Chocolate Strawberry Orange Wedding Cake Food

STRAWBERRY BUNNIES AND CARROTS CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare the cake batter and bake according to the package directions using the prepared pan. Remove to a rack and let cool completely in the pan.
• Spread the frosting over the top of the cake and sprinkle with the cookies to resemble dirt.
• For the bunnies and carrots: Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment. Cut the stems off half of the strawberries. Divide the white chocolate evenly between into 2 medium microwave-safe bowls. Add the coconut oil and orange food coloring to one of the bowls. Microwave each separately in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate is melted and silky smooth.
• For the carrots: Dip the strawberries with the stems into the orange chocolate, lifting and twisting to coat completely and letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Place the strawberries on their sides on the prepared baking sheet. Transfer the remaining orange chocolate into a small resealable plastic bag. Snip a very small piece from a corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate back and forth across the width of each carrot to create horizontal lines.
• For the bunnies: Dip the stemmed strawberries into the white chocolate, turning them with a fork to coat completely. Use the fork to scoop the fruit out of the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet cut-side down. Refrigerate until hardened completely, about 30 minutes. Transfer all but 3 tablespoons of the remaining white chocolate to a small resealable plastic bag. Add the red food coloring to the reserved white chocolate in the bowl and stir until completely smooth and light pink, then transfer to another small resealable plastic bag.
• For the bunny ears: Snip a very small piece from a corner of the white and pink chocolate bags. Use the white chocolate to pipe 2-inch skinny hearts on the parchment that the strawberries are on. Pipe as many hearts as you have white strawberries. Fill in the hearts with the white chocolate. Pipe a small pink heart on each white heart to create the inner ears. While the chocolate is still wet, lay the pointy end of a white strawberry flat against the bottom point of a heart; this will be the ears on the bunny's head. Repeat with the remaining white strawberries and hearts. Pipe 2 tiny dots of white chocolate in the middle of each strawberry and adhere the mini chocolate chips for eyes. Use the pink chocolate to pipe a small nose beneath the eyes. Refrigerate until hardened completely, about 30 minutes.
• Stand the bunnies up and use the remaining white chocolate to pipe a bushy tail on the back of each. Refrigerate until hardened completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the grass: Meanwhile, combine the coconut and green food coloring in another small resealable plastic bag and shake until the coconut is green all over. Decorate the cake with the carrots, bunnies and green coconut grass.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, egg yolk, sour cream, oil, vanilla and 1/2 cup hot water and whisk until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Scatter the sliced strawberries on top and gently press them into the batter.
• Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack. Flip the cake back over and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Once the cake has cooled, put the semisweet chocolate and the white chocolate in separate small microwave-safe bowls. Microwave the semisweet chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until completely melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Drizzle the cake with the melted chocolate. Repeat the melting and drizzling process with the white chocolate.
• Garnish the top edge of the cake with the whipped cream. Cut the remaining 5 whole strawberries in half lengthwise and place the pieces cut-side down around the edge of the cake.

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY CELEBRATION CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine the first seven ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans., Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28-32 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, cream butter, confectioner's sugar and cocoa until light and fluffy. Beat in milk until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake., For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream just to a boil; pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of cake, allowing ganache to drape down the sides. Arrange strawberries on top of cake. If desired, brush jam onto strawberries.

ORANGE BERRY WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE CAKES: Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter and base-line a deep, 30cm round cake tin (20cm round cake tin for the smaller cake) with baking parchment. Whisk the eggs and sugar together using a hand-held or tabletop mixer until the mixture leaves a trail when the whisk blades are lifted. This could take 8-10 mins, but don't skimp this step as it is crucial to the success of the cake.
• Fold in the butter, almonds and orange zest using a large metal spoon, then sift in the flour and baking powder. Fold everything together lightly, then pour into the tin. Bake for 50-60 mins (30-40 mins for the smaller cake) until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 5 mins, then turn out, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely. The cakes can now be frozen for up to a month.
• TO MAKE THE ORANGE SUGAR SYRUP: Put the caster sugar in a small pan with the water and orange peel. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar has melted, then boil hard for 2-3 mins until slightly syrupy. Cool, then stir in the Cointreau.
• TO MAKE THE CRÈME PATISSERIE: Whisk together the egg yolks, vanilla extract and caster sugar using an electric whisk until the mixture is pale and thick. Whisk in the flour. Boil the milk, then gradually whisk into the egg mix. Return to the pan and cook over a gentle heat, whisking until the custard is thick and glossy. Cook gently, stirring for 2 mins more to cook out the raw flour taste. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter.
• Spoon into a clean bowl, then cover closely with cling film (so it's in contact with the custard) and leave to cool. Whip the double cream, then fold into the cool custard. Can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Just before using, stir in the crème fraîche. This quantity makes enough to cover both cakes.
• TO DECORATE: The day ahead of serving, split each cake in half; brush the cut edges with syrup. Lightly crush half the raspberries. Put the base of each cake on a cake board, then spread each with a layer of raspberry coulis. Scatter over the crushed raspberries followed by a thin layer of Crème patisserie (about one-third of the total amount). Cover with the other halves of the cakes, then chill.
• Select about 6-8 long strands of redcurrant. Lightly beat the egg white and put the sugar in a shallow bowl. Brush redcurrants lightly with egg white, then coat lightly with sugar and arrange over a flat tray lined with baking paper. Leave overnight to dry out.
• Spread Crème patisserie thinly over the tops and sides of the cakes. Measure the depth and circumference of the small cake, then roll one-third of the modelling paste into a sausage. Put this shape between two large sheets of baking parchment, then roll to the circumference of the cake and about 3-4cm more than the depth. If the paste splits, put it in the food processor with 1 tbsp oil and whizz it up, then re-knead and it should come back again to a smooth paste. Once rolled sufficiently, flip the whole lot over and peel away the uppermost sheet of paper. Trim the base of the paste in a straight line, leaving the top wavy. Carefully wrap the modelling paste around the cake with the straight edge to the base, pressing in the sides, then peel off the parchment. Repeat with remainder of paste for the larger cake.
• Cut the dowels into equal lengths, about 2cm more than the depth of the larger cake, then insert 4 into the centre of the cake in a square formation, just smaller than the size of the smaller cake, then put two in the middle. On the day, place the smaller cake on top of the larger one, then fill around the edge of the large cake and the top of the small cake with the berries, finishing with the frosted redcurrants. Dust with icing sugar.
• CHOCOLATE MODELLING PASTE: Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, then leave to cool for a few mins. Heat the glucose gently in a pan, then tip into a large bowl. Gradually beat the chocolate into the glucose, beating to a thick paste that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Place in a polythene bag and leave for about an hour until set firm.
• To use, knead lightly until slightly softened. Microwave on Defrost for 10-15 secs if really firm, then use as desired. (Takes 10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to cook and makes about 1.8kg)

STRAWBERRY ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Mix the packages of strawberry jello, boiling water, and lemon juice in a small mixing bowl. Stir well until completely dissolved and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine 2 of the containers of Cool Whip, sliced strawberries, and the jello mixture. Mix well.
• Tear the prepared angel food cake into pieces and mix into the jello Cool Whip mixture.
• Spread evenly into a 9 x 13 dish. Top with the remaining container of Cool Whip. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight.
• Garnish with fresh strawberries prior to serving.

STRAWBERRY-ORANGE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Beat cake mix, dry gelatin mix, oil, eggs, granulated sugar, flour, orange zest, and 1/2 cup each strawberries and milk in large bowl with mixer until blended. Pour into 3 greased and floured (8-inch) round pans.
• Bake 22 to 23 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
• Beat pudding mix, powdered sugar and remaining milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Gently stir in COOL WHIP and remaining strawberries. Stack cake layers on plate, filling and frosting with COOL WHIP mixture.

EASY & QUICK STRAWBERRY WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease/flour cake pans.
• Mix and bake cake mix according to directions on box.
• Use 2 - 8" or 9" round cake pans.
• Wash strawberries immediately before using and slice very thin.
• On bottom cake, spread a layer of strawberry glaze over the top portion of the cake--not the sides.
• Cover top portion of cake with thinly sliced strawberries. DO NOT OVERLAP, lay them side by side.
• Lay 2nd cake on top of the other one, and start spreading white icing on top and sides of cake.
• Decorate top of cake with whole fresh strawberries.

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY GANACHE

Steps:

• Combine cream and jam in heavy large saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until jam melts and mixture comes to boil. Add chocolate, remove from heat and whisk until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Refrigerate ganache just until thick enough to spread, whisking occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-STRAWBERRY-ORANGE WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• For Cake Layers:
• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter one 5-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides, one 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides and one 12-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Dust pans with flour; line bottoms with parchment. Combine 1/3 cup orange juice and 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate in heavy small saucepan. Stir mixture over medium-low heat until chocolate melts. Remove from heat. Gradually mix in 1 2/3 cups orange juice.
• Sift 3 cups flour, 2/3 cup cocoa, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder into medium bowl. using electric mixer, beat 1 cup (2 sticks) butter and 3 cups sugar in large bowl until blended (mixture will look grainy). Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating to blend after each. Beat in 1 tablespoon orange peel and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Add dry ingredients alternately with orange juice mixture in 3 additions each, beating well after each addition. Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.
• Transfer 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons batter to prepared 5-inch pan, 3 cups batter to prepared 8-inch pan and remaining batter (about 6 cups) to 12-inch pan. Place 5-inch and 8-inch pans on center rack of oven. Place 12-inch pan on lower rack of oven. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes in pans to racks and cool completely.
• Mark 4-inch diameter circle on one 6-inch-diameter cardboard cake round. Cut out marked circle. Mark 7-inch-diameter circle on one 8-inch-diameter cardboard cake round. Cut out marked circle. Mark 11-inch-diameter circle on one 12-inch-diameter cardboard cake round. Cut out marked circle. Cut around sides of 5-inch-cake to loosen. Place 4-inch cardboard over pan. Hold cardboard and pan together; turn cake out onto cardboard. Peel off parchment.Wrap cakes on its cardboard in foil. Repeat turning out, peeling off parchment and wrapping cakes in foil, using 7-inch cardboard for 8-inch cake and 11-inch cardboard for 12-inch cake.
• Using remaining ingredients, make 1 more batch of cake batter and bake 3 more cake layers as described above. Cool cakes in pans. Cover cakes in pans tightly with foil. (Can be prepared ahead. Let stand at room temperature up to 1 day or double-wrap all cake layers and freeze up to 1 week. Bring cake layers to room temperature before using.)
• For Filling and Frosting Cake Layers:
• Place first 12-inch cake on its cardboard on work surface. Spread 2 3/4 cups ganache over top of cake and all the way to edge. Spread 2/3 cup jam over ganache, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Drop 1 3/4 cups white chocolate frosting by spoonfuls over jam. Gently spread frosting over jam, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Rub some cocoa powder over second 12-inch cardboard. Cut around sides of second 12-inch cake to loosen. Place cardboard, cocoa side down, over pan. Turn cake out onto cardboard. Peel off parchment. Carefully slide cake off cardboard and onto filling on first 12-inch cake. Refrigerate.
• Place first 8-inch cake on its cardboard on work surface. Spread 1 cup ganache over top all the way to edge. Spread 1/4 cup jam over, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Drop 1 cup white chocolate frosting by spoonfuls over jam. Gently spread frosting over jam, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Rub some cocoa over second 8-inch cardboard. Cut around sides of second 8-inch cake to loosen. Place cardboard, cocoa side down, over pan. Turn cake out onto cardboard. Peel off parchment. Slide cake off cardboard and onto filling on first 8-inch cake. Refrigerate.
• Place first 5-inch cake on its cardboard on work surface. Spread 1/2 cup ganache over top of cake and all the way to edge. Spread 2 tablespoons jam over, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Drop 1/3 cup white chocolate frosting by spoonfuls over jam. Gently spread frosting over jam, leaving 1/2-inch chocolate border at edge. Rub cocoa over second 6-inch cardboard. Cut around sides of second 5-inch cake to loosen. Place cardboard, cocoa side down, over pan. Turn cake out onto cardboard. Peel off parchment. Slide cake off cardboard and onto filling on first 5-inch cake. Chill all cakes 1 hour to set filling.
• Place 12-inch tiered cake on its cardboard on revolving cake stand. Spread 2 2/3 cups frosting over top and sides of cake as a first coat.
• Refrigerate cake.
• Place 8-inch tiered cake on its cardboard on cake stand. Spread 1 1/4 cups frosting over top and sides of cake as a first coat. Refrigerate cake.
• Place 5-inch tiered cake on its cardboard on cake stand. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top and sides of cake as a first coat. Refrigerate all cakes until first coats of frosting set, about 1 hour. (Cakes can be made to this point up to 1 day ahead; cover and keep refrigerate.)
• Prepare second batch of frosting, using remaining frosting ingredients and following directions for first batch. Spoon 2 cups frosting into pastry bag fitted with small star tip.
• Place 12-inch cake on its cardboard on large flat platter. Place platter on cake stand. Using icing spatula, spread 2 1/2 cups frosting over top and sides of cake; smooth top. Using filled pastry bag, pipe decorative border around top edge of cake. Refrigerate cake on platter.
• Place 8-inch cake on its cardboard on cake stand. Using icing spatula, spread 1 1/2 cups frosting over top and sides of cake; smooth top. Using pastry bag, pipe decorative border around top edge of cake. Refrigerate cake on its cardboard.
• Place 5-inch cake on its cardboard on cake stand. Using icing spatula, spread 3/4 cup frosting over top and sides of cake; smooth top. Using pastry bag, pipe decorative border around top edge of cake, spooning more frosting into bag if necessary. Refrigerate cake on its cardboard.
• Keep all cakes refrigerated until frosting sets, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover loosely; keep refrigerated.)
• Assembly
• Place 12-inch cake on platter on work surface. Press 1 wooden dowel straight down into and completely through center of cake. Mark dowel 1/4 inch above top of frosting. Remove dowel and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut 4 more dowels to same length. Press 1 cut dowel back into center of cake. Press remaining 4 cut dowels into cake, positioning 3 1/2 inches inward from cake edges and spacing evenly.
• Place 8-inch cake on its cardboard on work surface. Press 1 dowel straight down into and completely through center of cake. Mark dowel 1/4 inch above top of frosting. Remove dowel and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut 3 more dowels to same length. Press 1 cut dowel back into center of cake. Press remaining 3 cut dowels into cake, positioning 2 1/2 inches inward from edges and spacing evenly. Using large metal spatula as aid, place 8-inch cake on its cardboard atop dowels in 12-inch cake, centering carefully. Gently place 5-inch cake on its cardboard atop dowels in 8-inch cake, centering carefully.
• Using citrus stripper, cut long strips of orange peel from oranges. Cut strips into long segments. To make orange peel coils, wrap peel segment around handle of wooden spoon; gently slide peel off handle so that peel keeps coiled shape. Garnish cake with orange peel coils, ivy or mint sprigs, and some berries. (Assembled cake can be made up to 8 hours ahead. Let stand at cool room temperature.)
• Serving
• Remove top and middle cake tiers. Remove dowels from cakes. Cut top and middle cakes into slices. To cut 12-inch cake: Starting 3 inches inward from edge and inserting knife straight down, cut through from top to bottom to make 6-inch-diameter circle in center of cake. Cut outer portion of cake into slices; cut inner portion into slices and serve with strawberries.