Chocolate Layer Tweed Cake Food

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet until lightly golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Cool slightly, then pulse in a food processor until finely ground, but not pasty.
• Melt 12 tablespoons butter and the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until the chocolate is smooth, then remove from the heat and cool slightly. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with butter and coat with the breadcrumbs, tapping out the excess.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Combine the 6 egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium-high until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest, rum and salt, then beat in the melted chocolate until smooth. Mix in the ground almonds until just combined.
• In a clean bowl, beat the 3 egg whites with a mixer until foamy. Gradually beat in the reserved 2 tablespoons granulated sugar on high speed until almost stiff. Stir one-third of the whites into the chocolate batter, then gently fold in the rest. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the top is firm and cracked (a toothpick inserted into the cake will be fudgy), 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the ring. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with confectioners' sugar and whipped cream, if desired.

CONTEST-WINNING CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift the flour, 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and cocoa three times. Set aside. , Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time. Mixture will be thick. , Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through the batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until lightly browned and entire top appears dry. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour. , Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate. , For frosting, In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add the sugar, cocoa and salt; beat until stiff peaks form. Frost top and sides of cake.,

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 TWEED LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 (F).
• Grease 3 8-inch pans, or 2 9-inch pans, and line bottom with wax paper.
• Cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add to creamed mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• Stir chocolate into batter.
• In separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy; slowly add remaining 1/2 cup sugar until soft peaks form.
• Fold into cake batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes.
• (Tops of cakes will not turn brown, so test with toothpick to see if they are done) Cool in pans for 5 minutes and then turn out onto cooling wracks to cool completely.
• Prepare your favorite buttercream frosting and frost when cakes are cool.
• For the chocolate shadow, melt the chocolate chips in microwave for about 1 minute, or until the chips are soft enough to stir together.
• Add one tablespoon of water at a time, until chocolate mixture is thin enough or pour.
• Drizzle thinned chocolate over frosting.
• Chill cake for at least an hour, or until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE LAYER TWEED CAKE

Steps:

• For cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Stir chocolate into batter. Beat egg whites until foamy; gently fold into batter. Turn into 3 8-inch or 2 9-inch round cake pans, greased and lined with wax paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; turn onto wire racks to cool. For frosting: Beat together yolk and butter, gradually adding sugar. Spread between layers and frost cake. For chocolate shadow: Melt chocolate slowly in a saucepan over low heat. Add water to chocolate; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cake in a tweed or lattice pattern.