Cake #22 - 12 Layer Mocha

This was supposed to be our "graduation" cake.  And it was supposed to happen over Labor Day Weekend to mark the end of the 30 cakes in 52 weeks.  It is the creme de la creme of all cakes.  It has 12 layers for pete's sake.  Mocha, chocolate, frosting, yum!  But, as the delinquency post pointed out, not so much for the timing or order of these cakes.  

Turns out I was visiting my mom over Labor Day Weekend and she likes herself a cake project too, so we set out to do this one together.  I figured the more help, the merrier, plus with all the effort involved, we really needed a group around to appreciate.  

What I wound up appreciating was my mom.  Who had to clean up my mess and who had the time and energy to re-do the merengue layer from what I originally screwed up.  

See, we wanted to get to the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show in time to see the opening act, which left me with no time to re-do the layer that was royally messed up.  

The merengue layer was a problem.  I believe I had the oven too high and the timing all wrong.  As you can see below, I burnt it to a crisp, and thought it was supposed to be like that.  

Another part I messed up was the mocha filling.  I did this in 2 stages as well, and the filling did not benefit.  By the time we were back from the ski show, I thought I'd whip up the frosting and assemble.  But from the show came my teenage nephews and their teenage girlfriends who saddled up to the island and watched.  Finally I got to cook all Batali style and show my stuff.  But what I showed was how to make mocha look like oatmeal soup.  Oooof.  It required a LOT of blending to thicken that up.  And one of the emo girlfriends piped in with a suggestion, so I looked at her incredulously, until it sunk in that she knew how to cook and was right.  Only then did I let her have a go at the beaters, and it worked.  We finally got this baby assembled.  

And it . was . good.

I do want to make this one again in my kitchen while I am focused on it.  It wasn't sooooo amazing that everyone will remember it, but it could be one of those cakes that I make for every X holiday and becomes a go to cake.  For the effort though, I am not likely to make this for just Ben & me on a Tuesday night.  

And, I have to say, doing the "graduation" cake early, made me lose a little steam for the remaining 8 cakes.  

Hey, maybe my occasion for this one will be "graduations".  

The uber-burned merengue.