The 'Pumpple Cake' Fits Four Desserts Into One
Most people have a love for sweets and baked treats, and for a very good reason. NPR explains that sugar, a key ingredient of most desserts, causes dopamine levels to rise in the brain. As dopamine is released, the body feels a distinct sensation of pleasure, which can leave you craving sugar on a regular basis. In addition to sugar's effect on the body, scientific principles also play a role when it comes to baking desserts.
Per Physics World, baking is often akin to performing scientific experimentation. Many beloved baked goods utilize the same ingredients, such as butter, sugar, and flour, but tweaking portions and amounts can produce a variety of recipes. Additionally, recipes can vary quite a bit when it comes to skill level, with things like cookies, brownies, and cupcakes being fairly easy for amateur bakers to tackle. As a baker hones their abilities, they can move on to more complex challenges that require a higher level of skill. Consider that some baked goods are so difficult to prepare that they've achieved iconic status among professionals and amateurs alike.
Advanced baking ahead: Proceed with caution
As explained by MyRecipes, baked Alaska is a dessert featuring a combination of meringue, cake, and ice cream. The outer layer of meringue is intended to keep the ice cream layer inside from melting while cooking, which means the dessert only spends a short time in the oven with the traditional baking method (most bakers these days recommend toasting the meringue with a butane torch). Because of the many steps involved, and the risk that the ice cream might melt during the baking process, this one is not for the faint of heart.
Not to be confused with macaroons, the notable coconut cookies, macarons are another challenging baked good, per The Macaron Company. A sandwich cookie with the texture of meringue, macarons consist of ground almonds, egg whites, sugar, and icing. In order for the cookie to be just right, the egg whites must be whipped until the proper meringue consistency is achieved. Additionally, bakers must follow the recipe to the letter, while also ensuring they're using the exact amount of the ingredients listed. While baked Alaska and macarons are among the most challenging desserts to make, you won't believe the outstanding cake that one bakery whipped up.
4 sweet treats in 1 impressive package
Not all bakers are satisfied with sticking to the tried-and-true recipes. In fact, some trailblazers may even combine different desserts to make something truly unforgettable. According to Today, The Flying Monkey in Philadelphia definitely falls into the trailblazer category. The bakery's pumpple cake has been likened to the almighty turducken, which is a Russian nesting doll-type dish featuring turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken. The pumpple cake offers equally impressive construction, with chocolate batter-coated pumpkin pie and vanilla batter-coated apple pie combined into one enormous cake. Each component must be individually prepped before the whole thing comes together for a final bake. Once complete, the finished product is slathered with buttercream icing that is prepared in-house.
Upon sampling the self-indulgent dessert, Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford proclaimed, "That is obscene — that is delicious." As for the nutritional content, each slice of this remarkable cake is a whopping 1,800 calories. Per the Flying Monkey website, individual slices are available at the bakery beginning October 1 and extending throughout much of January. You can also order a whole pumpple cake at any time of the year, provided you give 72 hours' notice.