I am really excited! Daryl Wood Gerber’s Fudging The Books
While doing research for Fudging the Books
Now, I can’t share any of the recipes from the book with you before its publication date, but if you didn’t know, I’ve had recipes in other books, and today’s is one of my all-time favorites.
From Stirring the Plot, the 3rd Cookbook Nook Mystery, which featured Halloween food, I also included French Silk Fudge Cake. It’s the cake served at the Winsome Witches luncheon. Jenna adored it and begged Chef Katie to recreate it. The coffee makes the difference!
Isn’t it fun when my fictional characters can make my life that much tastier?!!
What chocolate do you like?
Savor the Mystery!
Daryl Wood Gerber
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous
FRENCH SILK FUDGE CAKE
From Stirring the Plot
Ingredients:
1 (3.5 to 4 ounce) bittersweet chocolate bar, chopped
1 ½ squares (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons coffee
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
3/4 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons flour (*may use gluten-free flour plus 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum)
1/2 of a 3.5 to 4 ounce bittersweet chocolate bar broken into ½-inch pieces
If desired: whipped cream or frosting.
Note: I used Ghirardelli 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 4 mini-bundt cake cups.
Please 1 chopped bar of bittersweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Place bowl in microwave and cook on low power until the butter has melted and the chocolate is soft, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir often to avoid burning the mixture.
In a mixing bowl, whisk cinnamon, coffee, eggs, egg yolk, sugar, and salt until combined. Stir in the flour. Mix in the chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Add the ½ bar of bittersweet chocolate that has been broken into ½-inch pieces. Spoon the batter in the prepared bundt cake cups. Fill about ¾ full.
Bake for about 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out wit “streaks’ of thick batter. The tops of the cakes will be nearly firm. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 -10 minutes. Serve warm…or wait 20 minutes and serve at room temperature with whipped cream squirted into the center of the bundt shape.
Note: If you want to frost this cake, consider baking it in cupcakes tins or in a 9-inch springform pan lined with parchment paper. Cook about 30-35 minutes.
About Daryl Wood Gerber
Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, set in the fictional coastal town of Crystal Cove, California. As Avery Aames, she also writes the Cheese Shop Mysteries, set in quaint Providence, Ohio. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote”. She is married, loves to cook, and has a darling, frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky. Visit Daryl or Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com. Connect with her on Twitter, and Facebook, and don’t forget to sign up for her Keepin’ it Cozy newsletter.
Fudging the Books
(A Cookbook Nook Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – California
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (August 4, 2015)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Teresa Fasolino
Cover Design by Jason Gill
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425279403
E-Book ASIN: B00QH8320E
The Agatha Award–winning author of Stirring the Plot returns to the Cookbook Nook in Crystal Cove, California, where February brings Pirate Week, National Chocolate Month—and bitter murder…
Pirate Week is sweeping through Crystal Cove and keeping Jenna Hart and her bookstore, the Cookbook Nook, plenty busy. But she’s not too swamped to also host the local Chocolate Cookbook Club’s meeting—especially because the guest of honor is her friend, candy maker and cookbook author Coco Chastain.
Jenna whips up a delicious event amidst the rowdy festivities, but the mood is soon broken by robberies, simmering tempers, and a dead body—Coco’s editor, Alison. The suspects turn out to be more plentiful than a pot full of gold doubloons, so to prove Coco isn’t responsible for the dastardly deed, Jenna will have to stir up some clues and figure out who’s the real sticky-fingered killer…
INCLUDES RECIPES!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
February in Crystal Cove is busier than you may think. First they celebrate Pirate Week and then it is Valentine’s Day. At The Cookbook Nook there are also the book clubs that meet. This month the Chocolate Cookbook Club welcomes Jenna’s friend, Coco Chastain, author and candy maker extraordinaire. She brings her whole crew to the meeting and things get just a little tense. Her publisher, Allison, seems to be working on books for several of Crystal Cove’s residents. When she is found dead Coco becomes the prime suspect but Jenna knows that is more to the story. She starts to stir things up as she tries to find the real killer. She is also is trying to find the pirate’s booty that someone made off with. Can this be connected to the murder…
When I pick up a book by Daryl/Avery I know I am in for a fantastic treat and should plan accordingly. She delivers her best story yet in Fudging the Books.
Crystal Cove seemed to be a quiet little place until Jenna came to town but she has plenty of friends to support and know all these murders are not her fault. Aunt Vera does her best to keep Jenna in line and readers giggling. She is one special lady. Jenna’s relationship with Rhett is also evolving nicely. Vera’s romance has hit a little bump in the road though. Bailey has a new pet thanks to her beau, Tito, and she is having problems getting him to like her.
The mystery is so well thought out and presented. The perfect amount of twists to keep us guessing. The author strikes a nice balance with the right amount of romance and humor. The characters are fun and very appealing. You want to know them better and care about their lives. All this but don’t forget the food, this time there is chocolate, and lots of it thanks to Chef Katie.
The setting is wonderful too. Crystal Cove sounds like a great place to visit and I would drop a bundle of cash at The Cookbook Nook. The shop is not only full of cookbooks but cozy mysteries that feature food. Several of my favorite author grace the shelves.
This book is quite a treasure, with pirates, murder, romance, humor and food! (Recipes included.) I am already excited for my next visit!
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 3 copies to give away!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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Contest Will End August 14, 2015 at 11:59 PM CST
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and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Click Here For Entry Form
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Love this series. Looking forward to reading this one.
Dotty, great to see you here! Thanks for the compliment. :- ~ Daryl
Love pirates, love chocolate — sounds like a real winner!!!
Thanks, Margaret! I love pirates and chocolate, too. 🙂
I am a big Daryl Woods Gerber fan…Fudging the Books…pirate festival, chocolate, and murder? What fun!
You had me at Pirates and chocolate! Sounds wonderful and thanks for the recipe!
Love all her books, have been waiting for this one! Great giveaway too, thanks.
I love the tittles.
Love the series, thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I love this series and this one sounds like so much fun with chocolates and pirates. Thanks for the chance to win.
I love Daryl Wood Gerber’s books, and I am looking forward to reading Fudging the Books (with recipes)!
Love her books!
I love this series and can’t wait to read this book.
Thanks to everyone for chiming in. How lovely to see all your sweet comments!
Huge fan of the Books by the Bay series, so I’ve been dragging my feet on this one. What if they don’t measure up to the affection I have for the other? This description swayed me (can’t go wrong) with chocolate, so I’m going to have to add these to my wishlist.
I can’t eat chocolate, but I sure can read about it!
There’s going to be a delicious “non” chocolate dessert recipe on another leg of this blog tour, so don’t miss it! 🙂 Daryl
Looking forward to the next book in the series. This recipe looks awesome and as soon as the weather cools off enough turn on an oven I am going to give it a try.
Just got the first book in this series and look forward to reading it!
Love the Mysteries you write & I’m always on the hunt for a new one to come out. Thanks for this amazing Giveaway.
This sounds like a great book. The recipe sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to “visit” the Cookbook Nook”
Thanks for doing this interview and book review.
Bettyjo.english@gmail.com
Wonderful feature and great series. Thanks for the giveaway.
This is going to be fun, fun, fun!
Congrats on the new release! I can’t wait to read the next Cookbook Nook book! I always enjoy reading your recipes! Thanks!
The recipe for the cake in this book looks delicious. I love Daryl Wood Gerber’s books and the recipes included. robeader53@yahoo.com
Oooh, chocolate (preferably dark) & oranges – another fave flavor combo! Enjoyed the research info, thanks for the “sacrifice”! ? So looking forward to this book!
So excited to see how many of you have shown up for this post & giveaway. Wishing you all luck! Daryl
I love the series. Sounds like a great read.
I just recently discovered what a difference coffee makes in a chocolate recipe… I found a ground espresso powder that I have been using and it’s just really bumps up the flavor! The book sounds like fun, and I look forward to reading it! I just LOVE the cover! Nicole
Chocolate? Love it! Pudding, milk, cakes, ice cream, candy bars, brownies, but if I had one choice on a hot day like this….I’d choose Breadfruit Cafe’s Chocolate bread pudding! Hot…with a drizzle of vanilla cream! Can’t wait to read this book!
Chocolate bread pudding sounds yummy! Mmm. Daryl
This author is fantastic! Can’t wait to read this next book.
Thanks, anaj!! Truly appreciated! ~ Daryl
Love the bookcover. Looks like great cozy mystery.
I love this series, and thanks for the recipe, it sounds yummy, I’ve got to try it.
I can’t eat much chocolate but this sure sounds tasty. And, the book sounds wonderful.
Hoping to meet Daryl tomorrow in HB.
What could be better than chocolate and a cozy mystery? 🙂 This sounds great!
Hey Daryl. I do love your books and the recipes that come with them. Especially since this one is one of the primary food groups. CHOCOLATE.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this one, cause I’m in it to win it!
Noraadrienne, so good to see you here! And yes, I’m pretty sure chocolate is a food group. 🙂
Thanks to everyone for chiming in. Kristy, Judy, Debbie, Kiki, BettyJo…the list goes on. I feel so blessed to have you as my readers!
~Daryl
Always great plot twists (and recipes) in Daryl’s books – looking forward to reading the newest addition.
Thanks, Susan! What a lovely compliment.
Chocolate has my attention! Looking forward to reading this!
Can’t wait to read this!!
I can’t wait to read this book. This recipe sounds delicious! seredogmom@yahoo.com
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOKS AND THE FOOD LOOKED YUMMY! THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Can’t wait to read the book and try the recipe!
Sounds like a yummy cake—printed recipe, must try.
Suekey, enjoy! It’s delicious, if I do say so myself. 🙂
Love this series, so looking forward to reading this one!
Thanks, Amy! Great to see you here!
I love these book and the recipes. Happy to see you Daryl 🙂
I love seeing how many people have dropped by to leave comments! Way to go, readers! ~ Daryl
I’ve read one of your Cheese Shop mysteries and loved it! I can’t wait to read more of your books. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your newest book!
Love this series
Drakebdog at gmail dot com
Can’t wait to read this one!!