Chocolate Cream Ornament Cake Food

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT CAKE POPS WITH MIRROR GLAZE

Steps:

• For the cake pops: Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch pan. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, put the white chocolate and heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth, stirring halfway through, about 1 minute. (You can also use a double boiler.) Carefully remove from the microwave and add the orange extract; stir to combine.
• When cool, crumble the cake finely into a large bowl and add the dried cranberries and orange-white chocolate ganache. Mix with a rubber spatula or your hands until the mixture is very well combined, completely moistened and holds together when pinched.
• Using a 3/4-ounce scoop, scoop rounded mounds of the mixture and shape into balls and place on a baking sheet. You should have about 36 balls. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• For the white chocolate shell: Put the white chocolate chips and vegetable shortening in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals until melted and smooth, stirring halfway through, about 1 minute. (You can also use a double boiler.) Carefully remove from the microwave and stir once more to make sure no lumps remain.
• Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into the chocolate shell and stick halfway into a cake ball. Dip the entire cake ball in the chocolate shell, letting any excess drip off, then press the stick into the Styrofoam block to stand upright. Repeat with the remaining balls and sticks. Refrigerate the cake pops until completely chilled and set, about 1 hour.
• For the mirror glaze: Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup water in a small bowl; stir and set aside 5 minutes. Combine the remaining 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan with the granulated sugar and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat until the sugar has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, then add the gelatin mixture and stir to dissolve.
• Put the white chocolate chips in a large bowl and set a fine-mesh strainer on top. Pour the gelatin mixture through the strainer to catch any small lumps; remove the strainer. Let stand 5 minutes for the chocolate to soften, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Tint with food coloring (divide the glaze in half if you are using more than 1 color), then let sit, stirring occasionally, until thickened and a thermometer registers 90 degrees F. Transfer to a tall, wide glass container (such as a wide-mouth mason jar) for easy dipping.
• Working one at a time, dip the cake pops into the mirror glaze to completely coat letting any excess drip off. Return to the foam board (it may continue to drip for a minute or two). Transfer to the refrigerator to set completely, about 1 hour. (Even after setting, mirror glaze stays sticky, so make sure to space the pops apart).
• Using a small, clean art brush, dust the peanut butter cups with edible gold pearl dust, then place one on top of each cake pop "ornament" (see Cook's Note). Keep chilled until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased and floured 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Cool completely., For filling, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar and flour. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Transfer to a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until completely cool. , In a large bowl, beat the butter and shortening until fluffy. Beat in milk mixture and vanilla until smooth. Split cake into two horizontal layers; spread filling over bottom cake layer. Top with remaining cake layer., For glaze, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa and cornstarch. Gradually add water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla until glaze is smooth. Cool to lukewarm. Spread over top of the cake. Let stand until set. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• In a 1-1/2-qt. bowl, combine cream, cocoa and sugar; stir until well mixed. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. With an electric mixer, beat the cream mixture on low speed until frothy; increase speed to high and beat until stiff. Using a serrated knife, split cake into two horizontal layers. With the tines of a fork, remove a portion from the cut sides of the top and bottom layers to form a tunnel when the layers are place together. Frost entire cake with remaining whipped cream. Chill. Cake may be prepared a day ahead.

CHOCOLATE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C. Grease and line with parchment paper a 10-inch/25 cm cake pan, with quite high sides.
• Boil a full kettle of water and set aside. Have a roasting pan at the ready that will accommodate the cake pan comfortably.
• Put the Cognac or rum, espresso, chocolate and vanilla into a saucepan and melt over a bain-marie.
• Break the eggs into a large glass or metal bowl with the sugar. Set the bowl over a pot of warm water, and beat until the mixture has tripled in volume and has the consistency of whipped cream. This will take about 10 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whip the cream into peaks.
• Partially fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Add the whipped heavy cream and continue folding the mixtures until evenly combined. Pour into the cake pan. Set the cake pan into the roasting pan, and slide it into the oven. Now, pour the hot water from the kettle into the roasting pan halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
• Bake until set, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven, open the door and let the cake sit for 15 minutes to sink evenly back into the pan. Remove the cake from the oven and let it sit 30 minutes in the water bath. Remove from the bath and flip the cake onto a platter. Press gold leaf, if using, on the top to decorate. Serve with sweetened whipped cream on the side.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL-CREME CANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch square cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup water together in another bowl until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through cooking, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Discard the parchment paper and flip the cakes right side up again. Let the cakes cool completely.
• Make the caramel creme: Heat 1/2 cup sugar in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until it turns dark amber in color, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the heavy cream (mixture will bubble up). When the bubbles subside, add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the salt and stir until both dissolve in the caramel. Scrape the caramel into the bowl of a food processor and let cool completely.
• Combine the gelatin with 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Heat the gelatin in the microwave until it melts completely, about 10 seconds, stirring to dissolve. Add the gelatin mixture, cream cheese and sour cream to the food processor and process until smooth. Scrape the caramel creme filling into a bowl and refrigerate, checking every 5 minutes, until it is just thick enough to spread, 5 to 15 minutes. (Do not let the filling firm up too much.) Before layering the cake, give the mixture a good whisking to aerate it slightly. This will make for a lighter texture.
• Place one cake on a cake stand and pile the caramel filling in the center, spreading it in a thick layer almost to the edge. Top with the remaining cake, aligning the layers directly on top of each other so the cake does not lean. Refrigerate the assembled cake for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the chocolate ganache: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate, shaking the pan gently to submerge it. Allow the pan to stand, off the heat, for 3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk the ganache until smooth, then refrigerate until it is just thick enough to spread (like mayonnaise), about 15 minutes. (Do not let the ganache harden too much.)
• Stir the ganache again and scoop it on top of the cake, spreading it over the top and sides. Refrigerate the cake until the ganache is set, at least 2 hours or overnight.

ORNAMENT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Pour into two greased and floured 1-qt. ovenproof bowls. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from bowls to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat confectioners' sugar and butter until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons cream and salt; beat until light and fluffy, adding an additional tablespoon of cream if needed to achieve desired consistency. Cover and set aside., Using a serrated knife, level the top (flat side) of each cake. To assemble, place a teaspoon of frosting onto cake plate; place one cake layer, rounded side down onto cake plate. Frost flat side of cake and top with remaining cake later; frost outside of cake, taking care to smooth the frosting as much possible. Refrigerate until frosting is set, 15-20 minutes., Meanwhile, for fondant, in a large microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 teaspoons water and marshmallows. Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir. Microwave until completely melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds, about 30- 60 seconds longer, adding an additional water if needed. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer. Add shortening, beat until melted. Add confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, and beat until combined., Generously dust counter and hands with additional confectioners' sugar. Turn marshmallow mixture onto counter. Knead until fondant is smooth and pliable, but not sticky, dusting hands and counter again as needed, about 6 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup of the fondant; wrap tightly and set aside. Tint remaining fondant desired shade of red with food coloring paste. , Roll red fondant into a 17-inch that is 1/8-in. thick. Carefully roll fondant around rolling pin; unroll fondant over cake, carefully smoothing with hands and spreading to avoid wrinkles. Trim fondant, leaving 1/2-inch around base of cake. Carefully tuck fondant under cake. Roll reserved white fondant to 1/8-in. thickness; cut with assorted snowflake-shaped cookie cutters; reserve scraps and cover. Brush back of snowflakes very lightly with water; adhere to cake, pressing gently. Decorate with nonpareils; let stand until set. Using reserved white fondant, roll to 1/8th-inch. Remove paper liner from peanut butter cup; cover with white fondant. Use blunt edge of knife to create crimped texture. Re-roll remaining white fondant into a rope; attach to top of peanut butter cup to from loop and place on top of cake.