Chocolate Strawberry Cake With Fluffy Frosting Food

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH FLUFFY FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Generously grease or spray two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pans.
• Bake as directed on box for 8- or 9-inch rounds. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, add frosting; fold in whipped topping.
• On serving plate, place 1 cake, rounded side down. Spread with 1/3 cup frosting almost to edge. Cut about 5 strawberries into 1/4-inch slices; arrange on frosted cake. Top with second cake, rounded side up. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with about 5 halved strawberries in center of cake. Sprinkle chocolate chips around outside edge of top of cake. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY FROSTING

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper to cover the bottom and long sides. Lightly spray the parchment. Set aside.
• For the cake: Whisk together the hot water and cocoa powder in a large liquid measuring cup until it forms a smooth, thick paste. Add the oil, eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined and smooth.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to combine. Add the butter and 1/3 of the chocolate-egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Raise the speed to medium-high and beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl clean with a rubber spatula and beat 30 seconds more. Add the remaining liquid ingredients in 2 additions, scraping and beating 20 to 30 seconds after each addition. Scrape the bowl clean one last time and beat until fluffy, about 10 seconds.
• Fold in the chocolate chips if using and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Tap the pan several times on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake in the center of the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 1 hour 2 minutes to 1 hour 8 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack about 15 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake from the pan with a metal spatula. Remove the cake from the pan and cool on the rack for an additional 15 minutes. Place the cake back in the pan, wrap with plastic wrap and allow to cool completely before frosting, about 6 hours.
• For the buttercream: Bring the strawberries, sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir and smash the strawberries with a rubber spatula, making sure that they don't stick to the pan. Simmer while stirring to reduce and thicken slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Strain the strawberry puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pushing the purée through the sieve. You should have 3 tablespoons purée. Cool the purée 15 to 20 minutes.
• Beat the butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and beat on low speed until it forms a paste. Scrape the sides of the bowl and paddle clean and beat on high speed for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low, add half of the strawberry purée and mix to combine. Beat on medium speed for a few seconds, then add the remaining puree. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl and beat on high speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
• If the buttercream looks separated, scoop about 1/4 cup into a microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted, 5 to 6 seconds. Add this melted buttercream back into the bowl of buttercream and beat on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.
• To frost the cake, trim off the baked crust on the short ends of the cake and trim off a bit of the crown, if desired. Dollop the buttercream on top and spread to the edges, smoothing as desired. Store any leftovers covered on the counter for up to 3 days.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F; grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• In a large bowl, beat butter at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy.
• Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• In a small bowl, combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt; sift twice. Add flour mixture, alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in melted chocolate.
• Pour batter evenly into prepared pans; bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and allow to cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread 1/4 cup strawberry preserves between each cake layer.
• Spread White Chocolate Frosting on sides and top of cake. Break pirouette cookies in half and place (vertically, edges touching) around sides of cake, if desired. Top with white chocolate curls, if desired.
• For White Chocolate Frosting (Makes about 3 cups):.
• In a medium bowl, combine chocolate and cream. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until chocolate is melted and smooth (about 1 1/2 minutes total); let cool completely.
• In a large bowl, combine white chocolate mixture, butter, and vanilla. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until fluffy.