Chocolate Layer Cake With Mocha Frosting And Almonds Food

MOCHA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, coffee, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into two greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; invert onto a wire rack. Sprinkle each cake with 1/4 cup chocolate chips; when melted, gently spread chocolate over cakes. Place cakes in the freezer. , Meanwhile, for frosting, in a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cocoa and extract. Beat in 5 tablespoons coffee, 1 tablespoon at a time until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over the top and sides of cake. , In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and remaining coffee; stir until smooth. Pour over cake; carefully spread over the top, allowing it to drizzle down the sides.

ALMOND LAYER CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 9-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Pulse 2 cups flour, the baking powder, salt and almonds in a food processor until the nuts are finely ground into a powder, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk the egg whites, milk, and vanilla and almond extracts in a medium bowl until combined.
• Beat 1 stick butter and the granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour, until just combined.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool in the pans. (The cakes can be frozen, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 weeks. Unwrap and thaw at room temperature.)
• Make the frosting: Microwave the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring, until melted; set aside. Beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. Gently fold in the melted white chocolate with a rubber spatula. (The frosting can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days. Beat with a mixer to soften just before frosting the cake.)
• Assemble the cake: Loosen the edges of the cakes with a knife, then invert 1 layer onto a platter and peel off the parchment. Spread 1 to 1 1/2 cups frosting on top. Remove the other layer from the pan, peel off the parchment and carefully place on top of the first layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting (this is the "crumb coat"; it doesn't have to be perfect). Chill 15 minutes, then cover with the remaining frosting and decorate with nonpareils.

COFFEE-CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH MOCHA-MASCARPONE FROSTING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Generously butter two 9-inch cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; dust with flour, tapping out any excess. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
• Sift 2 cups cake flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions, beating just until blended after each addition. Gradually add hot espresso-water mixture, beating just until smooth.
• Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto racks; lift pans off cakes and remove parchment. Place wire rack atop each cake; invert again so top side is up. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap each cake in plastic and store at room temperature.
• For frosting:
• Sift cocoa powder into large bowl; add espresso powder. Bring 1 cup cream to boil in small saucepan. Slowly pour cream over cocoa mixture, whisking until cocoa is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup cream and sugar; stir until sugar dissolves. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.
• Add mascarpone to chilled cocoa mixture. Using electric mixer, beat on low speed until blended and smooth. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until mixture is thick and medium-firm peaks form when beaters are lifted, about 2 minutes (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle).
• Using pastry brush, brush off crumbs from cakes. Place 1 cake layer, top side up, on platter. Spoon 13/4 cups frosting in dollops over top of cake. Using offset spatula, spread frosting to edges. Top with second cake layer, top side up, pressing to adhere. Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake. Chill 10 minutes. Using offset spatula, spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake, swirling decoratively. Top with chocolate curls, if desired. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.
• *An Italian cream cheese; sold at many supermarkets and at Italian markets.

ALMOND TORTE WITH MOCHA WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F (180C).
• Prepare 2 8 inch (20cm) round cake pans by greasing them and lining them with waxed paper cut to fit.
• In a blender combine the eggs and sugar at high speed until smooth. Add almonds and blend until they are very finely ground. Add flour and baking powder and blend until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake at 350F (180C0 for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Let cakes cool (about 5 min) before removing from the pans. Let cool completely before icing.
• Optional to pour 1-2 T amaretto liqueur on bottom layer for decadence.

MOCHA FROSTING

Steps:

• In a stand mixer bowl, whip the softened butter on medium speed until it is almost white in appearance.
• Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix on low speed.
• Add in the hot coffee and whip the buttercream on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• This recipe makes about 2 cups of frosting.

MOCHA ALMOND FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare 3 8-inch round baking pans, line the bottom with parchment paper and grease the sides. Prepare your bake even stripes if desired.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Beat on medium speed until the eggs and oil are well incorporated and the batter is lighter in color, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
• Next mix in the sour cream and beat until well combined.
• In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, espresso powder, baking powder and salt. Add half the dry ingredients and beat on low speed while pouring in half of the coffee and mix just until the flour starts to incorporate.
• Finally add the remaining dry ingredients, mixing on low speed while pouring in the remaining coffee and beating until all of the ingredients are well combined.
• Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir the batter from the bottom to the top to ensure it's well mixed.
• Divide the batter evenly between the three pans, about 1 2/3 cups of batter per pan. Bake at 350°F for 20-24 minutes. Rotate your pans in the oven halfway through baking.
• Test the cake for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is done. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
• Cut the butter into pieces. Using the paddle attachment, whip butter for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Beat until butter looks light in color.
• Next add the powdered sugar, espresso powder and liquid ingredients. Beat at a low speed until the ingredients start to incorporate.
• Once incorporated, whip at a high speed for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is light and airy. Place the frosting in a large piping bag and snip the end of the bag off about ½-inch up.
• Cut the butter into pieces. Using the paddle attachment, whip butter for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Beat until butter looks light in color. Next, beat the cocoa powder into the butter until well mixed.
• Alternate adding 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time with the liquid ingredients: vanilla extract & heavy cream. Ensure all the powdered sugar is well combined, and once completed, whip for 3-4 minutes until the frosting is light and airy.
• level off your cakes by removing any domes. Place a dollop of frosting on your cake board and place the bottom layer of cake on top.
• Pipe half of the filling on the first layer by making 3 concentric circles from the outside edge to the middle, leaving a gap in between the circles.
• Heat the hot fudge sauce for 30-45 seconds until it's warm (but not hot) and can be evenly stirred. Place the fudge in piping bag and cut off the tip. Fill in the gaps between the circles of frosting with hot fudge.
• Spread evenly with an offset spatula to smooth out the top. Add the second layer of cake and repeat the above steps. Place the third layer of cake on top.
• Take your offset spatula and spread any excess frosting from the edges around the outside of the cake.
• Next, add a thin crumb coat with your chocolate frosting, making sure to fill in any gaps between the layers. Refrigerate this cake for 20 minutes.
• Take ¾ of the remaining frosting and place in a large piping bag fitted with tip 789 (cake icing tip) or other large open round piping tip.
• Pipe the chocolate frosting around the edges of the cake. Then use an offset spatula or icing smoother to create a smooth edge.
• Use your hands to press the sliced almonds along the bottom edge of the cake.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments.
• Once the chocolate is fully melted add the corn syrup and stir the mixture until it's well mixed. Add additional heavy whipping cream if needed to thin the chocolate. Use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle the ganache along the edges of the cake.
• Use remaining chocolate frosting to pipe large rosettes on top of your cake and garnish with sliced almonds.

ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 (F) and place your oven rack in the center position. Prepare two 6-inch round cake pans by spraying liberally with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottoms of each cake pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined.
• Add 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and continue whisking until the batter is smooth and the dry ingredients have just been incorporated into the wet ingredients. Be careful not to overmix or your cake will be dense and I will cry for you; it's okay to have one or two small flour streaks left in the batter.
• Transfer the batter into your prepared cake pans and bake until just firm, around 20 to 22 minutes. When the cakes are ready, a skewer inserted into the center of each cake should come out clean and the tops should bounce back when gently poked with a finger.
• Once the cakes are finished baking, transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes, before inverting the cakes out of the pans to cool completely before frosting.
• In a large, heatproof metal bowl, combine 1.5 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder. Place the heatproof metal bowl over a saucepan filled with water, making sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Melt the chocolate by bringing the water to a boil and constantly stirring the chocolate with a whisk.
• Once the chocolate is completely melted, whisk in 2 sticks unsalted butter and 2 cups confectioner's sugar, whisking until combined and the mixture has lightened to a pale brown. If too soft to spread, chill the frosting until spreadable, whisking occasionally. If not, use immediately.
• Place 1 cup of the frosting on top of one cake, using an icing spatula to create an even layer. Sprinkle 1 cup mini chocolate chips on top of the frosting, before nestling the second cake on top of the chocolate chips. Use the remainder of the frosting to frost the cake completely.

DOUBLE LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MOCHA ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round pans.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Beat eggs and sugar until light in color, then add melted butter and vanilla.
• Beat in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Add little by little the milk until obtaining a smooth mix (not too runny) Spread batter into prepared pans and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Do not overcook.
• To make frosting (for an 8 inch layer cake): Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and then add enough milk to get a smooth (not runny, not like concrete) consistency.
• Usually 1/4 cup to start is good.
• Make sure everything is blended together.
• Refrigerate while cake is cooking and cooling, then frost the cake.