Chocolate And Vanilla Layer Cake Food

CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Pre heat the oven to 180c/160c fan/gas mark 4 and grease two round cake tins.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, butter, vanilla extract and milk and combine.
• Separate the mixture into two bowls, in one of the bowls add the cocoa powder and blend, if you've added enough milk to the mixture initially the cocoa should blend perfectly to a smooth consistency.
• Pour each mixture into the tins so you'll have a tasty chocolate layer in one and a tasty vanilla layer in the other. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean then leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before removing and cooling the cake.
• Whilst the cake halves are cooling make your buttercream, mix the butter with half of the icing to a creamy mixture, then add the rest of the icing sugar and mix. Meanwhile melt the white chocolate, then add this into the buttercream and beat, if you want to add a bit of colour to your buttercream at this point add some food colouring and mix.
• Place the bottom half of your cake onto a plate and spread half of the buttercream on top, place the other cake half on top and spread the remaining buttercream on top and if desired on the sides.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH SWISS BUTTERCREAM AND GANACHE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Put the cocoa powder and chocolate in a medium bowl. Add the boiling water and whisk until the chocolate is melted. Whisk in the sour cream until smooth; let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla, beating well after each addition. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the cocoa mixture in 2 additions. Finish mixing gently with a rubber spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans. Tap the pans against the counter to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake until the cakes spring back in the center when gently pressed, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run an offset spatula around the edges and turn out the cakes onto a rack to cool completely. Remove the parchment.
• Make the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over the saucepan (do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water); cook, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, the egg whites are frothy and the mixture is warm, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stiff glossy peaks form and the mixture cools to room temperature, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running, add the butter a few pieces at a time, waiting for them to incorporate before adding more. (The mixture will become liquidy, then it will get thick and shiny once the butter emulsifies. It may also look curdled as you add the butter. It's OK: Keep adding butter and beating.) Add the vanilla and beat until combined and fluffy, 3 to 5 more minutes.
• Cut each cake in half horizontally to create 4 layers. Place 1 layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread about 2/3 cup frosting on top, then repeat with the remaining cake layers, spreading more frosting in between them. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the top and sides of the cake (this is the crumb coat - it doesn't have to be perfect), then refrigerate until the frosting sets, about 30 minutes. Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides of the cake, smoothing it with a bench scraper.
• Make the ganache: Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming, then pour over the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Set aside until cool but still pourable, 20 to 40 minutes (the time will vary depending on the temperature and bowl). Pour the ganache on top of the cake and spread with a small offset spatula, letting it drip down the sides. Let the ganache set 20 to 30 minutes before slicing.

CHOCOLATE VANILLA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 deg.
• Combine crust ingredients and press into the bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool COMPLETELY.
• Place ingredients for layer #1 in a bowl and stir to combine well. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
• Place ingredients for layer #2 in a bowl and mix until it begins to thicken and is combined. Spread this evenly over the first layer.
• Place ingredients for layer #3 in a bowl and mix until it begins to thicken and is combined. Spread this evenly over the second layer.
• Top with cool whip and chocolate shavings.
• Chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

CHOCOLATE-AND-VANILLA PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• For the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-3-inch round springform pan with butter; line bottom with a parchment round and brush with butter. Dust parchment and sides of pan with cocoa, tapping out excess.
• In a large bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to thoroughly combine. Whisk in eggs, buttermilk, hot water, vanilla, and oil. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake until top springs back when lightly pressed, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool 20 minutes. Unlatch and remove side of pan; invert cake onto rack, remove parchment, and let cool completely.
• For the Filling: In a saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt. Whisk in milk and egg yolks. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in vanilla, chocolate, and butter until melted and smooth. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto surface of pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool about 10 minutes.
• For Assembly: Meanwhile, trim top of cake flat with a serrated knife, then cut horizontally into two even layers. Wash and dry springform pan, return side of pan to latched position, and line bottom with a fresh parchment round. Transfer bottom cake layer, split side up, to prepared pan.
• Pour filling into pan, spreading to edges of cake in an even layer with an offset spatula. Transfer top layer of cake to pan (top side up), loosely cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• For the Frosting: Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a mixer set over (but not in) a pan of simmering water. Heat, whisking, until mixture is hot to the touch and sugar has dissolved (it should feel smooth when rubbed between your fingers).
• Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high and continue beating until stiff peaks form and mixture is glossy and cooled, 5 to 6 minutes more. Reduce speed to medium; beat in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat in white chocolate until thick and smooth (if frosting seems thin, it was too warm when butter and chocolate were added; refrigerate until cool and beat again before using).
• Unlatch and remove side of pan from chilled cake. Use an offset spatula to smooth any filling protruding from middle along side of cake. Line the edges of a cake plate or stand with strips of parchment.
• Transfer cake to plate or stand. Spoon frosting onto top of cake and spread evenly over top and sides with an offset spatula. Discard parchment strips and refrigerate cake until icing is set, at least 20 minutes or, loosely covered, up to 3 days. Slice and serve.