Feeling a Little German?

BY Karen Morgan

Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848-1933
Snowball Transom (detail), Tiffany Studios, 1904
Leaded Favrile Glass, 26 3/16 x 32 1/4 inches.
The Charles Hsmer Morse Museum of Art,
Winter Park, Florida
American Aesthetic/Art Nouveau Decorative Master

Sunday was my dear friend Angelle’s birthday and her one and only request was to have a German chocolate cake. Having never tackled this cake before, I set out in earnest and created a feather light cake enrobed in the rich pecan coconut icing that is the cake’s keystone. And yes, it’s gluten free, even though Angelle herself doesn’t suffer from Celiac…she actually requested a gluten free version because, according to her, they simply taste better.

I quickly accused her of being overtly nice and she stared me straight in the eye, with a completely serious look on her face and said, “No, they really do taste better. So please, will you make me a German chocolate cake for my birthday?”

With that, I immediately set to work. The results were so well received at her party, I decided to name the cake after her.