Chocolate Date Cake With Coconut Cognac Sauce Food

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle half of the shredded coconut on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until golden brown, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.
• Combine the instant espresso and water in a measuring cup; stir until dissolved. Add to a medium bowl, along with the cake mix, vegetable oil and eggs. Beat for 2 minutes with a handheld mixer on medium speed. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a baking rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese, butter, coconut milk, salt and powdered sugar in a large bowl. Beat with a handheld mixer on medium speed until light, fluffy and smooth, about 4 minutes. Stir in the remaining (untoasted) coconut with a rubber spatula.
• If the cakes have domed in the center, trim to level the tops. Place one cake layer, up-side down, on a platter or plate. Spoon one-third of the frosting on top and spread evenly, almost completely to the edge. Place the other layer, up-side down, on top, pressing gently to anchor. Using an offset spatula, evenly frost the entire cake; if the frosting gets too soft, place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Gently press the toasted coconut around the outside of the cake and sprinkle it over the top.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE DATE CAKE I

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine dates with boiling water. Set aside to cool.
• Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Add flour mixture alternating with cooled date mixture. Fold in chopped nuts and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips to mixture.
• Spread batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips over top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean.

SAUTEED APPLES WITH CURRANTS AND COGNAC

Steps:

• Melt butter in a nonstick skillet. Add apples and sprinkle with sugar. Saute, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until apples begin to get tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add currants and saute for another couple of minutes to heat them through and continue to cook the apples. Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in the rum and swirl the apples around until it is absorbed. If you wish, top with chopped nuts, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

CHOCOLATE CHAI TEA COGNAC

Steps:

• Special equipment: Chocolate Shot Glasses
• Shake the cognac and tea together in cocktail shaker with ice. Add cream. Shake and serve in Chocolate Shot Glasses. Add cinnamon stick for garnish.

COCONUT-DATE BITES

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the dates to create a thick paste. Add the walnuts, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the coconut and pulse until incorporated and a thick paste forms again. Using a spatula, transfer the date mixture to a medium bowl.
• Pour the remaining 1/4 cup coconut into a separate small, shallow bowl.
• Using a spoon, scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the date mixture and, with clean hands, work into a small rectangular bar 2 to 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch (or roll into balls). Coat the date bar with the coconut in the bowl, delicately pressing the coconut onto the bar. Continue with the remaining date mixture and coconut.
• Serve in mini paper cupcake liners. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

ISAAC'S CHOCOLATE COCONUT SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line the base of a 20cm square baking tin. Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in the eggs. Add 1 tbsp of the flour if the mix starts to curdle.
• Sieve in the flour, baking powder and cocoa and fold in with a metal spoon. Stir in the milk. Scrape mix into the tin and level the top. Bake for 18-20 mins or until the cake springs back when pressed. Allow to cool in the tin.
• To make the icing, put the chocolate, butter and 4 tbsp water in a pan and gently heat until melted. Allow to cool slightly, then beat in the icing sugar.
• Remove cake from tin and peel away paper. Cut into 16 squares. Dip the squares into the icing, then roll in the coconut. Allow to set on cooling rack.

CHOCOLATE-DATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE STICKY TOFFEE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-3-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment, and butter parchment.
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, combine dates, brandy, coffee, and 2 tablespoons cocoa in a heatproof bowl. Stir in boiling water. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Puree cooled date mixture in a food processor (you should have about 2 1/2 cups). Place 3/4 cup puree in a small bowl, and press plastic wrap directly on surface; reserve. Place remaining puree in a large bowl.
• Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, and remaining 2 tablespoons cocoa in a bowl.
• Beat butter and dark-brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (batter will look curdled).
• Stir baking soda into reserved uncovered date puree. On low speed, beat flour mixture into egg mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the date mixture. Beat in chocolate. Transfer batter to prepared pan, and smooth top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen, and invert cake onto rack. Remove parchment, turn cake right side up, and let cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Bring butter, light-brown sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in cream. Add chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in brandy. Let cool until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Assemble the cake: Using a serrated knife, trim rounded top of cake so it is flat. Place cake on stand. Spread remaining 3/4 cup date puree over top of cake. Pour glaze over top, letting some drip down sides. Garnish with halved dates.

GERMAN-CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCONUT-PECAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Place butter and chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave at high 1 minute or until melted, stirring until smooth.
• Stir in sugar, water, and vanilla.
• Add egg whites and egg, stirring with a whisk.
• Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, and add to chocolate mixture, stirring with a whisk until smooth.
• Coat bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; pour batter into pan.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack.
• Serve cake with Coconut-Pecan Sauce.
• Coconut-Pecan Sauce:.
• Combine sugar and cornstarch in a medium, heavy saucepan.
• Add milk; stir with a whisk.
• Add butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 1 minute. Stir constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in pecans, coconut, and vanilla. Serve warm over cake.

CHOCOLATE DATE CAKE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a mixing bowl or small saucepan, pour the boiling water over the chopped dates. Set aside. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the flour mixture. Add in the dates with the soaking liquid, and stir until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• In an another bowl, combine the chocolate chips, walnuts, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Sprinkle mixture over top of cake. and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.

MOIST CHOCOLATE CHIP DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Place dates and 1 teaspoon baking soda in a large bowl. Stir in boiling water; cool completely. , In another large bowl, cream shortening and 1 cup sugar. Beat in egg. Combine the flour, salt and remaining baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with date mixture., Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining sugar; top with chocolate chips and nuts. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

COCONUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter a 9 inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cake flour, sugar and baking powder.
• In a bowl, whisk together the oil, whole eggs and ¼ cup of water and stir in the flour mixture into the oil mixture until the batter is smooth.
• Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they hold stiff peaks.
• Stir ¼ of the whites into the batter to lighten and then fold in the remaining whites.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
• Remove cake and let cool.
• For pastry cream: Scald the milk with the vanilla bean.
• Scrape the seeds into the milk and discard bean (or rinse it, let it dry and ‘plant’ it into a sealed jar of sugar. In time you’ll have sugar with a vanilla fragrance.) In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of sugar, flour and egg yolks.
• Whisk the hot milk into the yolk mixture, a little at a time, and whisk for 1 minute.
• Pour into the pan and bring custard to the boil, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes, o until it is thickened.
• Let cool, uncovered, and chill it, placing a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the hot custard to prevent a skin from forming.
• Beat the cream with the remaining 2 tblsps sugar until it holds stiff peaks.
• Fold 1 cup of the whipped cream into the pastry cream, reserving remainder, and fold in 1 cup of coconut into the pastry cream as well.
• Make chocolate sauce: Simmer the milk with the chocolate, stirring, until the chocolate is melted.
• Add the cream, butter and sugar and simmer, stirring, until smooth and slightly thickened.
• Keep sauce warm, covered.
• Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers with a serrated knife.
• Spread ½ of pastry cream on top of bottom layer and top with second layer.
• Spread remaining pastry cream on top of second layer and top with third layer, cut side down.
• Spread whipped cream on top and side of cake and sprinkle with coconut.
• Serve with sauce.