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Seder dessert for 25??

I was thinking of trying the flourless chocolate cake from the first Kosher by Design, or the version from Whole Foods.

This would be breaking my rule to not try out a new recipe on a large group, but the rest of my seder will be same-old same-old. (To be fair we have a traditional menu that my husband likes to stick to.)

Has anyone tried it and can I double it and make it in a disposable half-steam pan?

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  1. for a departure from chocolate, this Joan Nathan recipe has popped up in a lot of newspapers in the last couple of weeks: http://joannathan.com/notebook/joans-...

    this Alice Medrich torte is also a winner: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/20...

    for either one you could make 2 cakes, or modify the recipe for a large sheet cake.

    or just whip up a batch of matzo crack and some assorted KFP cookies and call it a day! ;


    but yes, you can absolutely bake the flourless chocolate cake in a larger disposable pan...you'll just need to increase the baking time slightly.

    and if you want to check out some other possibilities, there are tons of posts about various flourless chocolate cake recipes: http://www.chow.com/search?query=flou...

    6 Replies
    1. re: goodhealthgourmet

      My problem will be as always that I will have to do it all very quickly. Do you think that the flourless cake will work doubled in a large disposable pan?

      1. re: SoCal Mother

        I would not double a cake recipe and put it in a larger pan. You will have to adjust cooking temperature/time and it may be difficult to cook the center without burning the edges. You're better off doubling the recipe and then putting it into 2 pans of the size the recipe originally calls for.

        1. re: avitrek

          I was hoping to avoid buying a springform pan. I own SO much Pesach stuff. Thanks for helping me avoid a mess!!

          1. re: SoCal Mother

            You can probably buy an 8" or 9" disposable aluminum pan(whatever the recipe calls for). If it doesn't come out easily, just cut the pan.

          2. re: avitrek

            @avitrek, it can be done, it just requires a little adjusting.

            @SoCal Mother, you might be able to make the flourless cake in a disposable round pan if you grease the pan VERY well and line it with parchment...you can always pull/bend the sides away to help coax the cake out. just be sure not to crowd the oven if you make 2 (or 3) regular-sized cakes at once, because they'll bake unevenly.

            1. re: goodhealthgourmet

              I concur that the can can be done in a foil pan. Though I suspect that you will lose something in the presentation. i.e, you won't get the neat edges you can get from a springform pan.

              Plate it in the kitchen. Maybe with some berries on the plates.

      2. I know that this is very un-Chowound like but it sounds like too much work. During the seder dinner I will be in the process of having my guests drive me crazy by "helping" and I will not have much time on Monday to make a fussy dessert.

        I do appreciate all the helpful hints but I think I need something easier.

        9 Replies
        1. re: SoCal Mother

          no reason this can't be made Sunday.

          1. re: SoCal Mother

            Have you ever done fruit dipped in molten chocolate. It's the easiest thing. You melt good semi-sweet chocolate with margarine. And set it out with fruit, such as strawberries. You could also set out dried fruits and nuts, and things like apples and oranges inviting guests to peel and slice right a the table.

            You don't have to do anything erev chag. And, with 23 people, you simply assign someone to stir the chocolate and margarine together over a low flame while other people are clearing the dishes, servind tea and setting out the fruit for dipping.

            1. re: SoCal Mother

              honestly, if you don't have the time to make something you may be better off bringing it in. you can try one of the good Kosher bakeries like Eilat, Delice or Schwartz.

              1. re: SoCal Mother

                Here is something really easy. OC Kosher imports Country Pie and Pastry cakes that are KFP (from Israel via Brooklyn). They are frozen, and then you can defrost them in the refrigerator overnight. Wonderful tasting and a huge time saver - you would never know they are KFP. The chocolate mousse cake is about $10 and the tiramisu cake is $17. They have 2 other ones, but I can't remember what they are. The chocolate mousse cake is very rich, so slice it thinly. You would probably need 2 for 25 people.

                1. re: mamaleh

                  I will if I can find someone going. Our local Ralph's is carrying stuff that is just awful. They were giving samples out on Friday and tasting them convinced me to bake.

                  1. re: SoCal Mother

                    You should call and see if they are making any delivery runs to your area this week.

                    1. re: mamaleh

                      ordered one from a person who caters from the kitchen of a local shul. I will try to bake my own cake later in the week when I am under less pressure.

                      Thanks for everyone's help. Sometimes the best recipe is take out.

              2. Could someone give me the website address for OC Kosher imports Country Pie and Pastry . We are invited to Detroit for the end of the chag and I like the idea of sending some cakes.

                2 Replies
                1. re: lukfam

                  you misunderstood mamaleh's post - she was saying that OC Kosher (a business here in Southern CA) imports Country Pie & Pastry cakes for sale here locally.

                  1. re: lukfam

                    These cakes are shipped in frozen, and probably not the best for sending to Detroit. Try www.zeldas.net for shipping Pesach treats. They have a very good orange chiffon cake.

                  2. I am going to buy a KFP sponge cake from the store and slice it into one or two layers and fill it with strawberry jam and sliced almonds. I will then whip some non-dairy whipping cream with sugar and serve the cake with whipped cream. Should be a super easy dessert.

                    1. So I bought a delicious but overpriced flourless cake for the seder from someone who was catering a shul seder and did me a favor. During the end yomtov I tried the recipe from Kosher by Design. I made it in a half-steam pan and it was THE EXACT SAME CAKE as the one I bought.

                      We made a meat matzagna (ground beef with jarred pizza sauce layered with mazta with the fake cheese part made of egg and almond milk ) The meal was a big hit.