Chocolate Crumpets With Black Cherry Jam Food

CHERRY JAM DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray two 9-inch-round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and dust with cocoa powder.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the hot coffee, 3/4 cup cocoa powder and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
• Add the eggs to butter mixture one at a time, mixing well and scraping down the bowl between each addition. Beat in the coffee mixture until well combined. Add half of the flour mixture and beat just until combined, then beat in the sour cream followed by the remaining flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl and beat 1 minute more.
• Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks. When the cakes are cool enough to handle, turn them out onto the racks to cool completely before frosting.
• To assemble the cake, place one cake layer onto a serving platter or cake stand. Trim the top with a long serrated knife to make it level, if needed. Spread half of the Cherry Jam Filling on top in an even layer. Top with the other cake layer and frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting. Spread the remaining Cherry Jam Filling on top of the cake.
• Stir together 2 tablespoons water with the cornstarch in a small bowl until the cornstarch dissolves. Combine the cherries, sugar, remaining 6 tablespoons water and the lemon juice in a medium pot over medium heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and looks clear and shiny, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.

CRUMPETS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, milk powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle. Add the yeast mixture and remaining 1 3/4 cups warm water. Mix well with a wooden spoon until dough is the consistency of cake or waffle batter. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm spot until bubbly, about 1 hour.
• Combine 2 tablespoons water and baking soda in a small bowl. Mix into the batter. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• Heat a cast iron griddle or nonstick pan over medium heat. Lightly grease the griddle and inside of the crumpet rings with cooking spray. Arrange the rings on the griddle.
• Fill crumpet rings 2/3 of the way with batter. Cook until tops are covered in bubbles and starting to look dry, 5 to 8 minutes. Carefully lift up crumpet rings, flip the crumpets, and cook until second side is lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn heat down if crumpet is overly dark or still raw in the middle.

CRUMPETS

Steps:

• In a bowl stir together the yeast and 240ml warm water and let it stand for 5-10 mins. Add the warm milk, butter, salt and sugar. Add the flour and stir until the batter becomes smooth. Let stand for 30 mins.
• Stir in the baking powder dissolved in water, leave to rise for 20-30 mins.
• Grease a heavy-based frying pan with a little vegetable oil and heat over medium-low heat. Lightly grease 4 x 9cm diameter crumpet rings. Spoon batter into the rings so it comes halfway up the sides. Reduce heat to low, cover with an upturned deep frying pan to give the crumpets space to rise. Cook until the tops look dry, about 10-12 mins.
• Flip them over and cook for 5 mins until golden and firm. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve toasted with butter or with cheese melted under the grill.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Pit the cherries if necessary, then chop them up. Crush the remains thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. If using frozen berries, use both liquid and solids; they all were part of the original fresh berry. Measure 6 cups of crushed fruit into 6- or 8-quart heavy saucepan. Break the chocolate squares into smaller pieces and add them to saucepan.
• Measure sugar into separate bowl. Mix 1/4 cup sugar from measured amount with pectin in small bowl. Stir pectin-sugar mixture into fruit in saucepan. Add butter. Bring quickly to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam and ladle into pint or half-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace and process 10 minutes in boiling water canner.

EASY CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• Put two saucers in the freezer for testing the jam later on. Tip the cherries, sugar and lemon juice into a large, heavy-based saucepan and simmer uncovered over a medium-high heat for 35-50 mins, stirring frequently until thick and glossy.
• After 35 mins, spoon a little of the jam onto one of the chilled saucers. Leave for 1 min, press a fingertip into the jam. If it starts the wrinkle, it's ready. If it slides away, continue to boil the jam for 10 mins, then test again on the other saucer.
• Spoon the jam into sterilised jars and seal. Will keep for six months unopened (when stored in a dark, cool place), or opened in the fridge for three months.

CHOCOLATE CRUMPETS

Steps:

• Heat 300ml of the milk in a pan until it just starts to bubble around the edges, then leave it to cool until it is tepid.
• Measure out the flour and then put 3 tbsp back into the bag. Add the cocoa, yeast and sugar and then stir the milk in, a little at a time, until you have made a smooth batter. Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for 1hr-1hr 30 mins or until doubled in size and very bubbly. Stir in a little more milk if the batter is very thick, if it is too thick the bubbles won't rise to the surface as well.
• When risen, add the remaining 50ml milk to the batter to let it down a little, then heat the grill to high. Lightly oil the insides of 4 x 9cm metal crumpet rings or metal cooks' rings. Heat a large non-stick frying pan or griddle pan over a low-medium heat, add 1 tbsp oil and put the rings in the pan. Spoon the batter into the rings until they are half full. Let the crumpets cook slowly for about 10 mins or until the mixture has set and the bubbles on top have all popped. Lift the rings away carefully. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
• If you now want to grill your crumpets, transfer your pan (if it has a heatproof handle) to the grill and cook until the tops are golden brown. If your pan doesn't have a heatproof handle, transfer the crumpets to a baking sheet and grill them on that instead. Can be made up to a day ahead or frozen until ready to grill and serve.