Carrot Chocolate Chip Cakes and Pâtisserie Review
If you’re looking for a really quick and easy bake to feed a crowd, you won’t go far wrong with these carrot chocolate chip cakes. They’re sweet and flavoursome and contain chocolate. The surprising thing about them is that the recipe comes from William & Suzue Curley’s book Patisserie.
Last year, I won a copy of William Curley’s book Couture Chocolate. It’s an excellent tome giving insights and detailed instructions on making chocolates and chocolate pâtisserie. Every aspiring chocolatier should have one. William Curley was the youngest ever Chef Pâtissier at The Savoy and has won numerous awards in the world of chocolate and pastry.
Patisserie
This year the publisher, Jacqui Small sent me a copy of his newest book Pâtisserie. He’s written this one jointly with his wife Suzue Curley, a pâtissiere whose work is influenced by her Japanese background. Endorsed by renowned pâtissier, Pierre Hermé who writes the Foreword, we get the idea that William is a very talented man indeed.
Twice the size of his last book, but in a similar vain, this is a detailed manual on the art of modern pâtisserie. The history of pastry making is not forgotten and makes a fine start to the proceeding chapters. Perusing the mini biographies of various influential pâtissiers, I have to admit I was only familiar with the names of Marie-Antoine Carême and August Escoffier. A detailed twenty page guide covering ingredients, equipment and basic techniques prepares us for the two main parts of the book: The Foundation and The Pâtisserie.
This book would make a fantastic reference work for anyone interested in learning the techniques and recipes involved in pâtisserie or just wanting to improve their presentation skills. Many of the creations in this book are so magnificent, they are beyond what I even aspire too, but there are so many useful tips and techniques given here I know I shall be referring to it and using it as inspiration for many years to come. If nothing else, it’s a fabulous book to browse through, dream over and treasure.
Patisserie by William Curley and Suzue Curley. Photographs by Jose Lasheras. Published by Jacqui Small in 2014. 9781909342217. It has an RRP of £40. Reviewed by Choclette on 1 July 2014.
Patisserie – The Foundation
The Foundation covers all of the basic recipes that are needed in order to create pâtisserie. Comprising nearly half of the 344 pages, it covers all sorts of recipes and techniques for making pastries, doughs, sponges, meringues, creams, custards, mousses, syrups, glazes, compotes and caramels. Each basic recipe points to the patisserie it’s linked to in the second part of the book. And the accompanying page numbers make it very handy to have a quick look.
Precision is a key factor and William and Suzue even measure the eggs and baking powder in grams, rather than leaving them to the vagaries of teaspoons and differently sized eggs.
The Pâtisserie
The Pâtisserie part of the book is where the creativity comes in and succulent tarts, pretty little gâteaux, dainty macarons and various magnificent structures can be seen in all their glory. Each entry refers you back to the basic recipes but includes any additional requirements. Step by step instructions are given throughout, with accompanying informative photographs for all but the simplest creations. The recipes are detailed, often going into four pages.
With my love of matcha for baking purposes, I was pleased to see a number of recipes where it featured. This includes some vibrant green matcha eclairs and Les Misérables – a stacked affair of matcha and almond sponges layered with a Japanese muscovado caramel buttercream. My mouth is watering just at the thought of it and I’m feeling just a little bit miserable that I can’t eat one right now.
The photographs of the finished articles, by Spanish photographer and artist Jose Lasheras are works of art in themselves. For the visually orientated and those that like to see what they might make before they attempt it, you will not be disappointed – photographs abound.
As someone who is always in a hurry, elegant pâtisserie is something I very much appreciate but I’m doubtful that I’d have the patience to make any myself. So I was glad to see that not everything in the book is complicated. The Baked Cakes section is more in line with what I’m used to and I’m looking forward to trying out some of these slightly more prosaic recipes. The bakes are a mix of traditional with a Curley twist and new creations.
French Fancies
The cannelés de Bordeaux au rhum, a recipe I’ve long wanted to make, looked fairly traditional, but I suspect the pâtissiers of old would have been perplexed by the houji cha & hazelnut financiers. It was in this section that I found out that madeleines were much older than I expected and dated back to 1661.
Amongst the French fancies, I noted, with some surprise, a Dundee cake. I’m not sure what the good folks of Dundee would think of this version. For it contains rum-marinated sultanas and is decorated with crystallised pistachios. But it sounds very tasty to me. The carrot and chocolate chip cakes are one of Suzue’s recipes. They quickly caught my eye and I decided I was going to bake those as my introduction.
Carrot Chocolate Chip Cakes
As usual, I didn’t quite follow the recipe. I suspect my reluctance to embark on some of the more complicated recipes is the need I feel to go my own way and keep things as simple as possible.
And simple is the name of the game here. If you don’t include the resting time, these carrot chocolate chip cakes are incredibly quick and easy to make. This is especially true if you make mini cakes as I’ve done here. They only take about twelve minutes to bake in the oven. If you decide to go with regular cupcake sized cakes, they will take an extra eight minutes or so to cook.
The only effort you need to put into these cakes is to grate the carrots. Other than that it’s pretty much a case of stirring. First of all you need to melt the butter, so it’s not a one pan wonder. But it means you don’t need to cream the butter and sugar. That’s the bit I always find a bit of a pain.
I’ve not tried the originals so I’m unable to compare. However, I absolutely adored these cakes and they didn’t last nearly as long as they should have done. But hey, I was only following the Curley advice to eat them within one or two days.
In fact these little carrot chocolate chip cakes are just perfect for feeding a crowd. Not only are they quick and easy to make, but everyone will love them.
Other Sweet Carrot Recipes You Might Like
- Carrot cake flapjacks via Tin and Thyme
- Cinnamon maple glazed carrot fries via Recipes from a Pantry
- Easy carrot cake with orange mascarpone cream via The Petite Cook
- Easy carrot jam via Tin and Thyme
- Healthy carrot cake with cashew icing (vegan) via Tin and Thyme
- Healthy carrot muffins (vegan & nut free) via Sneak Veg
- Mango carrot smoothie via Tin and Thyme
For more recipes and ideas on how to use vegetables in sweet bakes, take a look at my Vegetable Cakes category.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these carrot chocolate chip cakes, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more chocolate chip recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Chocolate Chip Carrot Cakes. PIN IT.
Carrot Chocolate Chip Cakes – The Recipe
Carrot Chocolate Chip Cakes
Ingredients
- 150 g unsalted butter
- 150 g carrots topped, tailed, scrubbed and grated
- 2 medium eggs
- 150 g golden caster sugar
- 150 g flour (half wholemeal, half plain)
- 25 g ground almonds
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 75 g dark chocolate chopped (I used 70%)
Instructions
- Melt the butter and leave to cool slightly.
- Mix the carrots and eggs together in a large bowl.
- Stir in the sugar.
- Sift in the flours, ground almonds, baking powder and ground cinnamon.
- Stir gently until everything is just incorporated. Finally stir in the butter and chocolate.
- Spoon the mixture into 24 mini cupcake moulds, filling them to about the ¾ level.
- Leave to rest for 30 minutes, then bake at 180℃ (350℉, Gas 4) for about 12 minutes.
- Leave in the moulds to cool for five minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Thanks to Jacqui Small for the copy of Pâtisserie. There was no requirement to write a positive review and as always all opinions are my own.
Thanks for mentioning my carrot fries! These carrot chocolate chip cakes look absolutely delicious!
So do your fries Bintu. But I absolutely must make these cakes again soon, because they are really good.
It all looks so stunning so would love to try and recreate these masterpieces, I’m not the best at baking but with practice and some more confidence I believe I could pull it off 😀
I love baking and in particular I like to take my time and make intricate sweet treats such as nougat or Macaroon’s so I really think this lovely looking recipe book would be right up my street.
I’d love to try some of these recipes, they look mouthwateringly gorgeous!
I love baking and love trying new recipes 🙂
I’ve got a wedding to help out with and would love some ideas to make the table stand out with yummy treats
I love baking and cooking and collecting recipe books
I would love this book as I love making desserts and teaching my daughter how to cook
love cooking, love cookery books, really need to learn more with the baking tho
I think now and again we should do something a bit more challenging. I’d like to have a go at something tricky.
I would love to win this amazing book! Over the last year I have started baking and am amazed at how far I have come in such a short space of time. This book looks to be filled with amazing creations which i would love to be able to try!
I would love to win a copy of this for my wife.She loves baking and is always trying out new recipes.
I’m drooling over the matcha eclairs and Les Misérables as I love baking with matcha
I’m a rubbish cook at sweet things but I’d love to learn with the help of this book 🙂
So may recipes, so much great patisserie, so little time….
I love to cook, but I’m rubbish at cakes and baking in general! Would love to learn a few tricks
I’d love to win this for my nanna as she is an avid cook 🙂
Its my dream to be a chef and im just getting started really…
So I feel encouraged to be more creative with food!
I would love to give some of these wonderful recipes a go!
I love baking it’s my hobby and im Keen to be baking different cakes and all sorts Fingers crossed Just entered this comp 🙂
I’d love to win it because my Mum is a chocoholic and would greatly appreciate it, and I’d enjoy sampling her efforts too.
i would love to win to make some of the amazing recipes for my friends and family
Because I am absolutely terrible at baking and my kids would be over the moon if I could make them some tasty treats
I love baking and this could only improve my skills.
Wonderful book with some amazing and easy to follow Recipes
I’d love to try some of the recipes out with my children.
My daughter has just started baking and this would be so good to inspire her
I would love to win this book I’m always looking for new ideas in the kitchen
my wife would love this, and I’d love what she makes.
Beacuse I love baking and would love to try some new recipes!
I would like to win it for my 13 year old daughter- she bkaes regularly and sometimes even without a recipe and her cakes are wonderful- she has set her heart on being a baker with her own business when she leaves school and this would be a great present for her to advance her skills
I’ve got a very sweet tooth and love baking 🙂
I would love to win as the book looks fab and I love baking
Because my mam loves anything to do with baking so this would make a lovely gift!
I love baking and need something to do over the holidays!
I’ve just started baking and I’d love to make something special for my family.
I have such a sweet tooth & need some new recipes!
I need some new ideas – have done much baking since the birth of my little one.
I am not a great cook, I have the mind set, just not the skills. It would be nice to follow an ‘Idiot proof’ recipe book.
I’ve really got into baking since the Great British Bake Off but sadly my attempts are not great yet, so I could really use some help – @Rcd2129 on twitter
I love cooking, but never been good at desserts, etc – Im fine at everything else!! – hopefully could help me
(Spencer Broadley)
Why would you like to win a copy of this book?………As l am about to take early retirement l would have the time and opportunity to try most of the gorgeous recipes it contains
I love baking, so this book looks really good and so does the recipe which i will be trying very soon.
I would love to make some impressive desserts 🙂 Natalie Gillham x
As a gift for a friend who enjoys baking. We enjoy the results of the baking :- Delicious.
Rachel Craig
Sounds like a book that can help you make some lovely delicious treats
I am completely rubbish at cooking.. so this would be determined effort if I did win the book, it would be put to good use.
I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to bake and this would expand my collection!
I’d love to win so I can improve my skills, I’m quite good at baking cakes and biscuits but haven’t really tried anything to technical and would love to hone my skills and be able to create these mini masterpieces.
though I love their creations, I`m always a little nervous about following through their ideas so this book would be a great source of ideas and encouragement
I would love to get my hands on this book. Might surprise my hubby and make him something good for when he gets home from work….Im not the best chef in the world!
It’s the delicacy of the decorating that’s so breathtaking: would like some instruction on how to achieve such perfect pastries!
I’ve only recently started baking and would like to extend my skills. I have French relatives and would really like to impress them with my new skills. This lovely book would help me greatly.
Although I’m an enthusiastic cook I’m not a very skilled one. Hopefully this would help!
i would love to have a go at the recipes, improve my baking skills x
I’m a keen bread maker but would love to try being a pâtisserie.
Would love to try my hand at these. May inspire me to be more ambitious.
Sarah Hurrell
Baking is so rewarding, would love to try out this books recipes
Baking is so rewarding, would love to try out this books recipes
I would love to win this as I love making cakes
Kay panayi
I have a really sweet tooth and am always on the look out for new sweet recipes
I’d love to experiment and try to make some fancy cakes for a change
I am dying to get my hands on a copy of this book it looks fantastic, so everything is crossed.
Looks so delicious and I need to improve my cooking skills
It might make my cooking a bit more adventurerous
would have great fun getting the grandchildren to help bake and eat all the lovely cakes
I would love to win this and share it with my sister. This would be great to add to our collection and leArn some new skills! Total chocoholics!
The book looks amazing! Great blog!
Thanks very much Lucy – it’s a great book and I’m glad you like my blog.
The carrot chocolate chip cakes look so yummy
I bake currently but I keep it pretty simple so I would like to “step it up” a bit
I don’t have the delicate touch needed to make refined desserts so this book would be an inspiration!
I love the look of the matcha and almond cakes. And your carrot and chocolate chip cupcakes? Right up my street! I don’t have the patience for fancy desserts, but I would love to try.
I fancy having a go at patisserie make a change from my victoria sponge
I bake a lot but tend to stick to breads, old faves and teacakes. I would like to try making something more delicate and detailed but would need a good guide and this looks ideal!
I bake a lot but tend to stick to old favourites and tea cakes. I like the idea of making something more delicate, detailed and artistic but wouldn’t know where to start and this book looks like the perfect place!
To be able to create beautiful confections for my bed and breakfast guests and friends would give me great pleasure. Also like many, I love beautiful recipe books.
I am really impressed by those green cakes, wouldn’t it be great to be able to make cakes that look so stylish. Looks like a great book as well
This book looks beautiful and although I would love to keep it for myself,I would give it to my mum who would really appreciate it.
I’d like to win this book because it sounds really interesting and there is always the need to add a new inserting book to my collection!
My goodness…I’ve been longing for this book as Couture Chocolate is one of my Special Things. I’d love to win it though as it IS pricey and right now I’m saving as much as possible to do a patisserie diploma. This book would be such a help and inspiration in practising along the way.
Good luck with your patisserie diploma Claire – what a wonderful thing to do.
I would love to win a copy of this book because my mum would love it.
My goodness! That book is certainly eye candy! Your carrot cakes look tempting too! Did you consider putting a thin layer of ganache atop? With a pretty little marzipan carrot ? That book is already getting my imagination going! Enjoy it, dearie!
Thank you Susan. They were quite sweet cakes and really didn’t need anything else, but I like your idea of a marzipan carrot 🙂
I’d love to win a copy of this book because one day I might find the patience to make fine patisserie.
That’s what I keep hoping too Suelle 🙂
I would love to try my hand at pretty dainty cakes and drool over the photos, I swear I put on pounds just reading my cook books, but its a passion.
Just reading the books is the real key to staying slim Jo, sadly I can’t seem to stop it there 😉
I love baking & always on the look out for more recipes to bake myself
You will certainly find plenty of inspiration here Tracey.
Your review sounds lovely and I would like to develop my cake and dessert making skills and become more adventurous too!
Thank you Tracy, always good to hear 🙂
I love the look of this book…. patisserie and baking is so satisfying and,I think, the most artistic of the culinary arts. The little carrot friands look lovely, I think they will do nicely thank you for today’s bake for my mum in her care home 🙂
Thanks Lynne – the cakes are a deceptively delicious sweet and very moreish treat. I’m sure your mother would appreciate them. Oh! The book is quite good too 😉