Chocolate Raspberry Plunge Food

CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY BIRTHDAY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat 1 1/4 sticks softened butter and 1 cup light brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed, 4 minutes. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup each white chocolate chips and crushed freeze-dried raspberries. Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls; arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake at 375˚ F until set, 12 to 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Draw a 9-inch-diameter circle on the paper with a pencil, tracing a round cake tin that size.
• Flip the paper over so your meringue doesn't touch the pencil marks - you'll still be able to see the circle.
• Make the meringue: Beat the egg whites with a mixer until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Add the chocolate: Sprinkle the cocoa, vinegar and then the chopped chocolate over the egg whites. Gently fold everything with a rubber spatula until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in.
• Shape the meringue: Secure the parchment to the baking sheet with a dab of meringue under each corner. Mound the meringue onto the parchment within the circle, smoothing the sides and the top with a spatula.
• Bake the meringue: Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 300 degrees F and cook for one to one and a quarter hours. When it's ready, it should look crisp and dry on top, but when you prod the center you should feel the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers.
• Let it cool: Turn off the oven and open the door slightly; let the chocolate meringue disk cool completely in the oven. When you'reready to serve, invert onto a big flatbottomed plate and peel off the parchment.
• Decorate the Pavlova: Whisk the cream till thick but still soft and pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter the raspberries on top. Coarsely grate the chocolate haphazardly over the top so that you get curls of chocolate rather than rubble, as you don't want the raspberries' luscious color and form to be obscured. You want the Pavlova to look like a frosted cake.

CHOCOLATE PLUNGE

Steps:

• Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until mixture comes to boil. Add chocolate; stir until completely melted.
• Serve warm as a dip with cut-up fresh fruit, assorted cookies, pretzels and/or pound cake cubes.

CHOCOLATE PLUNGE

Steps:

• In medium saucepan stir corn syrup and cream.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Add chocolate; stir until completely melted.
• Serve warm as a dip for fruit.

THE ULTIMATE RASPBERRY-CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Puree the raspberries in a food processor fitted with a steel blade, then pass them through a fine strainer or food mill. Set aside.
• In a medium-sized heavy saucepan, whisk together the cocoa and heavy cream. Add the butter, sugar, corn syrup and raspberries, and stir until well blended. Place the pan over medium heat and slowly bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. Let the mixture continue to boil slowly for eight minutes without stirring. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the sauce into a container. Let it cool for 15 minutes if serving it hot, or cover and refrigerate until needed. It will last for at least a month. The sauce may be reheated slowly.

EASY CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY TRUFFLE PUDDING PIE

Steps:

• Spread preserves onto bottom of crust; top with 1 cup raspberries.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. (Pudding will be thick.) Stir in COOL WHIP; spread over raspberries in crust.
• Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Top with remaining raspberries just before serving.

CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY POTS

Steps:

• Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Bring a little water to the boil in a small saucepan, then place the bowl of chocolate on top, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Leave the chocolate to melt slowly over a low heat.
• Remove the chocolate from the heat and leave to cool for 10 mins. Meanwhile, divide the raspberries between 6 small ramekins or glasses.
• When the chocolate has cooled slightly, quickly mix in the yogurt and honey. Spoon the chocolate mixture over the raspberries. Place in the fridge to cool, then finish the pots with a few chocolate shavings before serving.

BEST EVER CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 20 x 30cm baking tray tin with baking parchment. Put the chocolate, butter and sugar in a pan and gently melt, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat.
• Stir the eggs, one by one, into the melted chocolate mixture. Sieve over the flour and cocoa, and stir in. Stir in half the raspberries, scrape into the tray, then scatter over the remaining raspberries. Bake on the middle shelf for 30 mins or, if you prefer a firmer texture, for 5 mins more. Cool before slicing into squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY COOKIE BALLS

Steps:

• Mix first 4 ingredients until blended.
• Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 min. Meanwhile, mix white chocolate and food coloring until blended.
• Dip balls in semi-sweet chocolate, turning to evenly coat each ball; place on waxed paper-covered rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with pink chocolate. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Line the bases of two 23cm cake tins with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave; leave to cool. Stir in the vanilla and coffee powder.
• Whizz the almonds in a food processor until finely ground, then add flour and salt, and transfer to a bowl. Whisk the eggs with an electric mixer for 5 mins, until doubled in volume. Slowly add the sugar, whisk for 1 min more. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture until just combined. Sprinkle over half the flour mixture and fold in, then the other half. The mixture will be rather runny.
• Divide between the two tins and bake for about 15 mins until a skewer comes out with a few crumbs attached - the sponges should be slightly undercooked. Cool in tin, then turn out onto a wire rack.
• Choose the less perfect of the two, then set it on a serving plate. Mash 12 raspberries and stir in the jam. Spread on the base, then top with the other cake.
• For the glaze, bring the cream to the boil, pour it over the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Leave for a few mins until starting to thicken, then spread over the top and sides to cover. Decorate with raspberries. Chill for up to 24 hrs. Remove from fridge 1 hr before serving, dust with icing sugar, and serve with vanilla cream.