I had my first taste of basil and chocolate almost two decades ago, out with friends at Lucia’s restaurant in Minneapolis. Our server recommended the chocolate cake paired with the basil ice cream, and the combination sounded so intriguing we decided to trust him. The bright blue of my shirt, the buzz of voices at tables surrounding us, the candles speckling the dimly lit room, and chocolate and basil devoured alternately bite by bite is forever etched on my mind. Over the years I’ve re-created those flavors in many applications, but this cake and buttercream pairing is by far my favorite. Chocolate Cake with Basil Buttercream This recipe is from a blog post way back in 2012; I’ve updated the photos and made the directions a little more user friendly. You can find Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes with Basil Buttercream in my Vanilla Bean Baking Book, and Chocolate Basil Brownies in my 100 Cookies cookbook. The first day this frosting is made the basil flavor is present but delicate, and it develops the longer it sits. I loved it on days two and three, but my family thought it was too strong. Also, if basil isn’t your thing, this buttercream also […]
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