Ahhh, but Laurel doesn't like chocolate!

One of my best friends doesn't like chocolate. Well, let me clarify that. She likes white chocolate. Vanilla. And my Halo Cake doesn't have just chocolate, but also vanilla layers. weeeeeeee! The GF white cake recipe is very unique- totally the Irish Lass's. And the reason is that chocolate is used to glue together the gluten free flours. That's why you only see chocolate cakes and carrot cakes (BLECH!) But I've found an incredibly delicious way of doing it:



















Gluten Free White Cake

1 block cream cheese, softened
3/4C sour cream
4 large eggs
1/4C shortening, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2C glutinous rice flour ** might need more if it's a humid day
1 C water
1/4C tapioca starch
1 1/2C powdered sugar
1 1/2tsp baking soda
1 1/2tsp glycerin (available at your cake stores!)
2 1/2tsp baking powder
2 tsp cream of tartar
3 tsp Xanthan gum


1. Beat the eggs and powdered sugar until medium peaks (it's harder than normal!)
2. Slowly add cubes of cream cheese- beat hard until throughly mixed.
3. Slowly add the sour cream, shortening, vanilla, and glycerin- mix throughly.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, tapioca starch, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, and xanthan gum.
5. slowly, add the flour mixture to the egg mixture. This will get stiff- you can beat it hard!
6. On low speed, add the water. If this is too stiff, add more water. If it's too loose add more rice flour.
7. Bake in a preheated, 350*F oven for:

For 2 pans, 9" each: 30-33minutes
For 2 cupcake pans, 12 each: 20-25minutes
For rectangle pans: 30 minutes (watch the corners)

Or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
8. cool in the pans until they are cool enough to remove the cakes. Then remove the cakes- don't wait until completely cool, or you'll never get it out!



















This is also really great for raspberry jam cake (that's another story).

Enjoy your goodies!
The Irish Lass

Halo Party!

I know, I know. There's a new game in town. Xbox 360.

It's also still $600, including the 4 controllers and Halo3. I've played it. I'm unimpressed. They changed the controls on me! Grrr.

I digress. I love Halo. The original. Even Halo2 (but the boards are SO big). My beloved threw me a party this weekend (hence the delay in the column) and we played. Lots of us.

I won

Just a few, but mannnnnnnnn ;) LOL!
And during Halo, you need refreshments. You need something that is easy to eat, not sticky. We had cake. Oh, glorious cake. (I MIGHT have gone a LITTLE overboard:) This recipe is actually based off of a recipe that I found at MGIG, but theirs was dry, heavy, nasty. Here's the improved version:



Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Cake

3/4C sour cream (make sure it's GF)
4 whole large eggs
1/4C shortening, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
60z Dutch cocoa powder (or Hershey's is fine)
1 1/2C glutinous rice flour
1C water
1/4C tapioca starch
1 1/3C white, granulated sugar
3 tsp Xanthan gum
1 1/2tsp baking soda
2 1/2tsp baking powder
1 1/2tsp glycerin (You can find this at Michaels or your local cake store)


1. With an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar to soft peaks.
2. Add sour cream and shortening, slowly, and mix well.
3. Mix in the vanilla, glycerin, and cocoa powder (I recommend sifting the cocoa first)
4. In a separate mixing bowl, sift together the rice flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, and baking powder. If you don't have a sifter, then just mix together with a fork.
5. Slowly mix in the flour mixture into the egg mixture. This will get stiff- it's fine to beat at high speed (no glutens will get stiff here!).
6. Slowly, mix in the water. You may have to add more water. To test: take a heaping spoonful of batter on a tablespoon, and allow to drip off. If the batter does not first drip off in 7 seconds, add more water, 1/4C at a time.
7. Bake as described, in well greased pans:

For Cupcakes (2 pans of 12 regular-sized) bake at 345*F for 20 to 25minutes.
For Cakes (2 pans, each 9" diameter) bake at 350*F for 30minutes

8. Be sure to release the cake/cupcakes while they are still warm, or they will stick to the pan.


The topping in the picture is fondant "frosting". It's actually more of a white taffy, than a real frosting. It's what you find on wedding cakes. (and Ace of Cakes- LOVE that show!). If you want to know how I did that, you'll have to check back!





















Enjoy the goodies!
The Irish Lass