The kitchen was a veritable Santa’s Workshop of activity. Yours truly as Head Elf baking three yes THREE different kids of goodies at once to deliver to neighbors, mailman, Schwan’s man, UPS, FedEx…pretty much whoever we will see in the next ten days. Of course something was going to go wrong….
My mini-bunts didn’t bunt!
The wells overflowed, and most refused to drop out. Those that did were weird, lopsided, fourth grade science fair volcanoesque creations – NOT worthy of gifting. Not from my kitchen.
Husband: “You’re a snob.”
Me: And?????
What a perfect metaphor for Christmas. Sometimes the bunts just don’t bunt. Our perfectly planned out festivities don’t turn out the way we envisioned. Even if we’ve baked a million mini-bunts in those same pans. So what do we do? Toss the lot?
That’s not always possible especially if the overflowing sticking cake is Uncle Ben over there hitting the eggnog railing against the election. Or Mary Sue bringing home the homeless poet she wants to drop out of college and travel the country with. Maybe it’s the lady in the check-out line who can’t believe how slow the cashier is, her bunts probably didn’t bunt either.
We take a breath. Pick up the scraps. Throw in a generous dollop of sweetness.
coarse cake crumbles, frosting
Roll with the flow…even if it doesn’t look too hopeful. Use a light touch, don’t squeeze too hard and dust with a little more Christmas Spirit…or powdered sugar.
cake & frosting mixed just to combine, formed into 1″ balls
And if thing still look a bit like sugar coated lumps of coal….
rolled in powdered sugar
Light the candles, pour a glass, embrace the mess and enjoy the flavors even if the bunt is now a ball. Perfect is overrated anyway.
sprinkle with coco, sugar sprinkles, shaved chocolate
The days ahead are going to be crazy and messy, and it will be ok. Merry Christmas, may your bunts, bunt this year.
Any baking disasters avoided yet? Any human disasters managed? Are you ready to be the generous dollop of sweetness on someone’s bunt crumbles?
C C Cedras
K R Brorman
S A Young
4 Comments
December 16, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Balls! What a great idea! Wish I’d thought of it during the Great Eggnog Cake Disaster of 2013! (I plan to attempt the cake again this year. We’ll see. If it sticks this year, I’m making BALLS!)
December 16, 2016 at 2:19 pm
😆 Balls! 😂
December 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Starting on some holiday baking today…the recipe is a tried and true one, so not EXPECTING any disasters. 😳
December 22, 2016 at 10:15 am
That is exactly what I would’ve suggested LOL Whenever I make cakes (not as much recently) my family is in heaven. See they love the cake PIECES that I have to trim to either level a cake or shape it. Once a cake is finished they are still reaching for the unfrosted bowl of delight. BUT if they don’t get to it first I turn the leftovers into cake pops. I don’t use frosting when I mix them though. I use ganache and t works wonders. You gotta try it instead of frosting! They are easier to shape and the flavor is deepened. But just a suggestion. 😀