Taliesin West, located in Scottsdale, was Wright's winter home and laboratory, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. It is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers tours to the community.
Many in metro Phoenix cherish the connection the Valley maintains with Frank Lloyd Wright and his legacy. And today is his birthday. The famous architect was born on June 8, 1867.
During his life, Wright was partial to one particular cake. To celebrate, Taliesin West creates this cake in honor of his birthday.
Now you can too. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, an organization that works to preserve and teach the architect's legacy, shared the recipe for his favorite birthday cake.
Recipe
Serving size: Makes 16 servingsButter and flour 2 bread loaf pans and line the bottoms with waxed paper.
- 9 eggs (separated)
- 1 1/3 C sugar
- 1 1/3 C cake flour (sift four times)
- 1/4 t cream of tartar
- Pinch salt
Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt until stiff, but do not over beat. Fold egg whites into the batter by hand. Pour the batter into pans and bake at 300 degrees for 40-60 minutes. When cakes are done, remove from pans and cool completely on racks.
Filling:
- 20 oz. strawberry jam
- 8 oz. walnuts (finely ground)
- 8 walnut halves for garnish
- 1 qt. whipping cream
- 1/4 C confectioner’s sugar
Chocolate sauce:
- 1 t butter
- 2 oz. baker’s chocolate
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup water
To assemble cake: Cut the cooled loaves in half lengthwise. On lower layers spread generously with filling: layer of strawberry jam, layer of ground walnuts, and a layer of whipping cream. Cover with the remaining loaf halves. Frost the top and sides of the cakes with whipping cream.
Pour the cooled chocolate sauce over the cake in an open, lacelike pattern, not solidly covering whipped cream. More chocolate than white should be showing, with some dribbling over the sides of the cake. Garnish with edible flowers if desired.
This recipe was originally printed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and reprinted with explicit permission.