pop it in the freezer for a half hour or so till it gets really solid. then slice off the rough edges, and cut into squares of your size choice. serve or store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.