I recently tasted a most delightful cake called Beethoven’s Symphony that was moist, slightly dense with a light chewiness that I particularly enjoy in chocolate cakes.

I would best describe this as an upscale version of the classic, old-fashioned, traditional chocolate cake. It is neither too sweet nor too bitter. Each layer is slathered generously with custard filling making it perfectly balanced.

It falls into the category of desserts that border on the delicious but not overly so, which is why it is memorable. What sets the traditional chocolate cake and this apart, is the mouth feel, the depth of flavor.

With each bite of Beethoven’s Symphony your taste buds can tell that only premium ingredients were used. Once tasted, it stays in your memory.

Baker with a mission
Beethoven’s Symphony was the first product of a baker with a mission. She wishes to remain anonymous, though.
The lady describes herself as a bake-at-home mom. She started Baking a Difference, a home-based bakeshop with her sister-in-law who’s a cake decorator in October 2013. It was borne simply out of her love for baking and her desire to raise funds for her favorite charities that include Philippine Christian Foundation, Tzu Chi Foundation, and Empowering Young Minds Foundation.

“This way,” she explained, “I would not have to keep asking for donations and if people buy from us, it gives them the chance to give and share, too.”

The baker added, “Since I do not bake for profit, I have the liberty to use all the best and healthiest ingredients I can find.”

In the beginning, with the help of a friend whom she called an angel, the ingredients were shipped from San Francisco. Over time, however, she started sourcing locally. The foreign brands she luckily found at Healthy Options.

“There was a nagging question in my head,” she said. “What will my cakes taste like if I did not skimp and made use of only the best? Unbleached flour, no aluminum baking powder or soda, premium chocolates, etc.?”

The baker quelled her thoughts by doing just that!

Baking a Difference has not only maintained the quality of its baked goods, but has expanded its product line to include cookies, brownies, muffins and cupcakes.

“What you pay for goes to only three things—the ingredients, the packaging and the charities,” she said. “Our hope is simply to feed and educate less fortunate children.”

Call Baking a Difference at (+63) 943-3937842.

Homemade treat

Here’s one treat you can give as a gift this Christmas shared by chef Buddy Trinidad of Park Avenue Desserts.

Banana Cake
235 grams vegetable oil
200 g granulated sugar
220 g brown sugar
4 whole eggs
2 tbsp glucose or corn syrup
2 tbsp mayonnaise
330 g mashed fresh banana
310 g all-purpose flour
5 baking powder, baking soda and salt
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine oil and sugars in a mixer and with a paddle, mix on medium speed.
• Add the eggs one by one.
• Add glucose and mayonnaise.
• Add mashed banana.
• Combine dry ingredients.
• Mix the dry ingredients into the egg mixture by hand, folding, using a rubber spatula.
• Pour in parchment paper lined 3×5 loaf pans and bake for 10 minutes.
• Turn the oven down to 300 degrees and turn the pan around. Bake 10 minutes more.
• Remove when cake springs back when touched. Allow to cool.