EmotionalBaking

Feel. Bake. Better.
Emotional Baking
divided coffee swirl cake.
I feel divided, of two minds, conflicted. Which way should I go – this way or that? *Or* this way or that? All this jumping back and forth is unsettling. While I’m weighing my thoughts (and getting down to the business of answers), I think I’ll bake.
I'm feeling...
something that’s a literal (tongue in cheek) representation of the mood,
something to satisfy both sides of my mind,
something with a jolt of caffeine to keep my thoughts moving,
something that wraps coffee in a fluffy, cake-blanket...
TLDR:
  • I’m divided
  • I’ll bake
  • Coffee Swirl Cake
  • Coffee, Fluffy, Cake-blanket
  • Together
This cake has two distinct layers that work together to create one complete and perfectly balanced flavour. While the flavours taste great separately, they are better together - very much in defiance of the “two minds” vibe.
coffee swirl cake.
Print Recipe
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Prep time: 20 minutes, Bake time: 25-30 minutes
Makes: 1 loaf cake
Ingredients
  • 1 ¼ cups + 2 ½ tbsp (164 g) all purpose flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ cup + 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (184 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp instant coffee
  • ¾ tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp hot water
Instructions
One thing’s for sure – I want cake!!
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
In a medium bowl, sift the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the instant coffee and the ¾ tsp sugar together. Set aside.
This prep-work is a cinch – it’s getting me out of my conflicted mood (albeit temporarily). It’s a nice breather!
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the oil and 1 cup sugar together for one minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well, until the mixture is light, about 3 minutes.
Fold half of the flour mixture into the oil mixture. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla, then fold in the remaining of the flour mixture until well-mixed. Set aside.
Mini steps are nice to sink into.
Add 1 tbsp hot water to the coffee sugar mixture. Set aside.
Remove a half cup of the batter and add it to the coffee water mixture and mix well. Set aside.
It smells soooo good.
Liberally coat a loaf pan with spray oil, then add parchment paper to it. Pour the vanilla batter into the pan. Drop the coffee batter by the spoonful into the vanilla batter then swirl it all together.
Fun! Plus, the effort up until now has been a piece of cake (had to).
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Let the cake rest in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack.
This cake comes together in the most delightful way –like thoughts and decisions do when you shift your focus toward something else, something simple. This baking has done that for me. And now, I eat cake!
divided coffee swirl cake.
divided coffee swirl cake.
(Recipe and Photos courtesy of Emotional Baking©)
EB
Feel. Bake. Better.
It’s not just about baking something to get you through the day.
It’s not about eating the whole tray to feel better.
It’s about getting lost in the process.
It’s about enjoying every moment.
It’s about sharing it with people that support and care about you.
Baking can be a lot of things – it can be distracting but simple, it can be movement with focus, it can be whatever you need when you need it. Choose a recipe to fit the mood and it becomes a useful tool as well – baking to quiet the mind, to connect with your emotions, or simply baking to feel emotional. Just think of the feelings you get and the emotions you experience when baking your favourite dessert…. excitement, relief, fulfillment, joy, accomplishment.
At Emotional Baking, our recipes can be the starting point to somewhere - it can lead you to a place of great comfort, one that feels like the beginning of something, something good...
A note for anyone who needs it:
Baking, while wonderful, can only help so much...
If you’re struggling in any way,
If you feel alone or you need help,
Contact your primary care physician or follow the links below to find help in your area. You are never alone!
For Canada:
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/looking-for-local-resources-support/
or
http://worldhelplines.org/canada.html
For United States:
http://worldhelplines.org/usa.html
Worldwide:
http://worldhelplines.org/
Emotional Baking
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