The Chocolate Cake from Lilo and Stitch - How it Almost Ended Me
The story of why I don't bake.
Baking.
After what happened to me Monday night, that word shoots fear straight down my spine.
I told you guys I would recreate and review Disney cartoon foods, and that’s what I set out to do. I started at the bottom of the list with number 10, the chocolate cake from Lilo and Stitch.
While the preface to this story might sound catastrophic, it did turn out fine in the end. Better than fine actually, it was rather delicious.
But before the happy ending, this adventure was frot with danger. Let me start from the beginning.
First, I had to find a recipe.
There are a lot of different recipes on the internet for this chocolate cake, but none from Disney themselves. The general consensus found that it’s a black forest (chocolate and cherry) cake.
The recipe I chose was created by the YouTube channel “Disney Meals.”
So far, so good.
Next came making an ingredient list. This is where it all went south.
You would think I checked my pantry first to see what I needed to buy.
Wrong.
I indeed did not check my pantry first. I assumed I had flour, sugar, and cocoa powder, because who doesn’t?
Me. I didn’t.
After getting back from buying eggs at WinCo, I realized I didn’t have those three ingredients. So, I drove my happy (mad) ass back to the store.
I got home for the second time and set out to start baking…
And realized I didn’t have baking soda.
You can’t bake a cake without baking soda. What did that mean? Say it with me. I dragged myself BACK to the grocery store.
I was obviously frustrated at this point, so when I got in the kitchen and realized I also forgot baking powder, there was no chance I was driving back to WinCo. Sometimes you have to cut your losses.
That being said, my revised recipe does not include baking powder, and it turned out just fine.
Now comes the actual baking.
One of the reasons I’m so awful at baking is because I hate precise measurements. I don’t like using a million measuring cups and teaspoons. But for you guys and in the name of science, I did.
Dirty dishes piled high in the sink.
Flour got everywhere, and I mean everywhere.
The kitchen counter. The floor. My clothes, my hair, and somehow - on the cat.
The cat. How does that happen?
After painting my kitchen with it, I still somehow had enough flour to actually bake the cake.
Despite the three trips to WinCo (did I mention I went there three times?), the dirty looks from my roommates for destroying the kitchen, and the flour on the poor kitty, the cake exceeded expectations.
I added chocolate chips to the batter, because duh. And even though I didn’t have baking powder, the cake turned out light and fluffy.
After it got out of the oven, I let it cool on the counter for the three hours it took to clean my kitchen, then frosted it and added the finishing touches. It looked similar to the movie version, surprisingly.
My roommates and I taste tested while we watched Lilo and Stitch. Not only was it fun, but it was nostalgic.
So, was it worth it?
You might be surprised by my answer, but honestly? Yes.
Being able to taste the food I’d always dreamt of as a kid made me giddy. It felt like I was at the luau, sitting with Lilo and Stitch. The cake turned out delicious, and hearing compliments from my friends put a smile on my face.
If you’re a Lilo and Stitch fan, make this and invite your friends over for a watch party.
And if you struggle with baking like me, make sure you set aside four hours, enough gas to make it to WinCo and back three times, counter space, dishwasher detergent, and a sink to wash your cat in.
When all of these items are acquired, it’s time to make your Lilo and Stitch black forest cake.
If you liked this review and recipe, follow along with me as I recreate other iconic Disney cartoon foods.
All images found on Giphy. Recipes formatted by Saybree Swanson.
Original Recipe:
Revised Recipe:
