Chocolate Valentine Cake With Glossy Chocolate Frosting Food

OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GLOSSY CHOCOLATE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 with rack in the center.
• Spray two 8" round cake pans with nonstick spray.
• Whisk dry cake ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
• Combine water, oil, vinegar, instant coffee granules, and vanilla in a large measuring cup.
• Add to the dry ingredients and whisk until combined- a few lumps are ok.
• Divide batter between the two pans (about 3 cups each), then bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (35- 40 min).
• Cool cakes for 15 minutes on a rack, then invert them onto the rack.
• Leave upside down until completely cooled before frosting them.
• To make icing, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in sugar, cocoa, and salt- the mixture will be thick/grainy.
• Combine cream, sour cream and coffee granules in a large measuring cup, mixing until smooth.
• Gradually add cream mixture to chocolate until blended and smooth.
• Cook until sugar has dissolved, and mixture is smooth and hot to the touch.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Take mixture off the heat, and add vanilla.
• Cool at room temperature until spreadable (up to three hours).
• If it isn't getting thick enough to be spreadable, put in the refrigerator until thick enough to spread.
• If it gets too thick to spread easily, warm gently in the microwave until it's just right (20 seconds or so, repeat if necessary).
• Stir well, and ice cake, frosting first layer, then placing second layer on top, and icing the top and then the sides.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; dust the pans with flour, and knock out excess.
• In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and 1 1/2 cups water. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed. Mix in the butter and eggs, and then slowly add the buttermilk mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the cake layers begin to pull away from sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes.
• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: Add the sugar and egg whites to a heatproof stand mixer bowl, and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisking constantly, heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and cooled, about 10 minutes. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form. Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. (Makes 7 cups. See Cook's Note.)
• For the raspberry buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat 800 grams of the Swiss meringue buttercream together with the raspberry puree until fully incorporated. (Makes 4 cups.)
• To assemble: Level and tort both cakes--you will end up with 4 layers of cake. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; add about a 1/2-inch layer of the raspberry buttercream. Repeat until you have 4 stacked layers of cake and 3 layers of filling. Frost the cake with the remaining Swiss meringue buttercream.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH MILK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess.
• In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined.
• Divide batter between prepared pans (or cupcake tins); smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes (or 18 to 20 minutes for cupcakes).
• Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; peel off parchment. Re-invert cakes; let cool completely, top sides up.
• Make the frosting: Finely chop both the bittersweet and milk chocolates. Place into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream and corn syrup to a boil. Take off the heat and pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Starting in the center, whisk towards the edges of the bowl until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool at room temperature.
• Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat at medium speed and gradually add butter until frosting is smooth and silky.
• Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level. Transfer one of the layers to a cake turntable or platter to frost. With an offset spatula, spread top with 3/4 cup milk chocolate frosting. Place the second cake layer on top.
• For the crumb coat, spread the entire cake with a thin coat of frosting using an offset spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Spread the entire cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome. Let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

DOUBLE DECADENCE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH SHINY CHOCOLATE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF.
• Spray two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with Crisco No Stick Cooking Spray. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper or parchment paper; spray again.
• Combine chocolate chips and hot coffee in a bowl. Let mixture stand, whisking occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat, in the bowl of an electric mixer, eggs until thick and yellow, about 3-5 minutes. Slowly add Oil, milk, vanilla and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium speed until just combined well.
• Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 minutes.
• Cool layers in pans on racks for 30-45 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely.
• Whisk together, in a 1-1/2- to 2-quart saucepan, the cream, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate chips, whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Crisco into 3 pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.
• Transfer icing to a bowl and chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• Spread icing between cake layers and over top and sides.

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.

JACQUES TORRES'S SHINY CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, sugar, heavy cream and cocoa powder. Simmer for about 20 minutes until mixture slightly thickens.
• Place 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top and let soften 5 minutes. Remove chocolate mixture from the heat and whisk in gelatin mixture until thoroughly combined.
• Set over an ice bath and whisk until the glaze thickens and reaches about 80 degrees, about 1 minute.

CHOCOLATE CHIFFON VALENTINE CAKE

Steps:

• Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line two greased 9-in. heart-shaped pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water until smooth; cool. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks, oil, vanilla and cocoa mixture. Add to dry ingredients; beat until well blended. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture., Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper. , In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form; reserving 1-1/2 cups. Spread remaining frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. , Spoon reserved frosting into a pastry bag with a star tip. Pipe a decorative lattice design on cake top and sides. Garnish with strawberries and mint if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

GLOSSY CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar, sugar substitute, cocoa and cornstarch. Add water and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread over cupcakes or cake while frosting is still warm.