A happy birthday to you if today happens to be the day you came into the world xx years ago!  If it has already passed, still, happy birthday, gal/pal!

So...what was your birthday cake for this year?  Did you have a pro make it? Or did you DIY?

Because I did. 😎

(This is going to be a long post! You've been warned!)

Banana Chocolate Cake

Have you ever paid attention to recipes on boxes of flour and sugar?  On the containers of cocoa powder?   On the cartons of cream?  No?  Yes?  My answer?  I usually don't.  I usually just throw the box and not even glance on whatever was printed on the back.

I can be such a real recipe snob.

But it's never too late to change all that!

Taisan (Filipino Chiffon Cake)

Ever been to a Goldilocks store?  You most probably have seen a loaf enveloped in a golden crust, topped with butter, sugar and cheese.  You most probably caved in and bought one.  Or two.  You most probably couldn't wait til you get home and enjoy a slice or even finish the entire thing.

Coffee can help you down all that goodness.  They are a perfect pair, believe me.

And that's what we're making today, folks!  Taisan a la Goldi's!

Chocolate Cherry Cake

The original plan was to make mini cakes.  Mini Black Forest cakes, that is.  I looked for recipes on the Web and there are a lot.  Some range from doable to 'oh dear maybe next time' complicated.  Some use store-bought cherry pie filling while some cook up their own.  Some use liquors while others leave it out.  Some use only this kind of cherries while some use that kind of cherries...and so on!

It seems everyone has their own way of making Black Forest cake and whatever works for them, great!  Right?

Mocha Hazelnut Streusel Loaf

If you grew up or stayed for sometime in the PH, you may or may not have had a slice of Goldilocks' mocha cake.  Yes, it's the one with the mega buttery frosting and the mega delicious coffee-flavored chiffon.

This little babe of a loaf right here tastes pretty close to that.

Dare I say that this, even without frosting, tastes better?

Matcha Pistachio Pound Cake

One afternoon, my mom and I were at a coffee shop.  I ordered their tiny chocolate chip cookies (emphasis on tiny) and a soda while my mom got a matcha muffin and tea.

I didn't think it was a legit matcha muffin because it wasn't green.  I took a bite.  Then another.  Oh my glob.  The muffin itself was lovely and tender and had a very faint aftertaste of something good (clue: it's the matcha doing its thang). Needless to say, I liked it very, very much.

That very day I announced (mentally) that I shall bake anything matcha as soon as possible!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

Do you love chocolate?

How about salted caramel?

What if you put those two together in cake form?

Chocolate Cake with Whipped Chocolate Buttercream

Have you ever thought about baking a cake?

How many cake recipes do you have bookmarked?  How often do you ogle at such beautiful creations (hello, Linda Lomelino) and wonder when you'll be able to produce anything just as great?

Does the idea of making a cake starting with the layers to the frosting and then assembling/decorating daunt you?

If you're a pro, I'll understand that it doesn't.  Or maybe it still does.  But the point is there's just something about making your own cake that is intimidating but oh so satisfying altogether!