Oven Baked Chocolate Chip Pancake Cake

Yesterday I had a strong urge to eat pancake. I'm not those type of person who categorizes dishes according to time of the day. I usually eat whatever I want whenever I want. Most people would say pancakes are best eaten during breakfast. But I'd say pancakes are best eaten ANYTIME of the day. Be it breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Pancakes make a good dessert too, if you serve them like I do. Chocolate all the way !

Psstt...don't mind me. I don't eat healthily so that's why I don't care much of what I eat. 

So yesterday I made this gorgeous, yummy pancake cake. I love pancakes but it's very tedious to prepare them the usual way. Pour one ladle of batter on the pan and wait for it to be golden brown, flip it over and wait some more. That way is definitely not for me. So I went on google oven-baked pancakes and voila ! Thousands of recipes to choose from. Me likey ! In the end, I chose a recipe that makes the pancake cake just the way I want it. Basically, I just need to know what temperature I should heat my oven to and how long should I bake the pancake. 

When I look at the end result it looked pretty blah to me. So I decided to put some chocolate layer on top of the cake. I melt some semisweet chocolate chip and pour them on top of the cake.

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TADAAA !!!

The cake can be enjoyed with a cup of hot chocolate and your favourite book. Yummmssss !

Everyone in the house loves it. Even my dad ! He usually tend to not eat anything that I cook that is out of the ordinary. When I cooked pasta, he never eat them. When I baked brownies, he didn't touch them. But last night, when I was helping myself to second he asked me to cut him a slice. Wow whee ! Imagine how glad I was.

It made me very happy when someone appreciates what I cooked. =)

So the ingredients are....

• 1 1/4 cup buttermilk pancake mix ( I used the ones that just need to add water )
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp sugar ( I used 1 1/2 tbsp. )
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chip

Methods

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees Celcius. Grease cake pan with butter and make sure you cover all the surface of the cake pan. This to ensure your pancake will not stick to the pan. If using nonstick, it is also advisable to grease the pan lightly. ( I used 8 inch round nonstick cake pan. )

2. Mix all the ingredients except chocolate chips until completely well mixed. Then, fold in the chocolate chips into the pancake mixture.

3. Pour the batter in the cake pan and place the pan in the oven for 22-25 minutes. ( I left the pan in the oven for 23 minutes. )

4. Cool for a while before serve.

Chocolate Chunk Brownies

Two weeks ago I borrowed my aunt's square cake tin to make chocolate brownies. No, not from scratch. As an introduction to baking I used the Betty Crocker's Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix. You know, just to see whether I have the potential of a baker.

So, the ingredients are.....

• 1 box of Betty Crocker Hershey's Chocolate Chunk browne mix
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg ( I used 2 eggs for more cakelike brownies )
• Butter / cooking spray for greasing the pan

Method....

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees Celcius. Grease cake pan with butter and make sure you cover all the surface of the cake pan. This to ensure your brownie will not stick to the pan. If using nonstick, it is also advisable to grease the pan lightly. ( I used 13 inches square pan. The brownie turned out to be thinner than usual brownies. )

2. Mix all the ingredients, except butter, in a mixing bowl until completely mixed together.

3. Pour the batter in the greased cake pan. Make sure the edges of the pan is covered by the batter.

4. Place the pan in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle came out with a few crumbs on it. ( I put inserted the toothpick after 23 minutes and it came out clean. )

5. Cool the brownies in the pan on the cooling rack before cutting it.

What was the ending product look like ?

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TADAAAAAA !!!

I didn't came up with the frosting or anything because there was no whipped cream/heavy cream/chocolate bars can be found in the kitchen. I find the texture a little on the fudgy side instead of cakelike. I don't know where I went wrong, but in the end the brownies tasted good. I don't mind making it again next time. 

A brand new start.

So for these past few weeks I have been inspired to be in the kitchen and produce myself all the favourite dishes and desserts that caught my attention. Be warn that I have zero knowledge of baking and cooking that the kitchen is a lot of mess whenever I set foot in it to (attempt) cook. So do not expect anything gourmet or upscale recipes here. 

I have always loved baking. Not the act of baking per se, but the idea of it. My aunt has been baking layer cakes since forever ! Maybe all these years growing up watching and tasting her delicious, scrumptious cakes that I have developed my fondness to baking. Only this year that I have the courage to actually attempt on baking anything.

My mother is fully on-board with this project of mine that she doesn't mind spending some of her money to buy the utensils that are needed in order for me to proceed. I know that deep down she would like to bake too, but she's too a pessimist to act upon her desire. She just thinks too much before doing something and not much of a risk taker, that's all. I think she channelled her desire through me, which explains why she supports what I intended to do.

The idea of writing a blog for my baking project is solely to record what I have accomplished. I don't think my blog is worthy enough to be followed, like other baking blogs that I have been reading lately. Bisous A Toi, Bakerella, Bakingdom, Sprinkle Bakes and Closet Cooking to name a few. Those blog owners really know what they are doing and produce a well-balanced recipes and creative as well. They really inspired the baker in me.

Besides brushing up my baking (and cooking) skills, I intended to practice my photography as well. Most food blogger photographs their food to make sure the readers are intrigued by the photos. I sure did when I went through those food blogs. It made me want to produce the same food myself. So, yeah. to learn more on food photography is definitely in my to-do list.

Again, I would like to remind you that all the recipes in this blog will be posted for my record.