How I Lost My Mind Baking Julia Child’s Chocolate Cake 

They taught us in culinary school, cooking is art, but baking is science.

The very second I saw Jamie was baking again I knew I was in for a great time.

No other cooking shows demonstrate how things can go south as well as yours does. Thank you!

Just 2 little tips: when inserting the toothpick, insert it in the center, and not all the way to the pan surface. 2nd, over the years I’ve realized that the icing recipe that accompanies a cake recipe, it’s a good idea to double it - seems as though more icing is always necessary.

TIP: let the cakes cool (completely) before taking them out of the pan. That's why it was stuck and broke so bad. I cried inside when I saw it come out and the cake still steaming. Cakes are very fragile and more crumbly when hot. They also shrink and release a little from the pan as they cool. Never ever try to get the cake out while it's still steaming hot like that, it's just going to fall apart the more you muck around with it. It might still be slightly stuck to the pan after it cools, but you will have a much easier time handling it to get it out, because the rest will stay together better.

You have finally achieved the epitome of replicating Julia Child. I have fond memories of watching her show back in the day of live TV. Many a catastrophe happened. I once saw her drop a whole chicken on the floor and then pick it up and rinse it off and keep on cooking. Thank you for the laugh.

Oof, I grimaced a little every time you set those pans with the batter down really hard. After all that careful folding and worrying about if you over-whipped the eggs, smacking them into the counter or onto the oven rack is knocking air out of the mixture every time. Great video, I really enjoy watching you navigate all these different challenging recipes!

Please...when baking a 2 layer cake, put one layer on the top rack in the back, the other layer on the bottom rack at the front. Halfway through the bake, reverse them (and rotate the pans half way) to get an even bake.

As a German, it's always fascinating for me to see you guys using these types of cake pans. We only use springform pans that have a removable rim. Getting cake out of these pans is way easier, plus they usually have a non-stick surface so there's no additional butter needed, a piece of parchment paper on the bottom will do. I'd highly recommend getting some of these. They'll make your life so much easier.

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but I've seen a lot of professional bakers actually finish whisking eggs by hand... they stop their kitchen aid a bit early (before stiff peaks), detach the whisk attachment, and use it to hand whisk. Seems like it provides just a bit more control so that you don't end up overbeating them. Might be worth a try. 🤷‍♀️

I was concerned when you baked the cake for only 13 minutes. I appreciate your wise words: "It's a reminder to not get complacent." That's especially true of baking, which doesn't give you a lot of chances to fix things later. Even so, you did the right thing by patching up the broken cake. I've done that many times!!

As a professional baker i love this guy his honesty his human fragility but determination and ability to defect & adapt it’s fabulous 🎉

I wish I could send you a video of my mom laughing her ass off when you smacked the cake pan. She loves you so much, she talks to you the entire video! 😂❤

SO REFRESHING! It’s so boring watching bakers make everything perfectly. Watching someone baking just like I do (also losing their mind: check ☑️) was so reassuring. A kindred spirit, I have now subscribed 😂

I love the cake hack where you listen to the cake, if it is making a bubbly noise then it's not done, it should be basically silent. It's amazing how well it works.

First! This has quickly become my favorite cooking channel.

In my 60-odd years of experience, if there is one thing this perfectionist has learned is that as long as it tastes like it should, looks don't matter. 😊 And as you pointed out, a bit of icing (or whipped cream) can cover a multitude of sins. 😉 Enjoy! 😋

Every year, for the last 35 years of my life, I've been "going to" bake a Yule Log (Buche de Noel) cake for the Holidays! I hope this will be THE YEAR that I finally do it! Jamie, you are an inspiration and so very funny! [After this episode, I will think of Jamie as the board-certified plastic surgeon of cakes.]

Wow. I never understood why people would hate baking or had troubles (been baking since I was a teen, havent met a recipe I couldn't pull off) and then I found myself on this side of RU-vid and I think I understand a bit better now.

Tip: be mega careful when melting/stirring chocolate and dropping water on it. Your iced water nearly made a mess of it.

I don't think your problem was putting both cakes in the oven at once. I think the problem started when you put your toothpick in at the edge of the cake, not the center. Also, if you lightly torch the bottom of the cake pan it should fall out without sticking. Nice work sticking the pieces back together tho!

Jamie. I am going through a truly traumatic and emotional experience right now in my personal life and this week has been absolutely brutal. I watched this video of you making Julia's cake and I laughed for the first time today. Thank you, seriously.

Love your patch job. Julia would be so proud. What happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen

Oh I love how you keep your mistakes in your videos. I laughed so freaking hard when you were punching your cake pan (and actually bent it in a bit)... I'm glad it all worked out in the end. Watchword for the next cake recipe is...follow the directions like it's a recipe. ;) Cheers!

🤣Ahh the joys of baking. I love this cooking show like no other. 😂

I want to send you my favorite cake pans. They’ve seriously been life changing for me and my baking. Also a good tip is to have your oven at temp least 30 min before you bake. It helps make sure the oven has less, if not no, cold/hot spots

I’m here & ready for Jamie & Julia every single time♥️♥️

I love your videos! I laugh until I cry! Everything that happens in your kitchen has happened in mine. Love your sense of humor! Genius video on the home cook! Keep on cooking AND baking! Thank you for the honesty and integrity of your videos! ❤️❤️❤️😂😂😂👍👍👍

I'm really happy there's someone out there who gets just as upset at baking as I do hahahaha. Where in cooking you can fix mistakes along the way with baking you don't know if it's ruined until just about the end. I tried making blueberry scones once, never again... maybe.

The flashback to him spilling almond on the moist cake and then trying to blow it off, hilarious!

Jamie, not only is your persona warm, sweet, and exquisitely conversational... not only are you wonderfully open and honest about how much you learn while detailing your journey... not just all that... you overlay this video with Beethoven. Twice. Magnifico! Bravo, good sir, bravo.

Jamie and chocolate cake on Sunday morning. Let's go!

It is lovely you are bringing Julia to a new generation with humor. She would love that.

always a good day when another anti chef video pops up in my feed!

Once I see things going smoothly I just wait. You didn’t disappoint. Cake looked great in the end.

This looks perfect for a potluck I'm having! Actually, maybe I'll just eat it myself!

I love it when the presenter makes all the mistakes. Learning what not to do is as important, if not more so, as learning what to do. Brilliant instruction!

6:38 we most definitely will Jaime. Youre one of the best for including this, not to mention the epic voiceover!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

I saw the thumbnail. Immediately presses to watch. And yet again another very entertaining cake making session. Loved it. Xx

Loved this. Start with the original recipe THEN adjust as needed. FUN!

Thanks, thanks for this video. I baked 2 different kinds of cookies today and I really needed something to make me smile. I have chronic back pain so by the time I got done I could barely walk. You are my favorite person to watch. From your mistakes to your fabulous talents on all the recipes. You are a complete joy to watch. ❤

Cake baking frequently makes me reach for a drink as well. You aren’t alone.

I love the copious amounts of butter. Thank you so much for supporting the dairy industry❤

Cakes have truly been the bane of this channel. I thoroughly respect your efforts.

For a great, easy chocolate cake, try Betty Crocker's Black Midnight Cake. It always turns out and I learned to make it as a teenager, so you know it can't be that hard 😄

Dude, you are certifyably hysterical 😂 great work

I’m in a safe place so will admit- I don’t know how you do ‘bowl me’ and ‘ice me?!?’ Love it every time ❤

I laughed so hard as you stared at that hole in the cake. 🤣 Thanks for that. I love your videos.

The moment Jamie said "Cake", I knew hilarity would ensue. And ensue and ensue and ensue.

This show is an important part of my day. Thanks for all your hard work both on and off camera.

I think I’ve watched every video 3 times now. Jamie u r my comfort blanket! So glad I found this channel, I learn but laugh learning!

J'ai vécu à Montréal, au Québec, dans les années 1970, et en Nouvelle-Écosse. J'ai adoré Ottawa aussi. Merci pour vos agréables vidéos.

My mind was blown when he referred to Silver Fox as "girl." I thought Silver Fox was a boy!

As decades of American media have taught me, it’s what’s on the outside that counts, and that cake looks beautilicious. Bravo, Jamie!

In times such as these, break out the liquid courage! Julia was great at imperfection and patching. You are channeled.

oh my god! I laughed so hard at this video. as a home baker, i think this has now become my favorite channel for laughs and for what NOT to do. thank you for this amazing content. you now have a new subscriber!

Thank you. 😂 Thank you for making me feel like a normal human being, and that it’s ok to make stupid mistakes while baking. I feel much better now. 😆❤️ You seriously made my night.

7:09 Years of experience and resilliance man! Thats why youre the best and one of the giants! Love ya!❤❤❤❤❤❤

You are the best thing I have seen on RU-vid ever. You are awesome. Wish I were 50 years younger. Doesnt matter. I love watching you cook.

Surprise you did so well on the Milkbar cakes, but now struggle sometimes with Julia’s cakes. I got the Milkbar cookbooks and last week made the Birthday cake for a Birthday redo for my wife. I added the lemon curd to the middle since her favorite birthday cake ever was one with lemon curd filling. I had no room to freeze or put it in the fridge. Wow, that is a very important step. Once a slice was made, all the layers shifted and the cake fell over before we finished cutting slices. It was messy, but very tasty.

0:45 dont forget man! You learn from it! Not to mention is hilarious!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

had to pause to say i was laughing so hard when you slam-fisted that pan and it dented. the pure frustration (relatable). but then when there was a straight up HOLE in it. and again when you pulled out the whiskey. HAHA!!! my dude, the struggle is real. we all feel it, too. i also really enjoyed your bowl inter-dimensional summons.

Jamie, starting at the extreme craving stage can sometimes result in disaster, other times, you can will it into decadent existence. Well done, sir.

Your perseverance is so admirable I’ve hoofed many a bake into the bin when still warm because I’ve been so furious it’s not worked out. Well done you !

I feel for you, Jamie! You're still learning! That's ok! Piecing the cake back is no big deal! Cakes are forgiving most of the time. I feel ya', though! I used to do cakes for a home based biz. When it's for you, repair all you want! Way to persevere! ❤

I love that at 11:16 Jamie whacked the cake pan so hard he actually dented it 🙈

Love your videos, so relatable. Keep it up jamie!

It looks amazing! Now I want cake too!

Thank you Jamie ❤, I just realized I've learned more from your mistakes than from all cookbooks and chefs I've read and listened to 😃 This cake is absolutely beautiful 🙂

Jamie, you are just precious!

Tried, tested and trusted recipes are there for a reason !! To follow !!

Would love to see an anti shef does a rose levy cookbook! More cakes

Your vid’s are so entertaining! You’ve come such a long way. The ice falling from the ceiling was the best, lol.

Glad you ended up with a cake you enjoyed! I have a signature chocolate cake recipe I like, it's easy, I'll share if anyone is interested.

Well done, you know your audience, you know what we’re here for and you delivered. Great editing, enjoyed immensely, thanks

One of your very best videos Jamie😂. Thank you. Frosting forgives a multitude of sins ❤.

An absolute CLASSIC!!! I enjoyed that video every bit as much as you enjoyed the cake, Brilliant work.

My Kitchen Aid Artisan is "The Black Knight". Also, 25 minutes about 350 is about right for 2 9 inch cake rounds. So as crazy as Juila was, shes probably right about that.

Okay I just stumbled upon your channel with this video on my fyp and I’m so happy I did! This is so relatable and fun but very useful as well😍

Love chocolate cakes and you with julia man! This is an absolute winN🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤

That patch up job was perfect! I couldn't even tell!

Jamie... Few cake hints that I've learned over the years. Source: my mom is a red seal chef n baker, I took baking in school, and years of experience. My mom n I also spent years making cakes for birthdays n such. 😅 -after you fold in the egg whites, gently from a low height put it in pan. Pouring from lower height or even use a soup ladle to scoop it in. Regardless, gently and low height. Keeps more air u worked hard to create -please don't slam the pans down everywhere n onto oven tray. Again, you worked hard to keep in that air. -when a cake is done it starts to pull away from sides a bit and bounces back when lightly touched. An average shiny pan would take 21-23 minutes for that style of cake. Julia wouldn't have developed recipe with same style of pans, which is why she always says too long. Her pans would have had thicker walls, not originally non-stick, n takes longer to bake. -French recipes tend to be bit stingy with icing amounts compared to our Canadian ideas. We used to always make more, especially with their buttercream type recipes. We always doubled n just saved extras if needed 😊

Great job Jamie with salvaging what you thought was a disaster. loved the video!

If you treat cake fairly it will never give you trouble. I love me some good chocolate cake 🤩

finally relatable baking content on youtube

Jamie Jamie Jamie, Julia (in Mastering the Fart) recommends slightly underbaking her chocolate cakes, it's the French way. When moving cakes to the cooling rack put the lower side DOWN on the rack ...the top is too gooey and steamy. Remember the Titanic didn't sink in a day. The icing is both extra flavor and camoflague. I would have reused the parchment from the first bake...Tosi taught us one can make a lower layer with frankenstein scraps...no problem. you did indeed win in the end with the horseshoe metaphor...All the best Jim Oaxaca Mexico

What i love about your channel is you dont let your mistakes stop you and you keep going. As a cook for almost 10 years I really admire that. Baking is a science and took me many years to get it right after many many mistakes. Keep it up 👍

We ALWAYS buy the ugly cake at the bake sale because they are usually from scratch and taste the best!

Oh mon petit pois, no one can say you're not determined, you did it! Love the way you show us your triumphs and your mistakes. xx

I can't tell you how many times I've pieced together a layer cake. Don't feel bad.

Front and center here I am watching you dive into yet another cake adventure. Oh my word, I loved every minute of it. Even when you didn't know you had a blob of icing on your cover apron.

If I had an undercooked chocolate cake, I'd call it brownies 😁😁

No one has ever deserved a third slice of cake more! Props for going on after each disaster, the final result looked great 👍

Cooking is an art. Baking is a science

Amusing, entertaining, and educational! A trifecta.

Okay everyone. Has 11:28 surpassed the infamous vanilla bean incident or what?

When is yer merch comin back? Dude, the gut laughter you inspired nearly caused an accident, at my age. Laughter. Such a good thing.

I must admit, if I had an under coked sponge cake I would have given it a few seconds in the microwave.

I just stumbled upon this channel and all I can say is Thank you. That was super entertaining.

We need behind the scenes of the "bowl me"