Chocolate Leaves For Orange Spice Cake Food

CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with waxed paper or parchment paper..
• Place the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.
• Dip the paintbrush in the melted candy coating and brush a thick layer of chocolate on the underside of the leaf. The underside typically has more pronounced veins, and will give you a better pattern on your leaves. Make sure that you're generous with the layer of candy coating-if it's too thin, the chocolate leaf will crack when you to remove it.
• Set the leaf, chocolate side up, on the waxed paper, and repeat with the remaining leaves. You can use different colors of candy coating to make a variety of leaves, if you'd like.
• Once all of the leaves are covered with chocolate, refrigerate the tray to set the coating, for about 20 minutes.
• When the chocolate is fully set, remove the tray from the refrigerator. Carefully peel the leaves back from the chocolate, trying not to handle the leaves too much to prevent your body heat from melting the chocolate.
• If you'd like to give your leaves a metallic shine, use luster dust to decorate them when they're finished. Dip a clean, dry paintbrush in luster dust, and brush a thin layer of dust along the edges. For a more dramatic look, brush a layer of dust over the entire leaf.

WINTER SPICE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE TREES

Steps:

• MAKE THE CAKE Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base and sides of three 20cm cake tins with baking parchment - if your cake tins are quite shallow, line the sides to a depth of at least 5cm.
• Mix the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar, mixed spice and salt in a bowl.
• Whisk the buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract and 75ml water with the eggs until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until well combined. Scoop about a third of the cake mixture into a tin. If using, mix the food colouring into the remaining batter and divide this between the other tins. Bake for 25-30 mins, or until the cakes have risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Cool in the tins for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack, peel off the parchment and cool. The sponges will keep, wrapped tightly in cling film, for three days, or wrap and freeze for up to two months.
• NOW MAKE THE ICING Beat the butter with half the icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the remaining icing sugar and the cream cheese, and beat again until combined - don't overmix or the icing may become runny.
• NEXT, ASSEMBLE THE CAKE Put one of the red sponges on a cake stand or cake board, sticking it down with a small blob of icing. Sandwich with the gold sponge, being generous with the icing. Top with more icing and the final red sponge, flat-side up. When assembled, use a palette knife to cover the entire cake with a thin layer of the icing, filling any gaps between sponges, but don't worry about completely covering the sponges at this stage. This is called a crumb coat and ensures that your final layer is crumb-free. Make space in the fridge and chill for 30 mins to allow the icing to firm up.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE TREES Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, or in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir in a spot of green food colouring gel if you want to make them green. Transfer to a piping bag and leave to firm up for a few mins (this will make the trees thicker). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Snip off the end of the piping bag and quickly pipe the chocolate backwards and forwards in thin lines to create little Christmas trees (ours were 7-10cm tall).
• Decorate with sprinkles and chill until you're ready to decorate the cake.
• ICE THE CAKE Once the crumb coat is chilled, use the remaining icing to completely cover the cake. This is easiest if you pile the icing on top of the cake, then use a palette knife to ease it over the edge and down the sides. You can make it as smooth or as rough as you like. Chill for another 30 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the chocolate drip, melt the white chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of lightly simmering water or in the microwave in short bursts. Pour into a disposable piping bag and set aside to firm up a little - you want it to be pourable but not too runny.
• Remove the cake from the fridge. If you like, you can use an edible gold spray to cover the surface in a thin layer of shimmer. When the white chocolate is the correct consistency, snip off the end of the piping bag and pipe drizzles down the side of the cake. Fill in the top with the remaining chocolate. Push them into the white chocolate topping before it sets.

ORANGE CHOCOLATE LOAF CAKE FROM FLORIDA

Steps:

• Adjust rack one-third up from the bottom of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. You will need a loaf pan measuring about 8½ x 4½ x 2¾ inches, or one with about a 6‑cup capacity. Butter the pan and dust it all over lightly with fine, dry bread crumbs, shake out excess crumbs, and set the pan aside.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and sugar and set aside.
• Beat the cream and vanilla in the small bowl of an electric mixer until the cream holds a definite shape. On low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula and beating only until the egg is incorporated after each addition. (The eggs will thin the cream slightly.)
• Transfer to the large bowl of the mixer and gradually, on low speed, add the sifted dry ingredients, scraping the bowl and beating only until smooth. Remove from the mixer and stir in the grated zest. That's all there is to it.
• Turn the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 1 hour and 5 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly pressed with a fingertip.
• For the glaze:
• As soon as the cake goes into the oven, mix the orange juice with the sugar and let it stand while the cake is baking.
• After you remove the cake from the oven, let it cool for 5 minutes. Then, a little at a time, brush the orange juice/sugar mixture all over the cake; encourage most of it to run down the sides between the cake and the pan, but thoroughly wet the top also. The cake will absorb it all.
• Let the cake stand in the pan until it is completely cool. Then cover the pan loosely with a piece of wax paper. Invert the cake into the palm of your hand-easy does it-remove the pan, cover the cake with a rack, and invert again, leaving the cake right side up.

ORANGE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Combine the orange juice, molasses, oil and egg; add to dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan., Bake at 350° for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Spoon marmalade over warm cake. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped topping if desired.

ORANGE SPICE CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE POINSETTIA TOPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat three 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment; coat parchment with cooking spray. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
• Stir boiling water and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Sift together flour, spices, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl; set aside.
• Put butter, sugar, and zest into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed; mix in molasses, liqueur if desired, orange juice, corn syrup, and baking soda mixture. Mix in flour mixture, then eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on racks 15 minutes. Invert to unmold onto racks; remove parchment. Reinvert; let cool completely. Store cakes at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 day.
• Trim tops of cakes flat. Spread 1/2 cup frosting on cut side of 1 layer. Top with a second layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with final layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides, smoothing with an offset spatula.
• Place 6 or 7 green chocolate leaves on top of cake in a circle with tips facing out, overhanging sides slightly. Place 12 to 15 pink leaves on top of green leaves, leaving a hole in center. Roll marzipan into six to eight 1/8-inch balls; taper one end of each into a point. Place marzipan buds in center, point side down. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES FOR ORANGE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Gently clean leaves using a damp paper towel. Let dry completely on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
• Heat chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until almost melted. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Transfer one-third of the chocolate to a small bowl; tint green. Tint remaining chocolate pale pink.
• Using a pastry brush, generously coat undersides of 20 small leaves with pink chocolate and 10 large leaves with green chocolate. Place leaves, chocolate sides up, on baking sheets lined with parchment. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Starting at stem ends, peel leaves from chocolate; discard leaves. Transfer chocolate leaves to baking sheets lined with clean parchment paper; refrigerate until ready to use.

CHOCOLATE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and sugar. Add the eggs, beating well after each addition.
• In another bowl, sift together the flour and spices. Blend these dry ingredients into the sugar mixture.
• Dissolve the soda in the sour milk, and add to the batter.
• Grate the chocolate, and add to the batter.
• Pour batter into a greased and floured 8 inch round pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes, or until done.

MINI PUMPKIN SPICE CAKES WITH ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Cake Preparation:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Oil and flour 8 mini bundt pans. Combine cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in large bowl. Beat for 2 minutes, or until well blended. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake for 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center of cakes comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on cooling racks for 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto wire rack and cool completely.
• For the Orange Glaze:
• Heat cream in small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering; remove from heat. Add white morsels and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in food colorings, 1 drop at a time, until desired color is achieved. Drizzle glaze over cakes. Refrigerate cakes for 10 minutes, or until glaze is firm. Cover and reserve any remaining glaze.
• For the Marzipan Stems and Leaves:
• Place marzipan in medium bowl. Using latex gloves, knead food coloring, 1 drop at a time, into marzipan until desired color is achieved. Divide marzipan into 2 equal pieces. Roll 1 marzipan piece into a 12-inch-long log. Cut log crosswise into 8 equal pieces; set aside to use as stems. Flatten remaining marzipan piece, then place between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Using rolling pin, roll out marzipan to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a leaf-shaped cookie cutter or small sharp knife, cut out 24 leaves. Decorate cakes with marzipan stems and leaves. Reheat reserved glaze. Serve cakes, passing glaze alongside.

SESAME SPICE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease and lightly flour a 10 cup bundt pan.
• Chop the dates in food processor by pulsing several times; place in a small bowl and cover with hot water; allow to stand while preparing remaining cake ingredients.
• In medium mixer bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, ground cloves and cinnamon; set aside.
• In large mixer bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy; beat in brown sugar, tahini and while continuing to beat, add eggs 1 at a time.
• Gradually beat in flour mixture, alternating with yogurt; beat for 2 minutes on medium speed.
• Stir in 1/4 cup of orange juice and 1 tablespoon zest, drain the dates and stir into batter until evenly distributed; add chopped nuts and stir to distribute.
• Turn into prepared pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until tester comes out clean when inserted off center; cool 10 minutes and turn out of pan onto plate; allow too cool completely before glazing.
• For the glaze, in a small saucepan, add the butter, chocolate, cream and orange juice; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens; remove from heat.
• Stir in vanilla and gradually add confectioners' sugar; beating until smooth and thickened.
• Stir in orange zest and pour evenly over cake, allowing glaze to run down sides, scrape up excess that drips into the center and round edges, pour over cake.

SPICED PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Make chocolate leaves:
• Line small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Add enough hot water (125°F. to 130°F.) to 9-inch-diameter cake pan to measure depth of 1 inch. Place 6 ounces finely chopped milk chocolate in 3- to 4-cup glass bowl; place bowl in hot water. Let stand just until outer edges of chocolate melt. Stir until chocolate is partially melted (some soft pieces will remain). Transfer bowl to work surface and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth and instant-read thermometer registers no higher than 88°F. (barely lukewarm). If melted chocolate is warmer than 88°F., add 1-inch piece of milk chocolate and stir until temperature falls below 88°F. Remove any remaining piece of chocolate.
• Hold 1 leaf with heavily veined side up. Using pastry brush, carefully coat upper surface completely with chocolate. Using fingertips, wipe away any chocolate overflow from edges of leaf. Place leaf, chocolate side up, on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with 7 more leaves. Refrigerate coated leaves until chocolate is cold and set, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully peel lemon leaves off chocolate leaves; return chocolate leaves to baking sheet and refrigerate.
• Line another small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Melt 6 ounces white chocolate and make 8 white chocolate leaves, following technique and temperature guidelines for milk chocolate leaves.
• Line another small baking sheet (or large plate) with foil. Melt 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate and make 8 bittersweet chocolate leaves, following technique for milk chocolate leaves. (Chocolate leaves can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottoms of two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides with waxed paper. Spray sides of pans with nonstick spray. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and cloves into medium bowl; sift again. Place currants in small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon flour mixture and toss to coat; mix in walnuts.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions. Beat in pumpkin. Fold in currant-walnut mixture. Divide batter equally between prepared pans (batter will be about 3/4 inch deep).
• Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; peel off waxed paper. Cool layers completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.)
• Make frosting:
• Beat butter, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla and orange peel in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in cream cheese. Sift powdered sugar over; beat to blend. (Frosted cake can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let cake stand at room temperature 2 hours before continuing.)
• Assmble:
• Place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on platter. Spread with 1 1/2 cups frosting. Top with second cake layer, bottom side down. Spread remaining frosting smoothly over top and sides of cake.
• Arrange chocolate leaves decoratively on top and sides of cake. Serve immediately or let stand up to 2 hours.

ORANGE SPICE CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE POINSETTIA TOPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat three 6- inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with parchment; coat parchment with cooking spray. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
• Stir boiling water and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Sift together flour, spices, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl; set aside.
• Put butter, sugar, and zest into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed; mix in molasses, liqueur if desired, orange juice, corn syrup, and baking soda mixture. Mix in flour mixture, then eggs and vanilla. Stir in nuts.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on racks 15 minutes. Invert to unmold onto racks; remove parchment. Reinvert; let cool completely. Store cakes at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 day.
• Trim tops of cakes flat. Spread 1/2 cup frosting on cut side of 1 layer. Top with a second layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with final layer, cut side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides, smoothing with an offset spatula.
• Place 6 or 7 green chocolate leaves on top of cake in a circle with tips facing out, overhanging sides slightly. Place 12 to 15 pink leaves on top of green leaves, leaving a hole in center. Roll marzipan into six to eight 1/8-inch balls; taper one end of each into a point. Place marzipan buds in center, point side down. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.