Crunchy Topped Chocolate Cake Food

BLACKOUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CRUNCH

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-by-2-inch-round cake pans and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Combine the chocolate, milk and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted; whisk until smooth, then let cool. Meanwhile, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy, about 4 more minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the melted chocolate mixture; beat until just incorporated.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Reheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake in half crosswise to make 4 layers. Crumble one of the layers into small pieces on the baking sheet. Bake until dry, about 20 minutes; let cool completely. Cover with parchment paper and crush with the bottom of a saucepan to make coarse crumbs; set aside.
• Make the frosting: Combine the chocolate, corn syrup and 1/2 cup hot water in a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and let cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and start beating on high speed; beat in the vanilla, then the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat until creamy. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread, about 10 minutes. (If the frosting is too thick, microwave in 10-second intervals for up to 30 seconds to soften.)
• Put one cake layer on a platter; spread 1 heaping cup frosting on top. Add another cake layer, more frosting and the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting. Press the reserved cake crumbs all over the cake.

CRUNCHY TOPPED CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and egg whites; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. , Pour into a broiler-proof 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., For topping, combine brown sugar and oats in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut and pecans; sprinkle over hot cake. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until topping is bubbly. Serve warm.

CHOCOLATE-TOFFEE CRUNCH LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour 1 2/3 cups batter in each pan. Spread evenly.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/3 cup chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 seconds; stir. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until chips can be stirred smooth. Add almonds to bowl; stir until almonds are coated evenly with chocolate. Spread on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes until chocolate is firm.
• Break chocolate-coated nuts into large pieces, and place in bowl of food processor. Cover and process until coarsely chopped. Place in small bowl; stir in toffee bits. Set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 3/4 cup chocolate chips uncovered on High 60 seconds; stir halfway through. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments until chips can be stirred smooth; cool 10 minutes. In large bowl, beat butter and melted chocolate with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
• Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the toffee bits crunch over top of frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup frosting on top; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the toffee bits crunch over top of frosting; top with third cake layer. Fit decorating bag with medium star piping tip; fill with 3/4 cup of the frosting. Set aside.
• Frost sides with thin layer of frosting so sides are covered but cake still shows through. Spread remaining frosting on top. Using decorating bag, pipe stars on top edge of cake. Fill center with remaining toffee bits crunch. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes. If refrigerating cake longer than 30 minutes, let cake stand 10 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE CARAMEL LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line 2 large baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Place the flour, cocoa and sugar in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter, water, egg and extra yolks and process until a smooth dough forms. Turn out the dough and bring it together on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a very thin rectangle and trim to 10cm x 35cm. Prick each layer all over with a fork and place on the trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just crisp. Transfer to wire racks and allow to cool at room temperature until crisp.
• To make the chocolate caramel filling, place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan (see note) over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes or until deep golden in colour. Remove from the heat and, working quickly, add the cream in a thin steady stream. Add the butter, return to the heat and cook, stirring, until well combined. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, pour the caramel mixture over and stir until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until just cold, whisking occasionally. Once cooled, whisk for 1-2 minutes or until creamy and smooth.
• To assemble, place 1 of the pastry layers on a cake stand or plate. Spread evenly with 1/3 cup (80ml) of the chocolate caramel filling. Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling, finishing with a pastry layer. Refrigerate the cake for 1-2 hours or until set. Slice to serve.

CRUNCHY-TOPPED CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, flour and vanilla until blended. Pour into pastry; sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake 35 minutes., In a small bowl, mix the first five topping ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over pie. Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until center of pie is set. Cool on a wire rack; serve or refrigerate within 2 hours.

MEAN CHEF'S ALMOND CRUNCH & CHOCOLATE CONFETTI CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• To prepare the almond crunch topping--Heat the oven to 325°F.
• Have ready an ungreased nonstick baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white with a fork until foamy, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the nuts until they're evenly coated.
• Sprinkle the sugar over the nuts and stir the mixture.
• Spread the nuts in a single layer onto the baking sheet.
• Bake for 5 minute.
• Stir the nuts with a wooden spoon to loosen them from the baking sheet.
• Bake until golden, another 5 to 8 minute.
• Remove the nuts from the oven and immediately stir them to loosen them from the baking sheet.
• The nuts will become crisp as they cool.
• Set aside.
• To prepare the cake--Heat the oven to 325°F.
• Have ready a 9-1/2- or 10-inch tube pan with sides at least 3-3/4 inches high.
• In a food processor, pulse the chocolate chips until some of them are finely grated and the rest have formed small crumbs.
• In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, 1 cup of the sugar, the baking powder, and the salt.
• Make a well in the center and put in the oil, egg yolks, water, vanilla, almond extract, and Amaretto.
• Beat the mixture on medium speed until smooth and thick, at least 3 minute.
• Fold in the reserved chocolate chips.
• Set aside.
• In a large, clean bowl with clean beaters or a whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites and the cream of tartar on medium speed until the cream of tartar is dissolved and the whites are foamy.
• Increase the speed to high and beat the whites until the movement of the beaters forms lines in the mixture.
• Slowly pour in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, about 2 Tbs.
• at a time, and beat the mixture until soft peaks form.
• With a large rubber spatula, stir about one-third of the egg whites into the yolk mixture.
• Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain.
• Pour the batter into the tube pan, spreading it evenly.
• Bake until you can gently press your fingers on top of the cake and it feels firm, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Any cracks that form on the top should look dry.
• Invert the pan onto a bottle with a narrow neck and cool thoroughly, about an hour and a half.
• Use a small, sharp knife to loosen the cake from the sides of the pan and the center of the tube, if necessary.
• Remove the cake from the pan and slide it onto a serving plate.
• To make the glaze--In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar, milk, and almond extract, adding enough milk to make a smooth glaze with a thick, syrupy consistency.
• Set aside 2 Tbs.
• of the glaze.
• Spread the remaining glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides of the cake and into the center hole; you may not need to use all of it.
• Cover the top of the cake with the prepared almonds.
• Drizzle the reserved glaze over the almonds.