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We've had quite a bit of time this year to get in a festive and patriotic mood. Months, actually. We started back when the skies were a moody gray, tree branches bare and lonely, the now verdant, green grass a somber shade of tan and my lovely herb garden was a mass of lifeless twigs .................
................. but it was fun, back in January thinking about summer and its warm, lazy, seemingly neverending, sun-kissed days. We were commissioned by The California Avocado Commission to create, style and photograph a number of new avocado recipes. They requested two birthday-style cakes, one with a general, any-time-of-the-year theme and the other with a festive, Fourth of July theme.
So we went to town, scouring our attic, local stores and online sources for red, white and blue. It's not easy to find Independence Day-themed decorations in January, but with a bit of super sleuthing, we came up with some fun props.
If you're a follower of The Café, you may remember me posting the other avocado cake, a few months ago; California Avocado Cake with Raspberry Filling and Key Lime Buttercream. It was super delicious, but we wanted something a bit different this time. Though the cake itself is the same recipe, the icing on this one is in a category all it's own. Imagine a rich, decadent, fudgy, chocolate buttercream..... with very little butter!
How does that work, you may ask? Well, like many of the avocado recipes we've created, the avocado (a wonderfully heart-healthy fat) takes the place of other not-so-good-for-you fats. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical of substituting avocado for much of the traditional butter in this recipe, but the results are amazing; very moist and flavorful. The icing is lick-the-bowl-clean delicious and the addition of avocado makes it very creamy. It spreads, swirls and/or twirls (depending on how you like to decorate) like a dream!
I had fun with the decorating as you can see. The piping technique looks fancy, but it's really quite simple. You can find the recipe here on the California Avocado Commission's website and the piping particulars here. Check it out.... and while you're there, nose around a bit. You'll just be amazed at the wonderful recipes and the culinary versatility of the fabulous avocado. Move over, Guacamole!!!
P.S. Oh and btw, if you don't feel like fussing with a layer cake, this recipe can just as easily be made in a 9x13 inch pan with the icing spread on top. Just for fun, you might want to keep it your secret about the avocados, until they start raving about the cake, then you can spill the healthy beans avocados!
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I just found this recipe when I searched for "4th of July" recipes on your site. A friend just received her citizenship documentation and is having a celebration on March 16. When I clicked on the link for icing instructions, it no longer works. Could you please send that link? The cake is incredible and worthy of celebration!
Thank you,
Emily
Hi Emily, sadly I don't have that recipe. It was on the California Avocado site but it's been years and they no longer feature that cake.
This cake is a masterpiece! Really!
I love it!
A kiss
Nina di Fragola e Cannella
What a wonderful creation Chris! I'm so loving all your avocado recipes. I'm saving them away for when my tree fruits in a couple of years!
What an incredible cake - so pretty!! I still need to bake with avocado, but it is on my list!! They just get eaten too quickly when I buy them 🙂
All I can say is, wow, this is spectacular! That frosting is calling my name, but I may get lazy and just make cupcakes!
I never tell my family about any of the "secret ingredients" until after they've tried it! With a cake this gorgeous, no one would ever guess.
Great decorating and food styling! Really fun pictures. Great cake too - loads of flavor. Fun post - thanks.
This is just spectacular!Congratulations,dear Chris!
You continue to amaze me with the sweet treats you make with avocados! Amazing. This is one stunning cake and I bet it was moist and delicious!!!!
Chris, I had seen this glorious cake on the California Avocado Commission website that I visited the other day and I knew that it was your breathtaking creation - I showed it to my kids and I must admit I am in awe of your talent!
Have a fabulous weekend my dear friend!
I'm stoked at the thought of replacing butter with avocado - not for health, but because I just adore avocados! This cake is fabulous, literally. 😀
July 4th is my favorite holiday and this would make it even better!!
Wow, another wonderful avocado recipe! And that cake...so beautifully decorated! It must take a ton of patient to do the finishing touches! Would love to try a slice!
I can't wait to try this and kudos to you for finding the decorations out of season. You and the California Avocado Commission make a perfect pair.
What a beautiful and delicious looking cake. I bet the avocado made it so creamy and tasty.
Chris, this is simply spectacular!! SO beautiful and I can see how totally delicious this gorgeous cake is - you've done SUCH a wonderful job - congratulations!!
Mary x
It's a beautiful cake! And it looks quite quite good:)
Oh wow, how incredibly beautiful is this cake! Amazing flavor, too. Perfect for celebrating the Fourth!
brilliant , chris! love all the colours here, so festive!
what can I say other than YUM!! and I love the theme too! You guys are a great team! But then you already knew that!! 🙂
You are the master of beautiful ribbon cakes. That photo belongs on a magazine cover - absolutely beautiful. I think the avocado sounds delicious and I bet it adds a smooth creaminess that is awesome! Thanks for the note Chris - we have been so busy with major home projects, our daughters wedding and out of town company. I hope to get back in the swing of things next week!
This is so cool! I've seen avocado paired with chocolate, but never used to make a cake. I'm very impressed!
Very festive and beautiful!
Beautiful Chris and I bet it's super flavorful! Happy 4th to y'all!
Look amazing Chris!!
Wow. Congratulations on providing the recipe to the commission and getting your name up there like that. Very awesome. Well deserved too. The cake is beautiful!
I do remember the avocado cake, who could have thought it could be made better?
What a smart idea!
I didn't see any instructions on how to pipe the frosting on the link you provided. Would you please explain it further on what decorating tip you used and how you did it. Thank you.
Your decorating of these cakes is beyond stupendous! Perfect, perfect, perfect (yet unexpected) dessert for the Fourth! You two outdid yourselves.
But there would be no comparison w/ a sheet cake!
This is FIREWORKS in a cake:)
Love all the flalfla surrounding the cake..so patriotic..so festive..
You are very creative!
That table is a dream Chris! Beautiful!!!! Love how you frosted the cake... Hope you have a great 4th of July
The cake looks great and fun decorations! I love the close up of the icing:@)
Chris, your cake looks amazing. I mean you MUST open your own bakery! Seriously, I'd be in line like the for the soup nazi....lol! The pictures are fantastic and the color so celebratory!
Such a festive cake, Chris! Well done, this is perfect for the 4th!