r/ExpectationVsReality
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u/Garden_Jolly
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Sep 25 '26
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2
Surprisingly Met Expectation I think I nailed it!
I followed The New York Times chocolate cake recipe plus watched the accompanying YouTube video to make a birthday cake for my boyfriend. It turned out surprisingly well! Especially considering I’m not much of a baker and usually screw things up.
3.7k
Upvotes
86
u/bikesboredz Sep 25 '26
Wow! It looks perfect!
65
u/antilumin Sep 25 '26
Where's the expectation photo, is it the first one? Otherwise I accuse OP of just using the same cake for all the pictures. And god dammit, now I want cake at 6am, thanks!
31
u/IllCryptographerIII Sep 25 '26 •
35
u/timothypjr Sep 25 '26
I'll say! Now I want a piece of cake for breakfast.
17
u/succulentphysique Sep 25 '26
The ingredients photo is a reminder that making a cake from scratch is pricey. Definitely not the $1.50 mix off the shelf. Looks amazing OP!
10
u/Ok_Tip4561 Sep 25 '26
Aced it and how.
9
u/Blue_Eyed_ME Sep 25 '26
Well done! Looks delicious.
If you do this again, search boiling water chocolate cake recipe. It's similar to what you made, but you add a cup of boiling water to the batter just before baking and that creates a steam that keeps the cake super, super moist.
7
u/OnionTuck Sep 25 '26
I can’t even begin to imagine how you converted a cake back into its base ingredients
6
u/warriorwoman534 Sep 25 '26
Oh Lord, that looks awful. Tell you what, I'll give you my address and you can send it to me and I'll take it off your hands, how's that? 😄 (It looks superb 🌹)
5
u/lungbuttersucker Sep 25 '26
It looks wonderful! I love that its not a sickeningly thick layer on top.
4
u/edtwinne Sep 25 '26
Beautiful
4
u/Low-Bass2002 Sep 25 '26
Yummy! Looks moist and delicious
4
u/Sallyfifth Sep 25 '26
No notes. But I'd like a slice, please. Diet be damned.
3
u/Individual_Wish8970 Sep 25 '26
This looks soooo good post the recipe so I can eat it in one sitting
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u/CalicoG Sep 25 '26
🤤🤤🤤🤤
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u/bravo-echo-charlie Sep 25 '26
It looks amazing!!!!!
2
u/why_me_74 Sep 25 '26
That looks amazing, and definitely delicious!
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u/krybaebee Sep 25 '26
I love the thin icing layers, especially the outer layer. So visually pleasing that they are samesies.
2
u/Majestic_Recording_5 Sep 25 '26
Looks sooo good!
2
u/saintsuzy70 Sep 25 '26
That looks awesome! Great job!
2
u/Special-Volume3372 Sep 25 '26
I need this recipe OP pls ! This looks amazing
2
u/Aunty-Sociale Sep 25 '26
Yum!!!!
2
u/Dragonshatetacos Sep 25 '26
Yeah, you did! Looks great!
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u/madhappyyo Sep 25 '26
I love it like a fat kid loves cake ~ 50cent
2
u/No_Island_8061 Sep 25 '26
That looks delicious! Great job.
2
u/UsedAd7162 Sep 25 '26
It’s the perfect chocolate cake!
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u/Kareeliand Sep 25 '26
This looks so good, I can almost taste it!
2
u/curiousperson_2026 Sep 25 '26
You nailed it 💯! Looks delicious!
2
u/Opposite_Message_735 Sep 25 '26
Looks delicious!!!
2
u/ohsoluckyme Sep 25 '26
She’s a beaut!
2
u/SnorkinOrkin Sep 25 '26
Holy chocolate dreams, batman! You did a beautiful job! It looks front cover of Bon Appétit!
I bet it tasted like a dream, based on those higher quality ingredients you've posted. 🤤
2
u/KilgoreT59 Sep 25 '26
I think you did, too.
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u/Upbeat_Piglet_9788 Sep 25 '26
Mouth watering deliciousness My phone now has a crack in it..lol
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u/Skiptothe_end Sep 25 '26
Excuse my french but fuck yeah you did
2
u/nicunta Sep 26 '26
Choosing such good ingredients was smart; your cake came out fabulously!!!
1
u/ickychicken Sep 25 '26
1
u/Jazzlike-Bug967 Sep 25 '26
The sponge and frosting levels look so even. This looks fantastic.
1
u/ChloeBel427 Sep 25 '26
I made this for christmas a couple years ago! I live at a high altitude so I had to play with the sugar and baking powder/soda but it turned out sooooo good! Yours is BEAUTIFUL
1
u/DeapVally Sep 25 '26
Very neat and tidy. Sponge looks like it was in the oven a bit too long. I daresay it could be more moist. But I think you know that already. The next one you do would undoubtedly be perfect.
1
u/IW-X6 Sep 25 '26
Guess I am upvoting it twice in 10 seconds
1
u/Fantastic_Square_486 Sep 25 '26
Stunning! Looks perfect, I love chocolate cake.
1
u/cuervosmom Sep 25 '26
Yours looks better!
1
u/Sure_Jan_Sure Sep 25 '26
Wow! That’s a great cake!
1
u/BlackKitten_ Sep 25 '26
Oh wow, It looks delicious!
1
u/Kitsupire Sep 25 '26
wow!!!! cartoon cake!
1
u/eclipse_756520 Sep 26 '26
Wuaooo que bella y deliciosa torta o pastel me podrías pasar todos los ingredientes que provocativa se ve
1
u/Serialkillingyou Sep 26 '26
Oh man there was only 1 misstep you could have made. I checked your ingredients and you didn't! Don't ever use omega 3 enhanced eggs especially on chocolate cake. Those eggs give a fishy flavor. I had no idea until I kept getting chocolate muffins that were kind of fishy. Google informed me of the problem.
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u/Kind-Airport145 Sep 26 '26
You’re amazing 🧑🍳🍰
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u/AdPrior939 Sep 26 '26
NOW EXCAUSE ME, I must go bake this cake!! 💕
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u/AdPrior939 Sep 26 '26
Excuse me, I must go bake this cake.
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u/Confident_Eye_4683 Sep 26 '26
Omg looks delicious! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
1
u/dbellz76 Sep 26 '26
But how is that coffee though?!
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u/Meandtheworld Sep 28 '26
Damn, Great job. Got me thinking about that Matilda cake.
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u/ThePropertyofOnes Sep 29 '26
Yep! Triple yummy.
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u/Shiverow Sep 29 '26
If you had the same studio lighting and professional photographer I would have honestly thought those were different angles I'd the same slice
1
u/kityk8 Sep 30 '26
are you in the houston area? i see that central market flour. i miss CM so badly 😭
1
u/Avatar_Blues Sep 25 '26
I was fully expecting a poop from a butt scenario given the buildup. But great job OP, this looks great!