What are these little cakes called!?

[sickfilms]

So, this is going to be a rather silly question but, hopefully someone somewhere knows what I am talking about. Around the holidays (at least I think that's when they seem most popular) some people bring in these little cake like treats into work.. to best describe them - they are little square cakes with some kind of chocolate coating and the ones I've had tasted like they MIGHT have a little bit of liqueur in them. They are really rich. A co-worker told me what they were called but I totally forgot and I've been trying to find a recipe for them but, can't look for them without the actual name.
Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Thanks!

[ladooShoppe]

Could they be nanaimo bars?

[mamachef]

No. Totally different than anything even close to what the OP offered by way of description, even with liberal translation. :) Those cookies and bars are just so distinctive.....they're way "more" than, and very different from, just glazed cakes.

[EM23]

Chocolate and holidays made me think of Seven-layer cookies that are covered with dark chocolate and are especially popular around the holidays.
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/1...

[mamachef]

But the inner appearence of those is so distinctive - I'm sure it's one of the first thing the OP would have mentioned, if that were the case.

[mamachef]

Were they Petit Fours? Usually those are frosted w/ pastel frostings, but they surely can be done with chocolate.

[sunshine842]

LOL - great minds...this thread is duplicated, and I just posted the same answer on the other one.

[Harters]

Petit Fours (little bakes) are great. I love them when restaurants serve them with coffee at the end of a meal. It can often show off the real skills of their pastry chefs - although I know many are bought in from wholesalers.

[mamachef]

Harters, I completely agree. The commercial ones taste uncannily of sawdust, and the icing is weird texturally and tastewise. HOWEVAH: a well-prepared one is such a nice little bite or two. I'd never considered making them with liquer, but I'm definitely filing that one away for future reference. I do some baking for a local Synagogue, and Petit Fours would be a terriffic addition to the lineup of usuals. Since we have kids tables and adults tables, the boozy ones wouldn't be a problem. Boy, it does sound like the OP got some nice ones, eh?

[Harters]

We celebrated at a Michelin 3* place on Sunday evening. It has always had a reputation for outstanding pastry work and the petit fours were, I think, the best we've ever had. Unfortunately, we didnt keep notes of what they were.

[sickfilms]

Thanks for all your answers!

[sickfilms]

You know, I'm really starting to believe they were Petit Fours although they all seemed to be really chocolaty and of a richer consistency but then again, I've never had a non-holiday one so i'm not sure if these were different or what. I swear they had some kind of liqueur in them. Oh and not to mention they were STORE BOUGHT. I guess they aren't as popular as I thought though..

[sunshine842]

despite our jokes about great minds, there just aren't all that many things that fit your description..."little square cakes with some kind of chocolate coating " would get an answer of "petits fours" from most folks who know their way around a kitchen.

It might not be...but it's a good place to start looking -- and lucky for you to get such good ones!

[Harters]

It's the "cake" that's getting us to suggest petit fours.

Where I am, they often come covered in chocolate, sometimes have booze in them and, yes, you can buy them in shops (although here usually only around Christmas)

[Pia]

Where do you live? Petit fours match your description but there could also be something popular near you that's similar. Anyone can take little cake cubes and cover them with chocolate. Also, petit fours are typically layered, with jam and/or marzipan. Are yours just blocks of cake, or do they have layers and other ingredients?

[mamachef]

Classic petit fours are just cake - they got all fancied up somewheres down the line; hence the layerings, fillings, etc.