Chocolate Plum Cake Food

CHOCOLATE PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter bottom and sides of springform pan and line bottom with parchment.
• Purée plums in a blender until very smooth (you need 1 1/2 cups; reserve any additional purée for another use). If plums are not ripe enough to form a very smooth purée, strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Combine chocolate and 3/4 cup butter in a large heatproof bowl. Set bowl over a medium saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove bowl from saucepan. Stir plum purée into chocolate mixture until well combined.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat eggs and sugar in another large bowl until pale and tripled in volume, 10-12 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold about 1/3 of the egg mixture into chocolate mixture to lighten, then fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg mixture until combined.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, then fold dry ingredients into chocolate mixture until combined.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth surface. Bake cake until center is set and sides are beginning to brown, 45-55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cake cool completely in pan (cake will sink a little in the center as it cools).
• Meanwhile, using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Unmold cake (run a knife around the edge to help release, if needed) and transfer to a platter. Mound whipped cream in center of cake, then dust with cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE PLUM AND WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment; butter paper. Dust pan with flour. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water. Remove from over water. Add butter 1 piece at a time, mixing until melted and smooth. Mix in sugar. Mix in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour, then walnuts and stir to combine. Transfer batter to prepared cake pan. Bake just until springy to touch, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 15 minutes. Turn out onto rack, remove paper and cool completely.
• For Glaze:
• Bring whipping cream, slivovitz and light corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add semisweet chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Let glaze stand until cool but still pourable, whisking occasionally.
• Place cake on serving platter. Slide waxed paper under edges. Spread jam over top. Pour glaze over top and sides of cake. Smooth top and sides with spatula. Sprinkle walnuts in 1-inch border around top edge. Let stand until glaze sets. (Torte can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

CHOCOLATE PLUM PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar.
• Beat in eggs, then applesauce.
• In another bowl, stir together flours, baking soda, salt, spices, and cocoa.
• Beat into applesauce mixture and then stir in raisins and walnuts.
• Turn batter into greased and floured tube pan.
• Bake cake in a 350 F oven for 1 hour and 2 minutes, or until cake tests done with a toothpick.
• Let cool on a rack and then chill.
• When serving dust with powdered sugar.