Chocolate Mud Slices Food

CHOCOLATE MUD SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160C.
• Spray an 8-inch cake pan with cooking spray; line base with baking paper, extending over two sides.
• In a large bowl, combine cocoa and water; stir until smooth.
• Add melted chocolate, butter, sugar and ground almond.
• Stir in egg yolks, one at a time, until well blended.
• Beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Gently fold into the chocolate mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; bake for 1 hour or until firm.
• Remove cake from pan; slice and dust with icing sugar before serving.

MISSISSIPPI MUD SLICE

Steps:

• Grease a 19cm x 30cm lamington pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.
• Combine butter, chocolate, sugar, water and coffee in a heatproof bowl. Place bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir over heat until chocolate is melted and smooth. Allow mixture to cool until warm.
• Sift the flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Add a third of the chocolate mixture and mix well. Add remaining chocolate and eggs. Stir until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
• Cook in a moderately slow oven (160ºc) for about 50 minutes or until cooked when tested. Stand slice in pan for 10 minutes after cooking before turning out onto a wire rack to allow to cool.
• Serve slice dusted with extra cocoa and icing sugar.

THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150°C / 300°F (fan/convection) or 160°C / 320°F (standard). Grease and line a 20 cm (8 inch) round cake tin. The cake rises very high when baking, so make sure that the baking paper rises at least 6 cm (2 inches) above the top of the tin.
• Place chopped butter and chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl. Microwave for 1 minute on high power. Stir well. Microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Microwave in further 10 second bursts, if needed, to completely melt the chocolate.
• Add sugars and instant coffee granules. Stir well. Add milk, eggs and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
• Sift over flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Stir until the batter is well combined.
• Pour into the prepared tin. Bake for 80-90 minutes (1 hr 20 mins - 1 hr 30 mins) or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Avoid opening the oven door during cooking as much as possible or the cake will sink in the middle.
• Allow to cool for 20 minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Stir together milk and cream in a small heat-proof jug. Microwave for 1 minute on high power or until it just begins to bubble (but is not boiling over).
• Place the finely chopped chocolate in a separate small bowl. Pour the hot cream and milk over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir together until smooth and well combined. If the chocolate doesn't melt completely, microwave the ganache in 10 seconds bursts until smooth.
• Using a large serrated bread knife, level out the top of the cake so it is completely flat. Pour the ganache over the top of the cooled cake, using the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the sides of the cake. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until ganache is firm and matte. The ganache can also set at room temperature (if your house is reasonably cool), but it may take longer.
• Slice up and enjoy! I find that this cake tastes even fudgier on the second day.

MUDSLIDE

Steps:

• Put two small tumblers in the fridge to chill overnight. Put 30g of the chocolate in a shallow bowl and melt in the microwave in short bursts. Dip the rim of the chilled glasses in the melted chocolate, then stand them upright so it gradually drips down the sides. Return to the fridge until you're ready to serve.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in the coffee-flavoured liqueur, vodka, Irish cream liqueur and double cream. Shake until the outside of the shaker is very cold.
• Put a few ice cubes in the prepared glasses, then strain in the cocktail. Finely grate over the remaining chocolate and serve with a paper straw.