Don’t you think guests would fall in love with this Christmas Bundt Cake? A bundt cake makes any cake look more festive; and the floral and ribbon touches evoke the Jane Austen setting for this month’s food film.
It’s Food ‘n Flix time again! In this monthly group a host picks a movie of their choice that pertains to food. Everyone watches the movie and then makes a recipe which the film inspired. It can be any recipe you want. This month’s pick is hosted by Kimberly at Coffee and Casseroles, who she terrified us into watching the movie The Jane Austen Book Club, for which I prepared a Christmas Bundt Cake!
*** UPDATE: Did you know I am rebranding my blog? New name and moving to a new domain very soon. Curious to know what my new blog will be called? Read all about the big new name reveal and what will happen next. I am so excited and I cannot wait to see what you all think! ***
The Jane Austen Book Club movie focuses on a group of 6 characters, each with a story to tell, that decide to meet once a month as a book club specifically starring the six novels written by Jane Austen. Each member of the club finds a parallel between their life experiences and the themes of the books they are reading. So I thought the movie was just OK. Its very light and very Hollywood for my taste, kind of a chick flick if it was not for one male book club member. My favorite part of the movie is how each monthly meeting ends up in unusual and unexpected settings! The most disturbing thing of the movie, and this is really just for me, was the male club member who happens to play Will in the TV series Hannibal, and seeing him cute and normal was bizarre lol.
It was not easy picking a recipe to make for this post. Food is very present in this movie but it takes a major back seat. Every book club meeting is centered around food but the movie never focuses on he food. One character mentioned making a flan, lots of coffee was consumed, and besides that there was a lot of food companies product placement. So I went on a long research about food during the Regency era instead, the time where most of Jane Austen’s stories took place.
It was another world of food during the Regency era: presentation ruled and a large number of dishes would be served at once on the table. Many recipes are just not popular nowadays, or I was just not equipped to prepare them. But I thought a Bundt cake with an elaborate presentation would fit the bill. Cakes were very floral, lacy and romantic. Here is my Christmas Bundt Cake, a version of a cake Jane may have served to guests during the holidays.
Something Jane would never have been able to do: this is super cool as I baked my Christmas Bundt Cake in a convection toaster oven I recently received for review from Hamilton Beach. Yes I could fit a bundt cake mold in a toaster oven! I’ll tell you more about the toaster oven later in the post but let me say now the Christmas Bundt Cake baked beautifully and was ready exactly on time as the recipe mentioned. I was really impressed.
My Christmas Bundt Cake is adapted from a Honey Bun Cake recipe. I know what you are thinking: this recipe is made from a mix, shame! Well you have no idea what my life has been like lately so I made due with the time I have. And I must say I have had some successful cakes made from cake mixes when you know how to tweak them right. The results can be just as spectacular, as was the case with this delicious cake.
Christmas Bundt Cake, Regency Style
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cherries chopped
- 1 package 18.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (at the bake setting for convection toaster oven)
- Grease bottom and sides of a Bundt pan with shortening; lightly flour.
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, white sugar, pecans and dried cherries until well blended; set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat cake mix, cinnamon, ginger, oil, eggs and sour cream with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Spread half the batter in the pan, and evenly spread sugar mixture over the batter. Spread remaining batter over sugar layer.
- 6. Bake about 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 7. Allow cake to cool 10 minutes and turn onto a plate. Decorate.
I live alone and for me a toaster oven is an essential appliance. Being able to prepare certain small dishes without using the stove’s oven is very important to me. It is a waste of energy. I particularly love baking fish in my toaster oven. Now the one I had worked OK but I bought it 2nd hand about 12 years ago. The door did not really shut completely close anymore and it was small. So I was thrilled to be offered the 6 Slice Convection Toaster/Broiler Oven by Hamilton Beach for a review.
I just love it! I love the metallic red color. I love how big it is inside. I can really bake in this thing. I can prepare a store bought pizza in this thing. I can explore convection cooking in this thing. I did a small chicken with the convection setting and it was great. Either you cook at the same temp for less time or lower the heat and bake for the same original time. If you have not owned a toaster oven in a whole, now may be the time to reconsider getting one as they are so much versatile and accommodating than the old kind. Here are some key features of this model:
- Saves time & energy – reheats 28% faster and uses 71% less energy*
- Convection cooks more evenly – fan circulates heated air around food to cook more evenly than a traditional oven
- Fits 6 slices of bread or 1 – 12″ pizza
- Bake, convection, broil, and toast settings
- Timer with auto shutoff
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Bake pan & broil rack included
What a beautiful bundt, I love the flavors in it. My mind doesn’t go to bundt cake when I think of that era, so this was a fun surprise for me. So festive, too!
Such a gorgeous cake! I love the Regency look and feel. After cooking a couple Regency recipes from The Jane Austen Cookbook and taking a few shortcuts myself, I can fully appreciate the ease we have today in making something so fabulous with the help of a mix or tool like a toaster oven. 😉
Thanks Deb and excellent observation about the ease of modern cooking!
Cake mix or no, this is a great recipe. Perfect for the hectic time of year. Good luck on the remodel.
Sounds like a fun movie. Definitely a fun — and delish! — recipe. This looks terrific. Happy Holidays, and see you next year!
Thank you John and Happy Holidays!
What a beauty….Spectacular! Loved reading about the Regency era. I am convinced that I belonged to that era as well because I LOVE all things floral, lacy and romantic:-)
From you Sonali that is QUITE a compliment, thank you! And you are right, your modern twist to find inspiration in regency food grandeur!
Now isn’t that a pretty little looker! 😉
I know right, just make a cake you can eat but same decor!
Your cake is gorgeous and you never need to apologize for taking help in the kitchen during these busy times. There are those that believe a tweaked box mix is better than homemade. Merry Christmas Evelyne. Looking forward to Food n Flix again in 2016
Thanks Wendy and you are right I should not apologize! erry Christmas to you too Wendy!
Honestly this is one of the prettiest cakes I had ever seen, I will definitely want that on my centerpiece for my Christmas Dinner
Quite the compliment, thank you Raymund 🙂
OMG this looks delicious Evelyne! Happy Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you Katerina 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
I think the cake is perfect for the period and the season 🙂
Thank you Tandy 🙂
That’s really beautiful and I can’t wait for the new blog.
Thank you Maureen 🙂 New name coming up shortly I hope.
Wow the presentation of those cakes is certainly spectacular as is yours. I’m excited to see your new blog name! 😀
Thank you Lorraine 🙂 And name should be very soon!
I just made a jazzed up Bundt cake from a mix last week—same scenario—just not enough time. And it got rave reviews. Just like the ones I’m giving your Christmas Bundt cake. Merry Christmas!!!
Well Liz you proved my point about a box mix! Thanks! Merry Christmas to you to!
This looks festive for sure.. loved the presentation so much.
Thank you Amira 🙂
What a beautiful bundt cake! Amazing presentation, it’s wrapped like a beautiful gift!
Thank you Melanie 🙂
What a beautiful holiday bundt cake! Have a great holiday season, Evelyne.
Thank you Angie and Happy Holidays to you too Angie!
Oh the Jane Austen book club just sounds like a fun club with an amazing group of people. And this bundt cake… DELICIOUS. Around the holidays, I’m such a cake eater. Love this Evelyne.
Kia / KTS
http://www.houseofkts.com
Thanks Kia, I am pleased too with how it turned out. hope you check out the movie!
That is a beautiful cake. Well researched. I wanted to give you guys a vampire movie but thought the chick flick would be more acceptable.
Thank you Kimberly and I would have LOVED a vampire moive lol.
Beautiful bundt cake! Love all of the Christmas cake with fruits and nuts. Why can’t we get cakes like this year round? BTW – you have me hanging by a thread here on your new name. 🙂 Guess I’ll have to wait until next year. I’ll be signing off for 2015 this week, so I want to wish you a very Merry Holiday Season!!!! I love visiting your space and look forward to seeing you changes for 2016. Lots of hugs!
Thank you MJ and all the best to you as well for the Holidays and Happy 2016. good for you taking some blog time off! And sorry to be killing you with the next rebranding update lol. It is a huge project and the holiday prep has interfered!