Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Southern Eclair Cake + A Cajun Birthday Blast + Festival Time

Here's a sinful, decadent cake that is just heavenly and is sure to be a hit with your family and friends. It's a perfect dessert for warmer weather and when I tell you that it is fab, then you know that I mean it, cher! I like to make this cake from scratch, but if I'm pressed for time I make the shortcut, easy version. I am including both versions and they are both out of this world! Enjoy!

Southern Eclair Cake ( from scratch)

1 box  graham crackers

3 egg yolks
2 tbs.'s butter
2 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract 


1 pint whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar

Butter a 13"x9" pan.  Line the bottom with graham crackers, reserving the rest for layers. Next, make the pudding.

Place the sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan and gradually stir in 2 cups milk, mixing well. Cook and stir over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute longer and remove from heat.

Stir small amount of hot pudding into 3 slightly beaten egg yolks.  Immediately return to hot mixture and cook 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Let cool.

 Meanwhile, whip 1 pint whipping cream, with 1 /3 cup sugar added, till stiff.  Fold into cooled pudding.

Spread half of this mixture onto the graham crackers.  Top with another layer of crackers and repeat. Top with the final layer of graham crackers.

Frosting

2 3/4 cups powdered sugar

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tablespoons butter, softened

5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine and mix with an electric mixer till fluffy.

Spread on top of the final layer of graham crackers.  Cover with foil and refrigerate at least 2 hours or till crackers are softened.

 ^^^^^^

And for those of you who are pressed for time, here's a shortcut recipe for this cake. Equally as delicious!

 Shortcut Eclair Cake



1 box  graham crackers

2 small boxes of instant French vanilla pudding

3 1/2 cups  milk

1 8 oz. container whipped topping

1 can chocolate frosting

Butter or spray a 9 x 13 inch pan.  Line the bottom with graham crackers.

Combine milk with the 2 packages of pudding with electric mixer in large bowl  When it is thick, fold in the container of whipped topping.

Spread half of this mixture on the graham crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and then spread the remaining pudding mixture.

Top with the last layer of crackers. Spread the frosting over the graham crackers. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

^^^^^^

A Cajun Birthday Blast

Here's a little clip that a friend of mine took at a recent Cajun birthday party at Fred's Lounge in Mamou, Louisiana, where it's Mardi Gras, all year long. Fred's is a local landmark and is noted for it's Saturday morning dances. And all of this starts at 8:30 a.m.! The lady in pink leading the birthday train is Taunte Sue, the owner. Oh the life of a Cajun is oh, so fun! Crank it up and and let the good times roll, cher!



I will be away from my blogging desk for a few days to attend the 26th annual Festival International de Louisiane in downtown Lafayette. Five straight days of fantastic Cajun and International music, food, and fun! This fabulous festival has been chosen as "Best World Music Festival" by About.com's, World Music Reader's Choice Awards. The fun begins tonight with a fais do do, with Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boys taking the stage at 6:30 p.m., with Brian Jack and the Zydeco Ramblers to follow, and runs through through Sunday. For a complete schedule, click here. Hope that everyone is having a wonderful week! Merci beaucoup for stopping by!

16 comments:

BoholstWife said...

i have everything but the pudding. dang it...now i have to go to the store... loving this post. i am a chocolate freak...the pic of the slice makes me feel 10 pounds heavier though....oh well,i am still making it.....supper tonight is smothered pork chops...now that will put 10 pounds on you easy....lol

Velva said...

When you say it is fav, I know its fab! Thanks for sharing.

Velva

cookingwithgas said...

oh, my!- this one needs printing!

Linda Starr said...

Oh that sounds so delicious and it looks divine.

Jeni said...

Oh for shame upon you for posting this recipe! That looks so darned good and very, very tempting and here I am supposed to be trying to lose weight and watch my sugar intake! Kind of a pair of oxymorons there since neither aspect seems to be something cooperating with my meager attempts! Have a great day!

Mal said...

oooh, this looks fabulous! I was planning to make some meringue this weekend, so now I know how to use the yolks now too!

Yum!

Mal @ The Chic Geek

the wild magnolia said...

you may know i will make this, probably both, to see which taste best, and just for the fun of it.

we are coming to louisiana in a few weeks. one of my mister's sister's, lives in cottonport.

thank you for sharing.

Pam said...

It looks delicious, pretty decadent, and I have to try it. You Cajun's start your partying pretty early, and I wish I were there. Have a great vacation and bring back some more great videos!

Liza said...

When I first saw this, I thought it was your version of what we call Boston Cream Pie. But we make ours with cake, not graham crackers...your way sound pretty darn delightful...and easier! I'm giving it a try the next time I need a yummy dessert!

Cloudia said...

first I saw "Eclair Lake" and got all excited. Now that's a place I'd like to visit, Cher ;-}





Warm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

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Susanna Powers said...

This looks delicious! thanks, sp

kitchen flavours said...

A delicious looking cake! Morning dances! At 8.30am! You guys rocks!! :)

Miriam said...

My my, that looks so decadent and amazing!! Wish I had some right now :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Cloudia said...

Woweee!



Warm Aloha from Honolulu
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Eddie Bluelights said...

Looks divine of course and if I could only get a taster I am sure I would agree that the eclairs ARE sinfully delicious. Very tempting indeed.
I have looked at the video and wonder how you guys can see each other without infa red lenses LOL. Just managed to see a procession of people with beaming faces, ALL enjoying themselves. Wonder whether you might have been there somewhere. Always enjoy popping round cher.

hidden art of homemaking said...

oh my goodness...this is awesome...eclairs are my favorite pastry of all sot he next time I need to make something sweet, this one will be my choice..you amaze me at all your wonderful dishes...yummy....gotta Pin this one too...
Mona