Chocolate Almond Mary Ann Cake Food

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
• Place a medium saucepot on medium heat and bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a simmer. Place a medium bowl on top of the saucepot and add the semisweet chocolate and coconut oil. Using a heatproof spatula, stir the chocolate until fully melted and combined with the coconut oil, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat and set aside. Leave the saucepot with the water on the stove.
• Place the almonds in a food processor and grind until a powdery consistency is reached. Transfer the almonds to a large bowl and add the quinoa, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and baking soda. Stir to combine the dry ingredients, then add the melted chocolate mixture, coconut milk, vanilla and eggs and mix until fully incorporated. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• For the ganache: Reheat the water in the saucepot over medium heat to bring to a simmer. Place another medium bowl over the water and add the semisweet chocolate and coconut milk. Using a heatproof spatula, stir the chocolate until fully melted and combined with the coconut milk.
• Drizzle the ganache over the cake, top with raspberries and serve.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE WITH SUGARED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Make the sugared cranberries: Bring 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 3/4 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Put the cranberries in a large bowl and pour the sugar syrup over them; let sit 1 hour. Whisk the remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar with the cardamom in a large bowl. Drain the cranberries, add to the spiced sugar and toss to coat. Spread the cranberries and sugar on a rimmed baking sheet. Let sit, rerolling the cranberries in the sugar occasionally until dry, 2 to 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray. Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, allspice and cardamom in a large bowl; set aside. Put the cocoa powder in a separate large bowl. Heat 1 cup water in a small saucepan until almost simmering; pour over the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Set aside until slightly cooled, about 10 minutes.
• Add the eggs to the cocoa mixture and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until just combined. Add the granulated sugar, buttermilk, vegetable oil and vanilla; beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans; lightly tap on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pans, then invert the cakes onto the rack to cool completely. Remove the parchment. (The cake layers can be made 1 day ahead; let cool, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap.)
• Make the frosting: Beat the butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts; increase the mixer speed to high and beat, scraping down the side of the bowl, until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the milk and almond liqueur; beat until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 more minutes.
• Halve 1/2 cup of the sugared cranberries. Place one cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread with 1 cup frosting, then sprinkle with the halved cranberries. Top with the second cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Top with the remaining sugared cranberries.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND MARY ANN CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 350°F
• Grease a Mary Ann cake pan and dust with cocoa powder.
• TO MAKE THE CAKE:.
• Over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the 3/4 cup cocoa, the sugar, the Amaretto and boiling water.
• Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs and vanilla.
• Pour into the cocoa mixture and whisk to combine.
• Whisk in the flour mixture in two additions.
• Pour the batter through a fine-mesh sieve into the prepared pan and stir in the chocolate chips.
• Bake until the cake springs back when gently touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Tap the pan gently on a work surface, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan.
• Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• TO MAKE THE GANACHE:.
• Put the chocolate in a small bowl.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream until bubbles form around the edges of the pan.
• Pour the cream over the chocolate.
• Let stand for 1 minute, then slowly whisk until smooth.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before using.
• Pour the ganache into the well of the cake.
• Using an offset spatula, spread evenly.
• Sprinkle the almonds in a 1-inch-wide band around the outside edge of the ganache.
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes to set the ganache.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND GRANOLA

Steps:

• Roughly chop the dates and add into a blender along with the boiling water. Cover and set aside to soak for 20 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and lightly grease a large, rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Add the almond butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup to taste, oil, vanilla and salt to the blender and blitz until smooth (a few bits of dates is totally fine).
• Stir the oats and almonds together in a large bowl and add the cocoa mixture. Mix very well until evenly combined, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Spread the mixture into an even layer and bake until crisp and crumbly, stirring about halfway through, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Cool the granola to room temperature, then break any large chunks up and transfer to a resealable container and store at room temperature for up to 1 month. Serve with milk, on yogurt or enjoy out of hand.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE & ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4 and line the base of a 20cm springform tin with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of just-simmering water, or in the microwave in 20-second bursts. Stir, then leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, tip the eggs and sugar into a second bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 4-5 mins, or until thick and creamy. Add the mascarpone or soft cheese and vanilla, and continue to beat until everything is combined. Lightly fold in the cooled melted chocolate mixture until everything is one even colour, then fold in the almonds. Sift over the cocoa powder and a small pinch of salt, and fold in to combine.
• Scrape the cake batter into the prepared tin. Put the tin on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 mins until the cake is puffed up and has cracked on top. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 30-40 mins - it will deflate as it cools. Serve warm as a chocolate pudding, or leave to cool completely and enjoy as a fudgy brownie cake. Dust with extra cocoa powder before serving.