Daring Bakers July Challenge: Filbert Gateau with Praline Buttercream

Wow. Where has this month gone? My posting (or lack thereof) may make it seem that I haven't been baking this month; on the contrary! I have been baking, but had a couple things I didn't like (and I tend to get a bit cranky when things aren't as perfect as I'd like) and a few others I have neglected to take pictures of...and then a few more projects that are still sitting in my camera, waiting to be downloaded.

What can I say? Its summer. Its hot. I *still* don't have air conditioning. Tomorrow it's being installed though! Ugh.

I was so excited when I joined the Daring Bakers last month, and I was wriggling with excitement to find out what the challenge was. I was not disappointed by this months host pick.


This is quite the cake. Plan to spend an evening getting the basic ingredients together (making pralines, praline paste, sugar syrup, cake layers) and then get up the next morning and tackle the swiss meringue buttercream and putting the whole thing together. Sure, you could do it all in one day, but save yourself the stress and spread it out a bit. Your sanity will thank you!


I am pleased to say this recipe presented no problems for me. The only substitutions I made from the original recipe is that I didn't use an apricot glaze to crumb coat the cake; instead, I simply did a crumb coat in the praline buttercream. My tipple of choice for the cake was Captain Morgan Dark Rum, and it held up wonderfully. All the flavors meshed together in perfect harmony.

The only faux pas I encountered was that I was a bit eager to complete the cake and I poured my ganache a bit too soon; it was a bit on the warm-side and did not give me as thick of a coat as I would have liked. Nevertheless, I think it looked great. Everyone who tried the cake--from my parents all the way down to my almost-2 year old--LOVED it. My husband has asked me to try to re-create it in cupcake form, he liked it that much! And while I did as well, that will have to be a winter project...its just too darn hot in the summer to muck about without air conditioning.

I am so pleased to have made this cake. It encompassed so many techniques! I learned so much. Please see Mele Cotte's blog for the recipe with full instructions. Try this recipe sometime-you won't be disappointed !