Chocolate Layer Cake With Passion Fruit Icing Food

CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter the bottom of two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper, and then butter and flour the parchment and the sides of the pans. (Alternatively, replace the butter and flour with nonstick cooking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy or Pam with Flour.)
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds to combine. Add the eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined.
• Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Then, reduce the speed to low and gradually pour in the hot water (be careful to pour very slowly so it doesn't splash). The batter will be soupy. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl; mix again until evenly combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting.
• Cool the cake layers in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto a wire rack, remove the pans and cool completely. When the cakes have cooled, place one cake layer on a serving plate. Using an icing spatula or butter knife, spread about ¾ cup of the frosting over the first layer. Top with the second layer, then spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake, swirling decoratively. The cake is best enjoyed fresh on the day it is made, but it will keep for 2 to 3 days stored in a cake dome at room temperature.
• Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and cook in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until it's about three-quarters of the way melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the remaining chocolate completely. (If necessary, place the chocolate back in microwave for a few seconds.) Set aside to cool.
• In a food processor, process the butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and salt until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the lukewarm melted chocolate and pulse until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. Do not overmix.
• The frosting can be used immediately or held at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours. It may lose its shine as it sits-to bring the shine back, run a metal spoon under hot water, then wipe dry with a towel; stir the frosting with the hot spoon and it should shine right up.
• Note: If making this cake for children, I recommend using milk chocolate for the frosting (Hershey or Lindt milk chocolate bars work well). Semi-sweet chocolate will lend a more intense chocolate flavor (Ghirardelli bars for baking are ideal).

CHOCOLATE AND PASSION FRUIT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• To make the passion fruit curd, put the passion fruit purée into a pan and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk the egg, yolks, sugar and cornflour until smooth and pale. Pour the passion fruit purée over the egg mix, whisking to combine. Scrape the curd mixture back into the pan and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Scrape the curd into a bowl and press a sheet of clingfilm onto the surface (this will prevent a skin forming). Chill until needed.
• Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and lightly butter a deep 20cm round cake tin, lining the base with baking paper.
• For the chocolate cake, put the butter and sugars into a large bowl and beat using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating the first until fully combined before adding the second.
• In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and sea salt. In a jug, combine the coffee and milk. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture 1 /3 at a time, alternating with the milky coffee, until fully combined. Scrape into the prepared tin and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake springs back when pressed. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• As the cake cools, make the passion fruit syrup by putting the purée and sugar into a small pan with 50ml of water. Simmer and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
• To make the ganache, put the dark and milk chocolate and butter into a bowl. Put the cream into a pan and bring to a simmer, then pour over the chocolate and allow to sit for a few minutes before stirring until smooth. Put aside until thickened and spreadable.
• When ready to assemble, use a large serrated knife to carefully slice the cake into three equal layers (use a ruler to mark up the layers before cutting). Put the bottom layer of cake onto a piece of baking paper and brush the cut side liberally with syrup. Then spread over 1 /2 of the curd and a 1 /3 of the ganache. Repeat with the second layer. Sandwich the two layers together. For the final layer, brush the cut side with the remaining syrup and place syrup-side down on top. Spread the remaining ganache over the top and sides of the cake. Put the cake into the freezer for 1 hour.
• For the glaze, put the chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream and golden syrup in a small pan until simmering. Pour over the chocolate and mix until smooth and combined. Put aside for 10 minutes or until it has slightly thickened.
• Remove the cake from the freezer and put onto a wire rack. Pour the glaze over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides until it covers the entire cake. Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before using a couple of spatulas to lift from the wire rack onto a cake stand or plate. Allow the cake to come to room temperature before serving. This cake will keep in the fridge for 4 days.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Cut 3 circles of waxed paper or parchment paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, then press them in.
• In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and eggs and mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla, cocoa, baking soda and salt and mix. Add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the sour cream and mix. Repeat with the remaining flour and sour cream. Drizzle in the hot coffee and mix until smooth. The batter will be thin. Pour into the prepared pans and bake until the tops are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), about 35 minutes. Halfway through the baking, quickly rotate the pans in the oven to ensure even baking, but otherwise try not to open the oven. Let cool in the pan 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and let cool completely before frosting.
• Frosting: In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Drizzle in the melted chocolate and mix. Add the coffee and vanilla and mix. Add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Mix until well blended and fluffy. To frost the cake, use a spatula to cover 2 of the cake layers with frosting. Stack them together. Flip the third cake layer over and rest it on the top to create a very flat top for the cake. Frost on the sides and top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE AND PASSIONFRUIT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4/350°F then grease two 20cm (8-inch) tins and line with baking parchment.
• Make two batches of My Favorite Chocolate Cake recipe and use it to fill the tins.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until risen and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for ten minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• Whip the cream and confectioners' sugar together in a small bowl until it forms soft peaks and holds its shape when mixed. Be careful to stop when it reaches soft peaks or you might over-whip the cream, which will ruin the finished cake.
• Spread the whipped cream all over the top of one of the cake layers, then cover with spoonfuls of passionfruit curd. Carefully sandwich the second layer on top of the first.
• To make the icing, melt the butter and chocolate together in a microwave or in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and mix in the confectioners' sugar and the milk, then use a palette knife to spread it over the top of the cake. Sprinkle over chocolate shavings before serving. Keep any leftover cake in the fridge, where it will keep well for 2-3 days.

PASSION-FRUIT ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 11 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan with parchment; brush with soft butter, and dust with flour, shaking out excess.
• Place eggs and sugar in bowl of electric mixer. Using hand whisk, stir until mixed. Set bowl over pot of simmering water; whisk until mixture is warm, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer bowl back to electric mixer; beat with whisk on high for about 7 minutes until, when whisk is lifted, mixture leaves trail resembling a ribbon that blends back into surface in 3 seconds. Add zest and juice. Sift flour over egg mixture, one-third at a time, folding after each addition. Just before final third is completely folded in, stream in butter; fold in. Pour into prepared pan; bake until cake tester comes out clean and cake is springy to the touch, 16 to 18 minutes. Cool. Invert pan to remove cake; peel off parchment.
• Slice cake widthwise into three rectangles, about 5-by-11 inches each. Split each in half, creating two layers of equal thickness. Place one layer on a flat, rectangular platter; spread with 3/4 cup mousse. Spoon 1/2 cup curd over mousse; spread. Cover with another cake layer; repeat process ending with cake layer. Reserve 3/4 cup mousse to frost cake. Cover with plastic; chill about 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, invert cake onto a serving plate. Spread top of cake with reserved mousse; sprinkle with coconut. Serve with passion-fruit pulp spooned around cake.