Chocolate Port Wine Cake Food

CHOCOLATE PORT WINE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour one 9 or 10-inch cake pan. Melt butter and chocolate together in small saucepan. Add wine in quarters, stirring slowly until last addition is thoroughly incorporated before adding the next quarter. (If you go too fast it will break!)
• Combine sugar and egg yolks in bowl and mix on medium speed until pale yellow in color. Add melted chocolate slowly, and beat until smooth. Add flour and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. In another bowl, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in 1/3 of chocolate mixture into egg whites. Fold in remaining chocolate carefully. Pour into cake pan and bake for 30 minutes.
• Blend water, sugar, and wine in small saucepan, and cook on medium heat to create syrup. Reduce heat to low, and add chocolate. Stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat and add cream. Pour over Chocolate Port Wine Cake wedges before serving.

PORT WINE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by spraying them with baking spray, then lining them with parchment paper circles. Spray the parchment paper circles.
• Soak the Bake-Even strips (if using) in cold water for 5 minutes. Press out the excess water (do not wring), and wrap them snugly around the cake pans.
• Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or large bowl, if using a hand mixer), whisk together the flour, sugar, dark chocolate cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk powder and hot water. You can skip this step if you're using warmed buttermilk instead. Add the eggs, buttermilk mixture, canola oil, and vanilla to the cocoa mixture and mix well.
• Slowly add the port wine. Mix gently, being careful not to over-mix the batter.
• Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans, and tap out the pans on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles. Bake the layers for 30 to 33 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs. The cake is fudgy, so be careful not to over-bake the cakes. Every oven heats differently, so start checking your cakes at the 25 minute mark.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely. If you're not using Bake-Even strips, level the cakes before stacking.
• Make the ganache: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together the heavy cream and port wine and heat until steaming and bubbles begin to form. Remove from heat.
• Add the chopped chocolate, then cover and let sit for for two minutes.
• Open the lid and whisk the mixture until it's totally smooth. Set aside for about 30 minutes to cool. You want the ganache to be thicker and easily spreadable, but not too thin.
• Assemble the cake: Using the cake lifter, place one layer on the cake stand. Be careful because the layers can be delicate. Pour some of the ganache onto the center of the cake and use a small offset spatula to gently push the ganache off of the side so that it drizzles down the sides of the cake.
• Stack another layer on top and frost with ganache. Repeat with the third layer. If desired, frost the sides of the cake with ganache.
• Decorate the cake as desired. You can whip some of the ganache and pipe roses on top, or use sprinkles and cocoa nibs to decorate. Any leftover ganache can be scooped into balls and made into truffles...use those to decorate the cake.
• Chill the cake to firm up the ganache before slicing. Serve and enjoy!

CHOCOLATE WINE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10-cup Fleur De Lis Bundt Pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• Melt chocolate in a small bowl placed over a small saucepan of simmering water. Let cool 5 minutes. In a small bowl, combine wine and milk; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and the granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat for 2 minutes. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• In a large bowl, whisk flour, gelatin, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to combine. Add to mixer bowl, along with the wine mixture, and beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Using a plastic knife, carefully loosen cake from the pan; invert onto a wire cooling rack. Let cool completely.
• Prepare the glaze: Combine the butter, wine, and confectioners' sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Dust cake lightly with confectioners' sugar. Slice cake and drizzle with glaze.

VANILLA, CHOCOLATE AND KAHLUA CHIFFON CAKE WITH PORT WINE AND RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Into a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, 1 cups of the sugar, the cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the oil, Kahlua and vanilla. Do not mix. In another bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until white and foamy. Slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat. Mix 1/4 of the egg whites until well incorporated into the flour mixture. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites using a rubber spatula. Spray a 9-inch tube pan with nonstick cooking spray, or brush the inside with oil. Dust with flour and tap out the excess. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bang the mold on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 55 minutes, or until the top feels springy, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cake upright on a wire rack for 1 hour. Loosen the sides with a small, thin knife. Remove the cake from the pan and allow it to cool. Wrap airtight, or serve immediately with a light sifting of confectioners sugar accompanied by the Port Wine and Raspberry Sauce.
• In a food processor, blend all the ingredients until very smooth. Strain, if necessary.

DECADENTLY RICH PORT AND CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• You will also need: Brown paper- enough to wrap a double layer around the cake tin.
• Use a pair of scissors to cut up the prunes.
• Combine prunes, currants, raisins and 1 cup of the port together in a large bowl and mix well.
• Allow to stand for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, spray a deep 23cm-round (9") cake tin with cooking oil, then line the base and sides of the tin with two layers of baking (silicone) paper- bringing the paper 5cm (2") above the rim of the tin.
• When the fruit has been soaking for two hours, preheat the oven to a slow 160C (310F).
• Add the orange rind, juice and treacle to the fruit mixture and stir to combine.
• Place the chopped chocolate, cherries and walnuts into a mixing bowl.
• Add the sifted flours and spices to this bowl and stir lightly to combine.
• Now, chop the butter into smallish pieces and transfer to a small bowl.
• Beat with an electric mixer until the colour of the butter changes to pale yellow.
• Add vanilla and beat for an extra minute.
• Add sugar and beat until the mixture looks light and creamy and all the sugar crystals have dissolved.
• (This is an important step- if the sugar crystals don't dissolve your cake will develop a crusty top).
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add the butter and egg mixture to the fruit and mix well.
• Next, add the flour mixture to the fruit, and stir lightly with a wooden spoon until just combined.
• (Do not beat the mixture or the cake will be tough- a light hand ensures a good cake).
• Call in the family and have everyone give the cake a stir while they make a Christmas wish.
• Spoon the batter evenly into the cake tin.
• Run your hand under the tap and then use it to smooth the top of the cake.
• Now, wrap a double thickness of brown paper around the tin and secure it with string.
• Place the cake in the centre of the pre-heated 160c (310F) oven and bake for 3- 3 1/2 hours, or until a skewer, inserted into the centre of the cake, comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and, while still hot, pour over the extra port.
• Now, wrap the cake (tin and all) in a thick, clean towel.
• Keep wrapped for at least 24 hours, or until the cake is completely cold.
• Store the cake, well covered, in its tin in a cool, dry place- or in the refrigerator if it's really hot where you live.
• Each week before Christmas, use a skewer to poke several holes in the top of the cake and pour over a little more port- this is called'feeding' the cake.
• Close to Christmas, you can ice this cake with the traditional Christmas cake icing (frosting) if you wish, but it will still be spectacularly good without it.
• Serve small portions as this cake is very, very rich.