"Made this cake yesterday. A bit concerned while doing so, after reading reviews saying the recipe had a tendency to produce a dry cake. Happily, mine came out perfectly at the temp. and bake time given. Maybe the "dry" feeling some experienced comes from the cocoa powder. Chocolate cakes made with all cocoa powder tend to have a "powdery" feel on "

"Perfect, with the oven temp set at 425 instead of 450. And the parchment paper makes for easier clean-up, as well as absorbing a bit of the fat. For vegetarian options, I've tried it with the following:
⬢ Pesto and fontina instead of mustard, ham and gruyere
⬢ Caramelized onion jam and gruyere
⬢ Sauteed, finely chopped herbs and mushrooms wi""

"Anyone try baking this tart using a silicone baking mat to line the pan? I have a silicone liner that exactly fits the baking sheet I used for this tart, and the tart came out beautifully, with minimal scorching around the edges. I first checked the maximum oven temperature acceptable for use with silicone mats, and they can be used at oven temperatures up to 480 degrees F. I'll continue to make this fabulous tart using a Silpat or similar silicone mat. Next time I'll try reducing the oven temp. by about 25 degrees, and will make sure the apples are quite thin so they'll be sure to get soft at the lower temperature. This dessert makes a presentation as stunning as its taste. A winner!"

"In response to Turquoisecat's question regarding sour cream brands that don't have quar gum or other binders, Trader Joe's brand organic sour cream doesn't have guar gum or carageenan, and also has great flavor. Whole Foods or other stores that carry natural/organic dairy products would be another good place to try, but if you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's, try their organic sour cream -- the best I've ever tasted. I used it for this homemade butter recipe, and I'm sure it's one of the reasons the flavor was so superb."

"In response to Turquoisecat's question regarding sour cream brands that don't have quar gum or other binders, Trader Joe's brand organic sour cream doesn't have guar gum or carageenan, and also has great flavor. Whole Foods or other stores that carry natural/organic dairy products would be another good place to try, but if you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's, try their organic sour cream -- the best I've ever tasted. I used it for this homemade butter recipe, and I'm sure it's one of the reasons the flavor was so superb."

"FYI to attiesgirl05 - you can now find trans fat-free shortening in many grocery stores. Butter tends to result in a crisp crust, and shortening adds a bit of flakiness, so it's worth a try if you can find the trans fat-free version in your local market. Also, I agree with you about using only 2.5 cups of flour... Great recipe, especially with the slight reduction in flour.

"Anyone try baking this tart using a silicone baking mat to line the pan? I have a silicone liner that exactly fits the baking sheet I used for this tart, and the tart came out beautifully, with minimal scorching around the edges. I first checked the maximum oven temperature acceptable for use with silicone mats, and they can be used at oven temperatures up to 480 degrees F. I'll continue to make this fabulous tart using a Silpat or similar silicone mat. Next time I'll try reducing the oven temp. by about 25 degrees, and will make sure the apples are quite thin so they'll be sure to get soft at the lower temperature. This dessert makes a presentation as stunning as its taste. A winner!

"Anyone try baking this tart using a silicone baking mat to line the pan? I have a silicone liner that exactly fits the baking sheet I used for this tart, and the tart came out beautifully, with minimal scorching around the edges. I first checked the maximum oven temperature acceptable for use with silicone mats, and they can be used at oven temperatures up to 480 degrees F. I'll continue to make this fabulous tart using a Silpat or similar silicone mat. Next time I'll try reducing the oven temp. by about 25 degrees, and will make sure the apples are quite thin so they'll be sure to get soft at the lower temperature. This dessert makes a presentation as stunning as its taste. A winner!