Choco Berry Surprise Cake Food

CHOCOLATEY BERRY COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Add the butter and mix thoroughly with your fingers or a fork until all of the butter has been evenly distributed and incorporated into the flour. Form into small to medium clumps with your fingers.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square cake pan.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat together the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour, beating until just incorporated.
• Spoon half of the cake batter (it will be very thick) into the prepared pan and smooth with an offset spatula. Sprinkle half the crumb topping on top. Sprinkle the berries and chocolate chips on top. Spoon the remaining cake batter on top and smooth the top. Sprinkle on the remaining crumb topping.
• Bake until the cake and topping are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in the pan 20 minutes, then invert onto a plate; invert back onto a rack to cool completely.

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MIXED BERRY COULIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter and flour 4 (4-ounce) ramekins. Combine chocolate and butter in a double boiler and melt. Stir in cocoa powder. In a bowl beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and gradually add sugar. Beat whites until stiff and glossy, but not dry. Whisk 1/4 of egg white mixture into chocolate, to temper. Fold in remaining whites. Fill ramekins 2/3 full and bake until top is slightly firm but still soft in the very center, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Combine raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat until fruit is softened. Remove from heat and puree in food processor until smooth. Strain through a sieve and stir in liqueur or orange juice. Chill.
• Yield: 4 servings

CHOCOLATE SURPRISE CAKE

Steps:

• Melt 4 ounces of the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Combine cream and whisky in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then pour over the melted chocolate. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Place in the refrigerator and allow to cool, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is firm enough to handle, about an hour. Using a melon baller or a teaspoon, quickly form the chocolate mixture into eight truffle-sized balls. Place on a pan or plate lined with waxed paper and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a muffin tin or tins with 8 cups that are each 4 inches in diameter, preferably of 1-cup capacity.
• Melt the remaining 5 ounces of chocolate and 10 tablespoons butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water; stir and set aside.
• Beat the eggs, egg yolks and sugar together until the mixture thickens, triples in volume and forms a ribbon. Fold in the melted chocolate. Sift the flour over the mixture and quickly fold it in.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cups. Insert a chilled truffle in the center of each, place in the oven and bake 12 minutes, until the top springs back when touched lightly. Do not insert a cake tester.
• Unmold the cakes: run a knife around the edges, then place a baking sheet over the tin and, holding both together, invert, then carefully lift off the muffin tin. Serve at once with whipped cream or ice cream.