Cake Flavors & Fillings

I have to be honest that I am a pretty picky eater and because of that I tend not to venture out on flavors when it comes to baking.  I can ALWAYS try something new but if I don't like it....how do I know if it's good?

I did test a new flavor this week for a cake that I took to work and it got fabulous reviews.  I always have people asking me about flavors so I thought I'd dedicate this post to some of my favorite flavor combination's.  So, here it goes......

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Chocolate.....  This is the newest flavor (and probably my favorite at this point) that I have added to my recipe box.  I started with a standard chocolate fudge cake.  Prepared a tasty, creamy peanut butter filling by combining peanut butter, cream cheese and a few other ingredients.  The peanut butter filling was spread between two layers of chocolate cake and the entire thing covered in a chocolate butter cream frosting.  What could be better than chocolate and peanut butter together?  This could also be done with cupcakes. 

Banana, Caramel..... Another one of my favorites.  I have to thank my grandma for making me a banana cake lover when I was younger.  This is the go-to cake when she wants to bake me something special.  This cupcake is pictured at the top of this post.  It is a moist banana cake, topped with a caramel butter cream frosting.  To make these cupcakes extra special, I then drizzle caramel over and top with chopped walnuts.  I have only done this in a cupcake form due to the consistency of the frosting.  I must add that for me, this frosting is addictive.  I am not a "frosting/icing person"....but this....wow!

Vanilla, Strawberry Cream, Cream Cheese/Vanilla.....  Another favorite of many of my cake customers is the strawberry cream filling.  It really is a great summer flavor but suitable for any time of year.  I have used this mostly with a french vanilla cake or cupcake.  I fill the layers of a cake or fill the cupcake with a strawberry cream filling.  The filling is made with strawberries and real heavy cream that is cooked until thick.  When I make cupcakes the I mostly use a cream cheese frosting.  It adds just the right amount of sweetness to the cupcake.  I have used a traditional vanilla butter cream frosting frosting when I make a cake with these flavors and I have to say it's just as delicious! 

Red Velvet, Cream Cheese....  I found a fantastic recipe for red velvet cake that has received a thumbs up from lots of people!  If you remember from my post back in 2010, I made red velvet cupcakes for my dad and Sue's wedding.  People went crazy over them.  I have always used a cream cheese frosting with the red velvet cake and it's just perfect.

Those are some of my favorite, fun flavors but I constantly get requests for the good old.... chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream...... white cake with either vanilla or chocolate butter cream....and even have had some requests for lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting (another of my favorites!).

I have tons of recipes that I have found that are sitting, waiting for me to try them but time always seems to be an issue!  As I try some of these new flavors, you will definitely be the first to know how they turned out!