Christmas Cake With Fudge Frosting Food

FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients except vanilla in sauce pan.
• Stir over low heat until chocolate and shortening melt.
• Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.
• Boil 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and beat until lukewarm.
• Add vanilla.
• Beat until looks ready to spread.
• Use to frost my Fudge Cake or your favorite chocolate cake recipe!

CHRISTMAS CAKE - EASY MOIST FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Place dried fruit and juice/brandy in a large microwavable container. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes on high or until hot.
• Stir to coat all fruit in liquid. Cover then set aside for 1 hour (to plump up/soak and cool).
• Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (140°C fan). Grease and line a 21 - 22 cm / 8 - 9" round cake pan with baking paper (parchment paper) (7 cm / 2.75" tall).
• Using an electric beater, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute on speed 5).
• Add oil and molasses, beat until combined.
• Add salt, spices and baking powder - beat until incorporated.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated
• Stir in the flour.
• When mostly incorporated, stir in the fruit mix (including all the extra liquid in bowl) and walnuts (if using).
• Pour into cake pan, cover with foil and bake for 3 hours 15 minutes, removing foil the last 45 minutes. Skewer inserted into middle should come out clean with no batter on it.
• Remove from oven and cool for 20 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.
• Cake is moist and so full flavoured, it can be eaten plain. But see below for decorating and serving ideas (traditionally served with pouring custard).
• Cutting: Either cut into thin wedges, or cut cake into thin strips (2cm / 0.75" or so), then cut those strips into serving size pieces.
• Traditional White Christmas Cake (pictured in post) - Marzipan and fondant, see Decorating Note.
• Simple - pile top with fresh cherries or other fruit, dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar). Wrap a ribbon around the cake for extra touch!
• Drippy white glaze - use the glaze in this Lemon Cake recipe, but leave out the lemon juice (ie make a plain sweet white glaze). Flip cake upside down for flat surface then glaze per that recipe.
• Serving - serve with custard for a traditional experience! Either homemade custard or store bought pouring custard (jazz it up by mixing in vanilla seed paste!).

FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, mix granulated sugar and cocoa. Stir in milk, butter, corn syrup and salt. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool 45 minutes.
• Beat in vanilla and enough powdered sugar for spreading consistency.
• Frost 13x9-inch cake, or fill and frost 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.

BUTTERMILK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FUDGE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk and baking soda. Set aside in a warm place.
• In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups sugar, eggs, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla until blended. Stir in the boiling water, then gradually beat in the flour. Stir in the buttermilk mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
• To make the Fudge Icing: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, milk, butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat icing for 3 minutes, or until it thickens to spreading consistency. Pour over completely cooled cake.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and cooled chocolate. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and water, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of two 18cm sandwich tins. Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Add the caster sugar and mix well.
• Make a well in the centre and add the golden syrup, eggs, sunflower oil and milk. Beat well with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the two tins and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, leave to cool for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• To make the icing, beat the unsalted butter in a bowl until soft. Gradually sieve and beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder, then add enough of the milk to make the icing fluffy and spreadable.
• Sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more icing.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F (177°C). Prepare four 8-inch round cake pans with parchment rounds, and grease the sides. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, sift flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to combine, set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 4-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Lower the speed to medium-low and add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition until just combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine the vanilla and instant coffee granules. Add the sour cream to the batter along with the vanilla coffee mixture and beat on medium speed until combined.
• Alternately add dry ingredients in thirds and buttermilk in 2 additions to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat each addition just until combined. Divide batter equally between the cake pans, a little over 2 cups per pan.
• Bake two layers at a time for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool in pans for about 10 minutes, then turn onto cooling racks to cool completely before frosting. Or at this point, you can wrap all the cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and freeze or refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• Put chocolate in a heat-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5-6 minutes. \
• Turn the mixer to low, and gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, along with the cocoa powders.
• Once incorporated, add hot water, sour cream, vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Pour in cooled melted chocolate and mix on low to combine.
• Once the chocolate is combined, increase mixer speed to high and whip until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Once cake layers are completely cooled, place one layer on a turntable. Using an offset spatula, spread about 1 cup of the fudge frosting on top. Repeat with all layers, placing the final layer upside down.
• Frost the entire cake in a thick layer of fudge frosting. Use the back of a spoon to create swirls in the frosting. Top with mini chocolate chips of fresh fruit. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) then grease and flour your baking pans (or spray with bake easy). Use either 2 9" rounds, 2 8" x 2" deep rounds, or a 9 x 13 baking pan.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, sugar, corn starch, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together until all of the cocoa powder is evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture.
• Add the eggs, coconut oil, vanilla extract and water, then stir to combine. Mix until all of the flour is incorporated and the batter is smooth. Transfer the batter into your prepared cake pans and divide evenly between each round.
• Bake your 9 inch cake rounds or a 9 x 13 cake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-32 minutes, and your 8 inch deep cake pans for 35-38 minutes. Your cakes are done when the tops are springy to the touch and an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.
• Remove your cakes pans from the oven and allow the cake rounds to cool for 15-20 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add your 12 ounces of chocolate chips. Heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until fully melted. Stir in the butter (sliced in tablespoon sized butter pats) until melted, then add the can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir an incorporate into the melted chocolate until smooth.
• Once your cake rounds are cooled, level off the layers by slicing off any rounded portion on the top of the cake. Place onto a cake round to work, or any plate that you will be serving your cake on.
• Spread your frosting between layers in an even layer that is not too thick (about 1/4 inch) and then add the next layer. Repeat for a filling layer, or begin to frost your entire cake by covering the top of the cake and working to spread the frosting down until the entire cake is covered.
• * If you baked in a 9 x 13 cake pan, you can simply frost your entire cake once the cake is cooled completely in the pan. ** For a final touch (that looks so much better!) grate some chocolate over the cake.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING RECIPE

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat room temperature butter until lightly fluffy. Add the sifted powdered sugar 1 spoon at a time and mix well. It will get light in color and bigger in volume.
• Add vanilla and cocoa, and the milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you work.
• Turn mixer on medium high. Beat frosting until light, fluffy and of spreading consistency.
• If the frosting is too thick, slowly add more milk or half and half, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
• You can use the frosting immediately, or store it in the refrigerator for 3 days.

REALLY CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minute Stir in boiling water. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 minute or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean and the top springs back when touched gently. Cool 10 min; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with Chocolate fudge frosting.
• Chocolate fudge frosting: Place melted butter in a large mixer bowl. Add cocoa, stirring until smooth.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, beating until smooth. If necessary add additional powdered sugar until spreading consistency. About 3 cups frosting.

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH PEPPERMINT FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease an 8-by-8-inch square or 9-inch round light-colored metal baking pan with oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Use a whisk or an electric mixer to beat the mixture until foamy and slightly lighter in texture and color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, vanilla and salt, and whisk until combined and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain. Stir the espresso powder into the hot water, then add the mixture to the bowl. Whisk until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap on the counter a few times to release any large air bubbles. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan set on a rack for about 45 minutes.
• While the cake bakes, clean the mixing bowl and make the frosting: Add the butter to the bowl and mix on medium-high with an electric mixer until smooth, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn the speed to low, and slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until the sugar is moistened, then add 2 teaspoons of the cream, the vanilla extract, 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and salt. Turn the speed up to medium-high, and whip until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, adding a bit more cream a teaspoon at a time, if necessary, to make a smooth and light frosting. Taste the frosting, and add a few more drops of peppermint extract if desired. The frosting can be kept at room temperature while the cake finishes baking and cooling.
• Top the cooled cake with an even layer of frosting, then use the tip of a toothpick to dot the frosting with a few small dots of gel food coloring, if using. Use a spoon or offset spatula to swirl the food coloring into the frosting to create candy cane-like stripes - just a few swipes will do the trick. If you mix it in too much, the frosting will turn pink. Top the cake with sprinkles and shaved chocolate, if desired. Store leftover cake loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

CHRISTMAS CAKE WITH FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Mix chopped dried figs, dried currants and brandy in medium bowl. Let stand 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan. Line with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Drain fruit mixture; reserve soaking liquid. Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and spices in large bowl. Whisk prune juice, buttermilk, butter and eggs in medium bowl to blend. Add prune juice mixture to dry ingredients and whisk to blend. fold in drained fruit.
• Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until tester inserted into center o cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.
• Make frosting:
• Bring reserved fruit soaking liquid, cream and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan, whisking until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth.Add sour cream and whisk to blend. Refrigerate frosting until thick enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Run sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn out cake onto work surface. Peel off parchment. Using serrated knife, cut cake crosswise into three 5 10-inch rectangles. Place 1 cake piece on platter. Tuck waxed paper strips under cake on all sides to protect platter. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over cake. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Top with second cake piece. Spread 1/2 cup frosting over. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Top with third cake piece. Spoon 3/4 cup frosting into pastry bag fitted with small star tip and reserve. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Press remaining chopped walnuts onto sides of cake. Remove waxed paper strips. Using reserved frosting, pipe 5 rosettes atop cake along each ling edge, spacing evenly. Place walnut halves between rosettes. Refrigerate 1 hour to set frosting. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving.)

OLD-FASHIONED COCOA FUDGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Blend the butter with the cocoa powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the corn syrup and mix until very thick and smooth. Scrape down the bowl.
• Bring the water to a boil in a small pot, or heat in the microwave until boiling in a heatproof bowl. With the mixer running on low, gradually add the hot water into the butter mixture. Add the vanilla and salt, and scrape down the bowl.
• Add the powdered sugar a little at a time to the bowl and beat for 2 minutes on high speed, until the icing is completely smooth, glossy, and thick.
• Decorate as you wish!