Celebrate International Women's Day with Desserts from these Famous Female Chefs
Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.
But what about their culinary achievements? Particularly, their culinary achievements in the best dessert that ever existed- the classic chocolate cake. Today I’m going to celebrate this favorite dessert alongside my celebration of women everywhere by honoring my four favorite chocolate cake recipes from my four favorite female chefs, in no particular order as they are all equally wonderful and create equally delicious desserts that make the world a better place.
Ina Garten is THE baking boss and a woman that can do no wrong. Everything she touches turns to delicious, decadent gold and I want her and her husband Jeffrey to be my best friends/fun aunt and uncle. Ina’s scrumptious chocolate cake is the key to my heart. Her secrets? Black coffee and utter awesomeness.
Damaris Phillips is the ultimate Southern chef, known for adding Kentucky Bourbon to almost everything she touches in one of my favorite cooking shows, Southern at Heart. While Ina’s cake was chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, Damaris amps hers up with a peanut butter frosting. And yes I’m suggesting adding a couple splashes of bourbon to the frosting to make it Kentucky-proud. (Damaris would approve I’m sure).
Ree Drummond may be from Oklahoma but I don’t hold that against her (I’m a Texas girl through and through and don’t even get me started on the Texas vs. Oklahoma college football debate). She is a woman who loves her children, husband and dogs and that shows in her baking. Especially in this chocolate sheet cake recipe she made for her son Todd’s 7th birthday. Okay it’s official I am starving now, thanks Ree.
This wouldn’t be a post about women chefs without THE most quintessential female chef of all time. Julia Child brought French cooking to America and light into my life with her Reine de Saba, (aka Chocolate Almond Cake), straight from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julia neglects to tell you to line the pan with parchment paper- do it because the cake WILL stick- but I won’t hold it against her. She’s perfection.
(believe me if I had found a chocolate cake recipe by the Streep it would have been in here too).
