Chocolate rabbit
March 17, 2010 • Category: Dessert
This idea came to me after eating some Pocky. You know Pocky? These are cookies from Japan. I buy them at the Vietnamese market. They come in different flavors, strawberries, banana, coffee, chocolate and they even have Men’s Pocky, I guess that one is reserved for men, because it is flavored with dark chocolate, more virile a flavor!
To assemble this cake, just make your favorite chocolate cake recipe and bake in a square pan. Cool the cake and cut in squares.Each square will serve as the rabbit’s cage, so figure on as many rabbits as cages or squares.
Make some chocolate ganache, let it firm up a bit in the fridge (15 minutes should suffice) and spread it on the cake square. Plant the (store-bought) rabbit on the cake, insert the Pocky sticks all around and cover his cage with a cloud of cotton candy; drop a few candied sunflower seeds as eggs all around the rabbit.
NOTE: If you buy the Pocky at the regular American supermarkets you will find that they are marked up by at least 200% compared to the Asian markets (at least in Dallas)
If you are having a hard time finding cotton candy (I found it at a carnival and then at my local supermarket) you can make a poached meringue and use it as the cloud on top. The advantage there is it will last a couple of days, while the cotton candy goes limp very quickly. Check this post, follow the same recipe but add more sugar (up to a cup) to the meringue base. You can also bake the meringue in a 200F oven for a couple of hours or longer until dry.
I am submitting this to All through the year cheer.
To make the ganache:
- 1 cup of whipping cream
- 2 chocolate bars (like Lindt bittersweet or Ghirardelli 60%) 200 g or a bit less than 7 ounces
Method:
- Place the cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to a simmer. Take off the heat and place the chocolate, broken in pieces in the cream. Let it melt, stirring a bit. Add a half tablespoon of liqueur or vanilla if you like.
To make the cake:
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa (Dutch-pro)(63 g)
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 3 large eggs (150 g)
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups+2 tablespoons of sifted cake flour (235 g)
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar (300 g)
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- a dash of salt
- 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened at room temperature (225 g)
- Preheat the oven at 350F (180C). Whisk the cocoa and boiling water till smooth. Cool.
- In another bowl, mix the eggs, vanilla and 1/4 of the cocoa mixture.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and mix for 30 seconds; Add the butter and remaining cocoa mixture and mix until all the ingredients are moistened. Beat at high speed for 90 seconds; add the egg mixture in three additions, mixing well for no more than 60 seconds.
- Pour the cake in a cake pan, previously lined with parchment paper and grease and floured on the sides. Bake about 30 minutes until the cake springs back when touched lightly and a tester comes out clean. Cool and use. (Recipe is from The cake Bible, by Rose Levy Beranbaum)
Comments
38 Comments • Comments Feed
peachkins says:
This is so cute!
On March 17, 2010 at 8:50 am
The Little Teochew says:
That would make a gorgeous centrepiece! I grew up with Pocky. I still eat it. Now my kid eat them! 🙂
On March 17, 2010 at 9:10 am
Arlette says:
What a gorgeous Cake, Great idea Joumana,, You are very creative.
I never heard of these cookies you are talking about, I dont have any Asian Market
in my Area….
Great as an Easter Centre Piece.
On March 17, 2010 at 9:16 am
Joie de vivre says:
That is such a cute idea!
On March 17, 2010 at 9:23 am
MaryMoh says:
Haven’t heard of Pocky but this looks so cute. You are just so creative !
On March 17, 2010 at 10:04 am
Rosa says:
That is a great idea!
Cheers,
Rosa
On March 17, 2010 at 10:05 am
Sushma Mallya says:
Thats so cute,just loved it and so creative too….
On March 17, 2010 at 10:42 am
Julie says:
C’est vraiment trop mignon, je suis fan! Tu as beaucoup d’imagination et de talent, je suis bluffée 🙂
On March 17, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Christine @ Fresh says:
This is such a cute idea! The kids must love it!
I used to eat pocky when I was younger, and once I ate myself sick. Needless to say I loved the snack.
On March 17, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes says:
Oh the rabbit is so cute!! 🙂
On March 17, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Nadjibella says:
Très bonne idée.
J’ai réussi à m’abonner à ton flux.
Je ne raterai plus de recettes.
A bientôt.
On March 17, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Ann says:
LOL! I love Pocky – I always grab some from the Chinese store – I laughed out loud when I saw that in your post!
On March 17, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Skip to Malou says:
such a cute idea… great centerpiece for a party which I’m sure will get a lot of delightful comments!
On March 17, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Cool Lassi(e) says:
Dear,
I came here from Rebecca’s Chow and Chatter. That is a very cute Rabbit in a Cage. Love the assembly. I saw that you went recently to Turkey. I am so raring to go there and hot air balloon over Kappodokya. Maybe I will follow you Facebook. Love your space. 🙂
On March 17, 2010 at 2:51 pm
peter says:
Joumana, you are a crafty lady! Very cute.
On March 17, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Nicole @ MGC says:
You are so creative and crafty! I’ve never seen anything like this before and it looks amazing!
On March 17, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Rachana Kothari says:
This is really cute:) and really creative:)
On March 17, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Natashya says:
I love it! Very creative.
On March 17, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Michelle says:
What a wonderful cake! I love the edible fuzz on top…so cute. Never had pocky but I sure want some now!
On March 17, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Kajal - Aapplemint says:
That is just so cute and original. I love POCKY . Get them in such a great variety in HK its unbelievable. I love you new page layout. Looks great !
On March 18, 2010 at 4:49 am
kim says:
I love Lebanese apeetizers, especially the dips. 🙂
On March 18, 2010 at 6:34 am
Simply Life says:
WOW! That is IMPRESSIVE!
On March 18, 2010 at 6:51 am
Mary says:
This is very creative. You are a gal of many talents. We have pocky in our local Asian market so I have no reason not to try this delightful treat. Have a wonderful day…Mary
On March 18, 2010 at 8:49 am
Stella says:
When I’m making Lebanese and North African food, I always use olive oil. This is what my North African family uses, so I never really thought much about it. Just did as I saw! Margarine is sometimes used as a fat in baked goods too, but I personally never liked that. So I steered clear of it…
Interesting post!
On March 18, 2010 at 10:45 am
Stella says:
Oops, posted in the wrong area. The bunny is cute though!
On March 18, 2010 at 10:47 am
MAG says:
Wow Joumana, I admire your creativity 🙂 And I love the new site design/makeover, very nice 😉 By the way, the snow melted and here I am! LOL. Actually just got back from Lebanon. I had to run away from the cold!
On March 18, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Bo says:
Very cute idea!
On March 18, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Cool Lassi(e) says:
Dear,
I am so glad that you stopped by my spot yesterday. Equally glad that you liked my carrot halwa.
Would you be interested in participating in a giveaway? I have one going on right now. Check my latest post. There might be a prize that might interest you. 🙂
On March 18, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Stacy says:
You are so creative! This is adorable.
On March 18, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Melissa Peterman says:
So incredibly clever! And just in time for Easter!
On March 18, 2010 at 6:03 pm
5 Star Foodie says:
How cute and super creative, I love it!
On March 18, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Ivy says:
Very creative Joumana. Kids will love these.
On March 19, 2010 at 12:28 am
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella says:
What a fabulous idea Joumana! Hehe I love it and I need some ideas for easter-it’s coming up so soon! 😮
On March 19, 2010 at 4:20 am
Bria says:
Adorable. I might just have to set him free. By eating him 😉 Oh, and my friend Jenny introduced me to Pocky. They’re addictive!
On March 19, 2010 at 8:45 am
Danielle says:
What a cute idea for Easter! I’ll bet the kiddies get a real thrill when they see these!
On March 19, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Dimah says:
This is really cute! you are so creative!
On March 20, 2010 at 10:25 am
cmiranda says:
This rabbit is so cute but I don’t think I can ever bring myself to eating him.
On March 22, 2010 at 12:17 am
domi says:
Une jolie prison ou nombre de gourmands se laisseraient volontiers enfermés pour une ” incarcération ” chocolatée…
On March 18, 2011 at 2:48 pm