Chocolate Beggars Cake Food

CHOCOLATE BEGGAR'S PURSE

Steps:

• Coat bottom and sides of 9x9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine brownie mix, oil, water and eggs. Beat 50 strokes. Bake according to directions on box, 350 for 30 minutes. Cool. Cut into 8 squares.
• On a lightly greased baking sheet, separate dough into 8 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Place one brownie in the center of each rectangle.
• Stir peanut butter and sugar in small bowl to blend.
• Top brownies with 1 heaping tablespoon chocolate frosting and 1 tablespoon peanut butter mixture.
• Pull four corners of dough to center of chocolate mixture. Twist firmly to form top of purse.
• Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving, but serve slightly warm.
• When serving, cut each "purse" in half, displaying the inside. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

BEATTY'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
• Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
• Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.
• Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.